Health-Care History in the Making

Ozzy’s Girls: The Story of the Gutsy Women Who Built a Healthcare Empire by Terri Wallo Strauss

Ozzy’s Girls tells the stories of a group of nursing students who worked under the guidance of Harriet Osborn (i.e., Ozzy), director of education for St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing, which merged with University of Portland in the 1930s. Many of Ozzy’s students became important players in the fabric of Portland’s health-care systems.

Their stories are revealed through the experiences of the late Dee Rennie Wallo, the author’s mother, during her years as a nursing student from 1942 to 1946. Dee Wallo later became a nurse leader at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

The narrative notes the historical context in which these nursing students were getting their start in the profession—nurses had to find a “source” from the local drugstore to give them the tip when the silk hose shipment came in, which, if obtained, they’d need to dye white themselves for their nursing uniforms. (The material was in demand for parachutes during World War II.) There were food rations, air drills, and there was sometimes bad news about loved ones fighting in the war. When the war ended, “the party downtown lasted for days.”

Some of the stories feel somewhat timeless— students sneaking out of living quarters through the fire escape, and dating and flirting seems to be the same (sometimes awkward) dance it may always be. Dee met her husband, Ed Wallo, at UP.

The scene we’ve excerpted notes the presence of the polio epidemic during Dee’s pediatric rotation as she was trying to decide what field of nursing she wanted to pursue. The high stress of health care during a pandemic offers some eerie perspective.

Dee Rennie Wallo ’46 (front) with other members of the Class of 1946 lined up at the St. Vincent School of Nursing

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TERRI WALLO STRAUSS

Harriet Edna Osborn (otherwise known as “Ozzy”) is known as the first nurse in Oregon to receive a bachelor’s degree and became the director of education for St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing, which merged with University of Portland in the 1930s.

The “Principles of Pediatric Nursing” was a rotation Dee looked forward to since she loved children. She didn’t like having to cross town to Providence Hospital though, since that meant riding the streetcar all the way back to the Nurses’ Home after an entire shift.

Pediatrics was certainly noisy and lively during the daytime, thought Dee, when she entered the ward later that week. The cheery wallpaper and the bright colors made for a festive atmosphere. Dee soon learned, however, that there was nothing worse than sick children. It bothered her to see these tiny humans flushed with fever, confused about where they were, and crying for their parents. The most common reason a child was hospitalized was for a tonsillectomy, which was a brutal surgery at the time and left the children in pain for days. Even the promised ice cream didn’t bring a smile. Dee had heard stories of diphtheria also being found. One entire shift of nurses had to be tested and some quarantined following exposure.

Penicillin, a godsend, was being mass produced and distributed to hospitals. Dee was thrilled, knowing that if it had been invented and available when she was a young child, she would have avoided many of her grave illnesses. However, the penicillin was only available in three-hour doses and, of course, had to be injected. That meant that the nurses would move through the ward injecting the penicillin, and by the time they got to the other side all the children were crying.

On this particular day, all was quiet. As Dee walked quickly down the hall, intent on visiting some of her favorite older children in the playroom, she glanced outside to see the rain. The sky was black, and the rain was driving down in sheets, hitting the hospital’s windows with tiny pinging sounds. Suddenly, a crack of thunder was heard and the hospital lights flickered. Dee cast an eye upward, frowning to herself. Sure enough, she heard a quick sizzle and then a zap, and the lights went out.

Sister suddenly rounded the corner, her skirt flapping behind her. If it wasn’t for the worried look on her face, Dee would have laughed at her attempt to run in her full habit, the nun’s wimple catching wind as she sailed down the hall.

“Dee,” she gasped in panic, forgetting to address her properly as “Miss Rennie.” “The electricity is out. The iron lungs. We have to rock them so they will keep working.” With that, she turned and ran, and Dee charged behind her, quickly catching up.

They entered the ward where children stricken with polio lay wrapped in their iron lungs, the metal cylinders that kept them alive. Known as tank ventilators, iron lungs helped people with polio breathe. Without power, the iron lungs couldn’t oscillate and help the children breathe. The children’s faces were peeping out of the cylinders, and they clucked their tongues as Dee ran in—the only sign they could make to indicate they couldn’t breathe. “Cluck-cluck-cluck” rang out in unison, their faces filled with apprehension. Dee grabbed one and Sister grabbed another.

A fellow student, Marcy, ran in. Fortunately, between the three of them, they were able to rock the three patients and keep the iron lungs moving. Dee could feel beads of sweat on her forehead. Her heart seemed to beat faster. Some more sisters and doctors came running to provide support and help keep the iron lungs going until the electricity turned back on. When the humming came on and the lights flickered again, Dee almost dropped in relief. Mercifully, it was over.

Dee stroked a little girl’s hair that peeped out of the iron lung. She could tell the girl had no fever. She knew Sister would come by to check each small patient thoroughly and the subsequent charting would be done. With tears in her eyes, Dee walked out of the ward, her steps heavy. Sick children were not for her, she told herself.

Inarose Ries (Zuelke) (center) and classmates, Class of 1947

80s

1982

Joe White ’82 recently retired from his post as executive director of the Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer. In his note to the organization upon his departure, he shared the evolution of his relationship with the Rivkin Center, which started with the diagnosis of his late wife, Lori. He has upheld his promise to her to help other women find ways to fight this disease. Warm congratulations on your muchdeserved retirement, Joe.

90s

1993

Cathy Barr ’93 sends us this: “Hello UP! I have never given an update of my life to Portland Magazine. I stayed in touch with a few folks over the years, including my dear friend Brian Doyle prior to his passing. So, here goes: I graduated with the class of ’93, although I was a non-traditional student. I worked at UP for 25 years in the Student Accounts office and the Development office, leaving in 2001. I recently retired in July of 2021 from PeaceHealth as the Executive Director of their PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center Foundation after 20 years of service. I am enjoying the stress-free life and looking forward to the future.” Thank you, Cathy! Curt Ranta ’93, ’94 has been working as the founder of the Ranta Group, a Los Angeles company working to build sustainable housing developments, focusing on low-income families and communities. Most recently, the Ranta Group has been working on a new apartment complex made primarily with used shipping containers, 72 to be exact, with the goal to rent to low-income tenants.

Elizabeth Scofield ’93 recently published her book Nordic Influence on Emerson’s Self-Reliance. Congrats!

1997

Kathy Mulkerin ’97 recently ran for, and won, an election for Walla Walla School District Position 1. She announced her running in March of 2021, and election results were confirmed in December of the same year. Prior to this position, Kathy worked as a paralegal.

00s

2006

Trevor Caldwell ’06 was recently hired at the Portland office of Miller Nash, a law firm. He is working as a member of the firm’s employment law & labor relations practice team.

2009

In March 2022, Jean Louise Pullen ’09 is publishing her book Regenerate Your Reality: Your Guide to Regenerative Living, Happiness, Love, and Sovereignty. A portion of proceeds from each purchased book will benefit the planting of three trees.

10s

2012, ’13

Lia (Samieenejad) Vennes ’13 and Chris Vennes ’12 welcomed their second boy Elliott Jon in May of 2021. Evan Daniel, now three years old, is excited to be an older brother. Congrats, Lia and Chris!

2016

James Paul Gumataotao ’16 published an article titled “A Seat at the Table of Plenty” on the Ignatian Solidarity Network website. In the piece, James reflects on a favorite church song of his, “Table of Plenty,” while weaving in reflections of gathering, one’s relationship with God, and making space for all people to worship and to be seen in God’s image. James is a theology teacher and campus minister at Cristo Rey Boston, a Catholic high school in Massachusetts. You can find his article at ignationsolidarity.net.

Portland Jobs with Justice has a new executive director, Jill Pham ’16. The foundation-supported workers’ rights nonprofit is a coalition of over 100 labor and community groups. Jill first became active in labor when she got a job at New Seasons to help a union campaign by UFCW Local 555. She later worked for Washington State Nurses Organizing Project and for Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. Jill, 27, says she even has memories of being on a picket line as a toddler when her dad, a member of Machinists Lodge 63, was on strike at Boeing. She first got active in JwJ while working on a degree in social work from University of Portland. As the JwJ executive director, she’ll oversee two to three staff represented by Communications Workers of America Local 7901. Jill says she wants to stabilize JwJ, connect mutual aid groups to unions and nonprofits, and continue the work of former director Will Layng to develop a worker resource center.

2019

Alex Bridgeman ’19 was selected as one of Portland Business Journal’s “Inno under 25” for his podcast, Think Like an Owner, a weekly podcast interviewing small company owners and investors. Alex was also honored for his work with The Operator’s Handbook, a printed publication showcasing stories from small business owners concerning the growth of their companies.

Dagan Kay ’19 was chosen as one of Portland Business Journal’s “Inno under 25.” His company, Produce Mate, makes antimicrobial kitchen mats designed to extend the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables and, as a result, combat food waste.

20s

2021

Evangeline Muyano ’21 was recently selected as one of Portland Business Journal’s “Inno under 25” for her work co-founding the company rePLA. The company develops algae-based biodegradable plastic to be used for prototyping with 3D printers, a more environmentally friendly alternative to the plastics currently being used to print with.