OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital

08/31/2026

You'll usually find our hospital facility dogs bringing comfort to patients at the hospital, but sometimes their work takes them into the community, too.

Darby recently joined Life Flight Network at Links for Lives, the organization’s annual fundraising golf tournament that supports their lifesaving emergency medical services across the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. Darby’s charm helped them on their way to their most successful fundraising event to date!

Life Flight Network is a critical arm of the healthcare system here and we’re incredibly grateful for their lifesaving work, helping patients of all sizes get to definitive care when they need it most.

While Darby isn’t cleared for takeoff (not yet anyway), she continues to do what she does best: lifting spirits. 🦮🪽🚁 🐾❤️

08/27/2026

Chapter 1: It all began with the Doernbechers. ❤️

More than 100 years ago, Frank Doernbecher arrived in Portland from Wisconsin and built a legacy that would forever change children’s health care in Oregon. After his death in 1921, Frank left $200,000 of his estate to his children, Ada and Edward, with instructions to use the funds to benefit the state. They put that gift toward a vision: creating Oregon’s first full-service children’s hospital — where every child could receive care, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

When more funding was needed to complete the hospital, a group of women came together to form the Doernbecher Guild. In the summer of 1924, they raised $75,000 — about $1.4 million today — through community support.

Then, on Aug. 2, 1926, Doernbecher Memorial Hospital for Children opened its doors with 75 beds and five volunteer physicians.

What began with one family’s generosity grew into a century-long legacy of caring for children, advancing pediatric medicine and bringing hope to families across the region. ❤️

And we’re just getting started. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4hPrjf2

08/24/2026

Last week, we received a very special delivery: the ✨100,000th✨ Project Linus blanket made by the local chapter Project Linus Portland/Vancouver.

This milestone represents 25 years of kindness — every stitch, square of fabric, donated supply and volunteer hour — all created to bring comfort to our patients. We’re so grateful to everyone who has helped wrap families in a little extra love and hope. 🛏️🧵💙

Here’s to the next 100,000 — one child, one blanket and one caring gesture at a time.

08/21/2026

Hospital Facility Dog chic ✨

08/20/2026

08/17/2026

We 💙 the Hillsboro Hops! ⚾️

08/11/2026

Have you seen all the crows? 🐦‍⬛

08/10/2026

Big thank you to our community with Columbia Credit Union for their support of patients - we could not do it without you! And all the other Children's Miracle Network Credit Unions for Kids. ❤️

Plus, extra special treats for our Hospital Facility Dog Darby for her CUTE daytime TV appearance. She's always a star! 🌟 KGW-TV can borrow her anytime. 😉

08/07/2026

Connection, belonging and plenty of smiles — that’s what our annual Cleft and Craniofacial (CCF) Picnic is all about. 🧺🌞
 
To close out in July, the Cleft and Craniofacial Program brought together patients, families, caregivers and care team members for an afternoon of crafts, connection and celebration on the hospital lawn. From tie-dye and LEGOs, to face painting and bubbles, while eating tacos and ice cream — this afternoon is JUST for fun. 🌮🍦🎨🫧
 
We asked attendees what they were most looking forward to, and the answer was clear: being together. ❤️ Care goes beyond the clinic — thank you for making this community so special.

08/06/2026

TOMORROW🐦‍⬛🌲✨the crows are here!

Wildwood: Follow the Crows is a new public art trail presented by LAIKA Studios, in partnership with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Wild in Art, the Portland Metro Chamber, Downtown Portland Clean & Safe, and supported by the Visit Downtown Portland.

The trail will feature one-of-a-kind sculptures, hand-painted by local artists including Carson Ellis, Mike Bennett Studios, Tristan Tk Irving, Ana The Artist and more!

All the sculptures will be auctioned off once the art trail closes in fall of 2026, and the proceeds will support our patients. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4w35lcE