Oregon State Hospital Superintendent announces retirement

Oregon State Hospital will soon be looking for a new superintendent, according to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), after Oregon State Hospital (OSH) Superintendent Dolly Matteucci announced her plans to retire on Monday, March 11, 2024.

“A major life decision like this is never easy and required a great deal of thought to get here,” said Matteucci. “Over the years I have learned that in our world, change is always afoot, challenges will always exist, and opportunities to grow and improve are endless. There will never be the perfect time to say goodbye, and my time is now.”

According to OHA, Matteucci has worked for more than 30 years in state hospitals in both Oregon and California, she joined OSH back in 2018.

Under Matteucci's leadership, OHA says that OSH experienced no patient deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic - nor did any of its patients require hospitalization for the virus.

"Dolly Matteucci has done an amazing job leading the Oregon State Hospital during an incredibly complex and challenging period in the hospital's history,” said OHA Director Sejal Hathi, MD, MBA. “Dolly’s devotion to the safety of patients and staff during the COVID pandemic and beyond will be felt for years to come. While I am sad to see her go, I respect her decision and wish her only the very best in her retirement.”

While OHA leads a national recruitment for OSH's next superintendent, OSH Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Sara Walker, MD will serve as interim superintendent beginning March 30 while continuing to maintain her CMO responsibilities.

She began at OSH in September 2006 as a unit psychiatrist and served as Chief of Psychiatry from 2014 to 2020, when she was named CMO.