PORTLAND, Ore. – Governor Tina Kotek has nominated three new members and reappointed two current members to the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Board of Directors, reshaping the oversight body of the state’s flagship medical institution at a time of transition and financial strain.
Key Appointments
Among the new nominees is Betsy Johnson, a longtime political figure who served as a Democratic state senator and ran as an independent candidate in Oregon’s 2022 gubernatorial race against Kotek herself. Johnson has also held seats on the boards of Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and the OHSU Foundation and was part of the 25-member presidential search committee that recommended OHSU’s new leader earlier this year.
The other nominees are:
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Chris Abbruzzese, senior vice president at Robertson Stephens, a wealth management firm.
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Sadhana Shenoy, former chair of the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) board.
Kotek also reappointed Susan King, a nurse and past leader of the Oregon Nurses Association, and Sue Steward, who works with the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board.
The nominations come as three current board members—Ruth Beyer, Steven Zika, and board chair Chad Paulson—reach the end of their terms.
Oversight at a Critical Time
OHSU is navigating a period of turbulence. The institution, which brings in billions annually and employs thousands, is under financial pressure while adapting to national health policy changes and preparing to manage the record $2 billion donation pledged by Phil and Penny Knight to expand the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute into a self-governing entity.
In a phone interview, Johnson said the board will need to take an active role in guiding the university through this period.
“It is a time of tremendous change at OHSU, and I think that the board of trustees needs to be very actively engaged in monitoring and managing that change,” Johnson said.
She also emphasized the importance of supporting Dr. Shereef Elnahal, OHSU’s new president, who assumed the role in June after the abrupt resignation of Dr. Danny Jacobs. Jacobs’ tenure was plagued by low staff morale and scandal, leaving the institution eager for stable leadership.
Roles and Structure of the Board
By state statute, the OHSU Board of Directors has 11 members, seven of whom are appointed for four-year terms. Appointees are expected to bring expertise in areas tied to the university’s mission, including higher education, health care, and business development. The board also includes student, faculty, and nonfaculty representatives who serve shorter two-year terms, as well as the university president.
The board meets four to five times annually in public sessions and can convene privately to discuss “sensitive matters,” according to OHSU policy. Members are eligible to serve two terms.
Next Steps
The Oregon Senate is expected to take up Kotek’s appointments later this month. If approved, the new members’ terms will begin on October 1.
Abbruzzese declined to comment, citing the need to first review media policies connected to the position. Shenoy was not immediately available for comment.
OHSU officials have said they look forward to the new board makeup, noting that the incoming members will help steer the university through a pivotal chapter in its history.
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