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Governor Kate Brown convened the first meeting of her COVID-19 Medical Advisory Panel today, a group of doctors, infectious disease experts, and medical professionals from across the state who will review the status of COVID-19 in the state and make recommendations to the Governor on future response efforts.
Recognizing that this is a challenge unlike any Oregon’s medical community has ever faced, the advisors have been asked to comment on the needs of Oregon’s health care system, provide advice and input to the Governor, and serve as a resource to the Oregon Health Authority. The panel will be an avenue for Oregon’s provider community to give regular, organized input and feedback about the state’s COVID-19 response.
“This is an unprecedented pandemic that impacts every one of us,” said Governor Brown. “I’ve invited a diverse group of medical experts from around the state to serve on this panel—experts in the fields of infectious diseases and critical care, as well as pulmonology, family practice, nursing, and pediatrics. With the collective experience on this panel, we can work together to make sure we have this crisis covered from every possible angle.
“If current projections hold, Oregonians’ continued adherence to social distancing measures will flatten the curve of COVID-19 spread in Oregon. Staying home truly is saving lives. But there is still a long road ahead. We must ensure our state has enough personal protective equipment for our frontline health care workers to sustain our response efforts, as well as expand our testing capacity so we can accurately measure and contain this outbreak. Until the day there is a vaccine for the coronavirus, we will have to remain vigilant to prevent a resurgence of cases.”
The panel will meet twice weekly and review Oregon’s response efforts in the areas of testing capacity, hospital capacity, personal protective equipment acquisition, and the continued effectiveness of Oregon’s social distancing measures. The panel members will help to develop strategies to address pressing needs, identify potential gaps and challenges, and give feedback from the front lines of Oregon's health care response to COVID-19.
The membership of the panel is available here:
- Renee Edwards, MD – Chief Medical Officer, OHSU
- Robert Pelz, MD – Infectious Disease & Critical Care, PeaceHealth
- Paul Lewis, MD, MPH – Pediatric Infectious Disease, Kaiser Permanente Northwest and OHSU
- Bruce Goldberg, MD – Family Medicine, OHSU-PSU School of Public Health
- Susan King, MS, RN, CEN, FAAN – former Executive Director Oregon Nurses Association, ER RN Staff Nurse
- Bob Dannenhoffer, MD – Douglas County Public Health Officer
- Louis D’Avignon, MD – Pulmonology & Critical Care, St. Charles Health System and Summit Medical Group of Oregon
- Dana Hargunani, MD – Chief Medical Officer, OHA
