A Decade of Impact: OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Unveils 10th Anniversary Commemorative Designs

PORTLAND, OR – In celebration of 10 years of transformative partnership, the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health (SPH) is proud to unveil two new commemorative sticker designs. These visual narratives reflect a decade of dedication to health equity and the “upstream” mission that defines our faculty, staff, and students.

Celebrating 10 Years of Public Health Excellence

Since its founding as a unique collaboration between Oregon Health & Science University and Portland State University, the SPH has worked to bridge the gap between clinical excellence and community-based health. To mark this 10-year anniversary, the school commissioned a series of illustrations that capture the spirit of our region and our profession.

The first design highlights the diverse facets of public health within the silhouette of the State of Oregon. The second, a signature piece, features the majestic Mt. Hood and the Chinook salmon, serving as a visual metaphor for the school’s core philosophy.

The Symbolism: Swimming Upstream

The centerpiece of this new collection features the iconic Mt. Hood—the headwaters for the river habitats of the Chinook salmon. This imagery was chosen specifically to mirror the “upstream” approach that defines modern public health and the species of salmon was chosen to honor the salmon that is native to this area.

Just as the Chinook salmon fights the current to reach their spawning grounds, public health professionals challenge oppressive systems to implement upstream interventions to create better health for all. We focus on improving the fundamental conditions—such as housing, environmental safety, resource access, and labor conditions—that shape health outcomes to ensure that all populations can thrive.

Honoring Our Local Landscapes and Traditions

The OHSU-PSU School of Public Health honor the Indigenous people – the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tumwater, and Watlala bands of the Chinook, the Tualatin Kalapuya, the Molalla, and the Wasco – on whose traditional and ancestral homelands our building stands. We recognize these Indigenous nations of the Willamette Valley and the Columbia River Plateau as the original caretakers of the lands and the waters that nourish us and acknowledge that our presence here is a direct result of the sacrifices forced upon these ancestors.

For millennia, the salmon has been a life-sustainer, a relative, and a teacher to the people of this region. Just as the salmon connects the mountains to the sea, this artwork reminds us that public health is not merely the absence of disease, but the presence of harmony between people, their environments, and the greater social, economic, and political forces that shape everyday experiences and exposures.

In honoring the salmon, we honor the legacy of the Indigenous people who have protected this ecosystem since time immemorial, and we recommit ourselves to the health and healing of the land and all who call it home.

We encourage our community to learn more about the spiritual, cultural and ecological significance of the Chinook salmon and Mt. Hood and to support the local Native chapters and organizations:

• The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
• The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
• The Klamath Tribes
• The Coquille Tribe
• The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC)

About the Artist: Alicia Schultz

To bring this vision to life, the School commissioned Alicia Schultz, a Portland-based illustrator, stationery designer, and muralist. Alicia is celebrated for her hand-lettering and botanical art, having partnered with global brands such as Google, Target, Trader Joe’s, and Minted. Her ability to weave narrative into art has provided the SPH with a beautiful way to commemorate our 10th anniversary. For more information on the design process or to explore Alicia Schultz’s portfolio, please visit her website.

A Note on the Design Intent: Offered freely as an educational tool, this design serves as a prompt for dialogue regarding the 'upstream' foundations of public health. By honoring specific land ties, we hope to focus our community’s attention to the ancestral and ongoing stewardship of the Columbia River Basin and encourage direct support of the Indigenous nations whose leadership is vital to our region. We offer this reminder because the health of the land and the health of the people are inseparable; one cannot exist without the other.