Ties that bond

The bond between Portland State and the Oregon Health and Science University shows no sign of weakening as the two institutions continue to partner on educational programs and capital construction projects.

“It’s a real interest to keep abreast of both campuses,” Portland State Provost Roy Koch said. “Currently we’re partners on a proposal for a new building on the South Waterfront.”

The new building is a joint venture between OHSU and PSU that Gov. Ted Kulongoski has included for his next budget request. It is estimated to cost $250 million.

The building will be shared by the universities to house lab space and other university offices.

“It would build out research programs and further partnerships,” Koch said. “It also expands the capacity for medical school education. They could turn out something like 30 more doctors a year.”

Koch also noted that the current economic climate might serve to help push such a project to be approved.

“It is a building project so it could be part of an economic stimulus package, so it helps there, too,” Koch said.

The new building is gaining significant buzz, but it isn’t the only project OHSU and PSU have in the works.

Winter term marked the beginning of a new joint master’s of business administration program in healthcare management, the first such degree between the two institutions. The 72-credit degree integrates healthcare-related coursework with more traditional MBA coursework and combines Portland State’s MBA program and OHSU’s graduate certificate in healthcare management.

In addition to the new degree, Portland State’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has been developing a joint research agenda along side OHSU.

One example is that of physics professor Jun Jiao, who has teamed up with OHSU’s Dr. Hong-Ming Hu to use nanoparticles for cancer therapy treatment.

Another is chemistry professor Mark Woods, who is the first joint appointment shared by the science departments at OHSU and PSU. Woods is currently researching biological imaging agents for magnetic resonance imaging that may help in the earlier detection of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, strokes and other diseases.

“Our relationship with OHSU has proven very effective in helping to meet Oregon’s need for health care professionals,” said Marvin Kaiser, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “There is a widening gap between Oregon’s healthcare needs and the number of healthcare professionals available to meet them.”

In addition, aside from a well-recognized nurses shortage, the state is also facing 22 percent of its physicians retiring within the next five years.

The dean’s office for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences estimates that more than 2,000 PSU students are studying to prepare for professional health programs offered at OHSU. More students who formerly attended PSU have moved on to study at OHSU’s School of Medicine, making up a quarter of all students admitted to the school in the last three years alone.

Koch noted that the connection between PSU and OHSU remains to be a wide array of partnerships.

“We would almost have to create something new to share,” Koch said.