Description
Rosalie Caffrey, R.N., M.S., Ph.D. is a nurse and instructor who taught in Southern Oregon University's School of Nursing beginning in 1976. She continued on after the school’s merger with Oregon Health and Science University in 1992 and retired in 2004. She earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Anthropology from the University of Oregon. After retirement, Caffrey briefly returned to OHSU to serve as Interim Associate Dean of the Southern Regional Campuses. Notably, Caffrey introduced Anthropology of Medicine courses to the OHSU curriculum after completing her Ph.D. In this interview, Dr. Caffrey discusses the trajectory of her career, her opinions on the healthcare system, the merger of Southern Oregon University School of Nursing with OHSU, and the importance and implementation of nursing theory. She also shares her experiences studying the anthropology of aging and addiction in Thailand, finding community in church, continuing nursing post retirement, and the changing landscape of cultural competency in medical settings.