• A lifeline for mental health needs Area providers introducing new services for all ages
• ‘Catching babies’ is just the beginning Why midwives remain in demand
• Building a healthy community Complementary care blends new, classic approaches
Plus: Get to know 19 members of the local healthcare community
Simply put, experiencing nature can
Rumyana Kudeva, DSW, MPH, LICSW, Health Program Specialist for the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) has been at the forefront of implementing the HOPE framework— Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences—throughout the region.
Developed by Tufts Medical Center and built on decades of research, HOPE represents a fundamental shift in healthcare thinking.
“We are starting to focus more on what supports health and wellbeing, not just what causes illness,” Kudeva explains.
“The framework centers on four building blocks: relationships, environment, emotional growth, and engagement with something larger than ourselves.”
The research supporting nature-based interventions is compelling. Studies have shown that even fake plants can reduce workplace stress, while people living near green spaces demonstrate decreased rates of diabetes and other illnesses.
Perhaps most remarkably, a randomized controlled trial in Denmark found that nature-assisted therapies produced the same beneficial outcomes as cognitive behavioral therapy for stress-related mental illness.
By Kate A. Miner Marketing Correspondent
In a region where Indigenous peoples’ ancestral relationship with the land has shaped generations of outdoor culture, healthcare providers across the Inland Northwest are building on a foundation of traditional ecological wisdom that views nature as an integral path to wellness.
From therapeutic gardening to adaptive sports programs, the outdoors is increasingly becoming a cornerstone of preventive health and wellness initiatives
in the greater Spokane area. This shift represents more than just a trend toward getting outside. It’s grounded in an evolving understanding of how positive experiences— particularly those connecting us to nature—can fundamentally improve health outcomes across entire communities.
Across the region, healthcare providers are translating this research into practical programs. At Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center, recreational therapist Candace Belcourt Supervisor of Rehab Services, works with individuals who have experienced traumatic injuries, showing them that outdoor activities remain accessible despite physical limitations.
“We’re able to show them that they can still do those things that they’re passionate about, it just may look a little different,” she says. The Providence Saints program, which began in 1995 with just five individuals, now serves dozens of participants through competitive wheelchair basketball, adaptive water skiing, and numerous outdoor recreational activities.
The program’s adaptive water skiing program stands out as particularly
unique.
“We have an adaptive water skiing program that we offer in the summer,” Belcourt explains. “The only one of its kind, the volunteer-driven initiative demonstrates how community support can truly make outdoor therapy accessible.”
Samantha Hennessy, a Health Program Specialist with SRHD’s Healthy Living Team, approaches outdoor wellness from the infrastructure angle. Her walk audit program responds directly to community concerns about pedestrian safety and accessibility.
A ‘built environment’ is all about creating spaces where people can be healthy in their daily activities. “Our goal is to make our spaces more walkable and bikeable but communicating that to a community dependent on their cars for transportation can be challenging. I want to take the approach that we should have a menu of options to get somewhere, which include activities like walking and biking.”
This approach to nature-based healthcare also embraces cultural wisdom. Local programs include the Spokane Tribe’s food sovereignty initiative, which reconnects participants with traditional medicines and indigenous plant knowledge, and the Spokane Refugee and Immigrant Connection’s nature program, recognizing that, ‘feeling at home,’ requires understanding both culture and place.
“We’re able to do amazing work here in Spokane, because we’re a mid-sized city,” Kudeva observes. “The HOPE framework has reached approximately 5,000 people across the region— highlighting existing community assets while building new connections.”
As healthcare costs continue to rise nationally and chronic diseases become more prevalent, the Inland Northwest’s embrace of nature-based interventions
offers a promising model. These programs demonstrate that effective healthcare extends far beyond clinical settings, encompassing the spaces where people live, learn, and play.
“The positive experiences are quite ordinary and it’s not something that always involves money,” Kudeva notes.
“In a region where outdoor recreation is part of the cultural DNA, transforming that natural advantage into measurable health outcomes represents both innovation and a return to fundamental wellness principles.”
The integration of outdoor experiences into healthcare represents more than just good medicine, it’s a recognition that nature isn’t just scenery. It is an infrastructure for health, connection, and community resilience.
• Park Rx America - Washington State Parks - Healthcare providers can prescribe parks and natural areas to patients (parks.wa.gov/get-involved/ programs/park-rx)
• Providence Saints Sports and
Recreation Programs - Adaptive sports and outdoor recreation for individuals with disabilities (www.providence. org/locations/wa/st-lukes/sports-andrecreation-programs)
• blueFire Wilderness Therapy - Outdoor therapy program for youth and young adults (bluefirewilderness.com/)
• Spokane Regional Health District - Community health initiatives and training programs (srhd.org/)
• Washington State Parks Outdoor Recreation - State Park locations and recreational opportunities (parks. wa.gov/
• HOPE — Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences (positiveexperience.org/
CAPTIONS
Photos courtesy Providence
Previous page
The Providence Saints have been playing competititve basketball since 1995.
Right, adaptive technology allows people to try waterskiing and other outdoor activities.
Kristie Balderrama, Patient Resources Coordinator, CHAS Health
How long have you worked in healthcare?
I’ve worked at CHAS Health for 7 years and as a Patient Resources Coordinator for 5 years.
What do you like most about what you do?
I truly enjoy learning something new every day and find deep fulfillment in knowing that my work makes a difference in people’s lives, even in small ways. It’s incredibly rewarding to see outcomes for patients. Helping others is at the core of who I am; it’s not just what I do, it’s part of my heart. I thrive on being needed and valued. I take great pride in my role and relationships with my peers. Integrity means everything to me, so I approach every task with transparency, respect and a strong sense of purpose. I’ve been dedicated to helping others for as long as I can remember; it’s truly in my nature. I’ve come to recognize empathy as one of my greatest strengths, whether I’m supporting patients or collaborating with peers. I strive to be a steady source of support, building trust and maintaining composure even in high-stress situations.
Olga Kushnerchuk, Community Health Worker
How long have you worked in healthcare?
I started at CHAS Health a little over 20 years ago and have been helping patients with scheduling, insurance, and
connecting them to social services ever since.
What do you most like about what you do?
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is finding ways to help patients save on healthcare costs. I often work with individuals who have received bills they don’t understand. Taking the time to explain options, clarify charges, or connect them with financial assistance brings real relief—and sometimes joy. I’m also bilingual and work closely with the Slavic community, offering support that’s not only practical but personal.
What would you like people to know more about what you do?
I genuinely enjoy helping each and every one of my clients. I strive to make a meaningful difference in their lives. There is so much need, and I’m committed to doing everything possible to offer support, guidance, and care.
By Kate A. Miner
Marketing Correspondent
The numbers paint a stark picture: 1in 3 youths in Spokane County report symptoms of depression, while 1 in 7 adults report mental health concerns—figures that are likely underreported due to stigma and limited self-awareness around sharing mental health issues. Yet when these community members do make the effort to seek help, they often encounter a system stretched beyond capacity, with some Inland Northwest communities facing shortages of nearly 400 hours of mental health care per week.
“Most, if not all, of the state is in a healthcare provider shortage, which essentially means there’s not enough health
care providers to go around for the population,” explains Callie Morris, MPHCHPS, CE, Access to Care Coordinator at Spokane Regional Health District.
This shortage isn’t just about numbers— it’s about barriers preventing people from getting care when they need it most.
Morris points to a web of interconnected challenges.
“Mental health providers suffer from low insurance reimbursement rates which forces providers to rely on self-pay from patients or very limited insurance plans, leaving a lot of people without access to vital mental health care,” she said.
The provider shortage is compounded by what Morris calls the “5 As of access.”
Affordability, availability, accessibility, accommodation, and acceptability. The impact is particularly acute in specific areas of Spokane County. North Spokane, southeast Spokane, and southwest Spokane are considered mental health provider shortage areas. Even more concerning, “our low income and unhoused populations are short by almost 300 mental health care hours per week, which is astronomical,” Morris adds. For young people, the statistics are
especially troubling. According to the 2023 Healthy Youth Survey, 33% of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students in Spokane County “felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row that they stopped doing their usual activities,” says Mia Parker, MPH, Fatality Review and Prevention Coordinator at SRHD. “That’s about 1 in 3 youths self reporting symptoms of depression.”
Innovative Solutions Taking Root
Despite these challenges, Spokane is emerging as a leader in developing creative approaches to bridge the gap between need and available mental health services. SRHD is developing
community navigation guides specifically designed to help residents navigate the complex mental health system.
“These will essentially guide the community through the whole process from start to finish of accessing mental health therapy. Looking at cost and resources, and what to expect,” Morris explains. The guides aim to dispel common misconceptions and provide clear pathways to care.
MultiCare is taking a comprehensive approach. The organization recently opened a behavioral health clinic at the Northeast Community Center, which is already full, demonstrating the immediate need.
MultiCare has also integrated behavioral health services into their primary care clinics through a project called Collaborative Care, aimed at making mental health support more accessible within existing medical visits.
Most significantly, the health system is developing a 24-bed inpatient behavioral health unit at Deaconess Hospital, set to open by the end of 2026. This unit will
address a critical gap in the system. “Up to 70% of our behavioral health referrals for inpatient level of care coming from our emergency departments get declined,” explains Samantha Clark, Vice President - Chief of Business Operations for MultiCare’s Behavioral Health Network, “usually because patients are too medically complex.”
Funding for the project was kick-started by a $6 million grant awarded to MultiCare by the Washington State Department of Commerce in 2024, with the remainder of the $16 million project funded by MultiCare itself.
One surprising barrier is simple awareness. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7 for mental health support, remains largely unknown. “Only about 20% of people are even aware of the 988 program,” Parker reveals. “You don’t have to be having thoughts of suicide to reach out to 988, it’s for any mental health support.”
Parker emphasizes the interconnected nature of mental health driving collaborative efforts across the region, and Morris points to Spokane’s existing organizational infrastructure as a strength. “It’s important that we utilize our local resources,” Morris notes. It isn’t about finding a single solution but rather creating multiple pathways to care.
To address that, Spokane is building a more accessible, responsive mental health ecosystem. As these initiatives take root, the message from health officials is clear: help is available, and the community is working to make it more accessible than ever before. This fall, SRHD will publish a new webpage for all community members to learn about mental and behavioral health including what it is, how to support yourself and others, when to seek professional help, how to find care, types of care, and more.
For those struggling, Parker’s advice is straightforward: “If you have questions or concerns about your mental health,
don’t hesitate to contact a professional for support.”
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, in distress or a crisis, or experiencing grief. Help is available. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress as well as information and resources. 988 is for everyone, regardless of who you are, where you live, or what you’re going through. For free, personalized, confidential support, call 988, text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org/chat to chat one-on-one with a trained, nonjudgemental counselor who will listen and help.
It’s not science fiction, this robot is a cancer-fighting machine
By Tracy Damon Marketing Correspondent
There’s a new super hero at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, but this one doesn’t wear a cape or fly. However, it is a robot.
“The surgeon was controlling two robot hands and one other doctor was controlling two others,” said Spokane resident Casey Eason of new technology that allowed doctors to remove a cancerous growth from his lung before it grew large enough to threaten his life.
Eason is one of many patients treated by the Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy System -- Ion robot for short -- that is allowing doctors to access the far reaches of the lungs for the first time and biopsy or remove potentially cancerous growths that are smaller than could traditionally be removed. When a person experiences symptoms of lung cancer, CT and PET scans are used to get a look at the lungs and locate abnormalities. When a lesion, nodule, or tumor is identified, a bronchoscopy follows where a pulmonologist inserts a thin tube through the nose or mouth, down the throat and into the lungs to find the growth to biopsy it.
The success rate of traditional bronchoscopies is often low because the technology doesn’t allow doctors to access small growths in the tiny airways in the outer lungs. And if they
can reach that far, the growths are often too small to obtain a sample.
The Ion Robot is changing that. It takes a patient’s scan images and makes them into something resembling a 3D map that guides doctors, using a tiny camera on a cable, through extremely intricate airways to reach the most extreme edges of the lungs and get samples from even the tiniest lesions or nodules.
Providence was the first regional healthcare provider to use the Ion Robot and, between January 2024 and January 2025, has used it to sample 180 cases of abnormal lung tissue, including some extremely miniscule growths.
“Ninety of those were less than 1.2 centimeters… the average size was nine millimeters,” said Dr. Jiten Patel, M.D. “We’re biopsying things that are so small they’re pre-cancerous.” The growth in Eason’s lung was so small that it may not have been caught with traditional bronchoscopy methods.
“I was kind of the perfect candidate as it was small and I caught it early,” he said.
Eason’s story is unique in that he never smoked and didn’t have any cancer symptoms to alert him that something was wrong.
“I went in for a voluntary scan of my
By Tracy Damon Marketing Correspondent
MultiCare’s two hospitals in the Spokane area -- Deaconess Medical Center and Valley Hospital -- also have Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy technology, plus other robotic surgery options. Both hospitals have multiple da Vinci Surgical Systems that allow surgeons to perform general procedures by controlling several robotic arms to operate in smaller areas and with more precision than human hands; a Mako surgical robot that performs joint replacement procedures with greater
heart,” he said. “I had heard on a couple podcasts I listen to about how it would be a good idea to get a heart scan at the age of 50 to get a calcium score, which essentially leads to plague.”
His father had a minor heart attack in his early sixties so Eason thought it was better to be safe than sorry. While there was nothing wrong with his heart, the technician noticed a spot on his lung. Eason was referred to Dr. Patel, who scheduled surgery just two weeks after his first scan.
“With the Ion Robot, we’re getting patients from point of diagnosis to treatment within 32 days,” said Patel. “If you look at national averages, you’re looking at 90 to 120 days.”
The surgery itself took less than two hours. Once removed, Eason’s cancerous growth was labeled 1A, meaning it was 3 centimeters or less. Had it been the next step up, 1B, he would require follow-up radiation or chemo. As it was, the only reminders of Eason’s cancer that remain are five small puncture scars.
“We can go in robotically and make a few punctures in the chest cavity,” said Patel. “We’re reaching deeper tumors and cutting out less lung tissue.”
“It wasn’t that long ago when it would have been an open chest procedure,” said Eason. ”As Dr. Patel told me, that would be a month in the hospital. I spent one night.”
Eason was able to return to work, on light duty, after just a week. He has since talked to anyone who will listen about the importance of getting a proactive scan, and the medical industry agrees. New lung cancer screening guidelines recommend all smokers 50 or over get a scan. And despite the irony of having had lung cancer despite never having smoked, Eason feels fortunate.
“It’s extremely lucky to find out you have cancer but then at the same time you have the perfect cancer to be treated by this new technology.”
Casey Eason prepares to go into surgery in February 2025 to have a cancerous growth removed from his lung. Courtesy Casey Eason.
accuracy and control than in the past; a VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution that specializes in knee replacement surgeries; a HIFU machine that uses high intensity focus ultrasound energy to treat prostate cancer; and an aquablasian surgical robot that removes excess prostate tissue using a waterjet.
Doctors and health administrators want to stress that while procedures performed using these technologies are referred to as robotic surgeries, it’s somewhat of
a misnomer as every machine requires a human to guide it.
“The surgeon is in control at all times,” said Dr. Stephen Reese, a general surgeon with MultiCare.
Dan Springer, Chief Operating Officer of MultiCare Valley Hospital, said the human factor is vital.
“Dr. Reese would be here operating, and his hands go inside of this. And whatever he does with his two hands, the robot mimics,” he said, indicating a graphic showing a surgeon facing the viewing screen of a da Vinci machine, with his hands inside a console.
Reese has completed hundreds of robot-assisted surgeries a year since learning how to use the machines.
“Over time it’s a lot of repetition. I spent countless hours about 10 years ago, getting to learn the process,” he said. “It takes years to get really good at.”
Robotic surgeries have several benefits over traditional surgery performed by a doctor’s hands; the main one being that they are less invasive. Fewer and smaller incisions are required, which results in
faster healing, shorter hospital stays and a quicker return to work, less scars, fewer complications, and less pain, which in turn means less opioid use and less likelihood of becoming dependent on painkillers. For medical professionals, the benefits include faster surgeries, so more can be performed in a day, and less strain on a doctor’s body from standing for hours or bending at odd angles. To Dr. Reese, the biggest benefit is that success rates and other data associated with each surgery can be tracked.
“These newer robots allow us to follow our outcomes better so we can have access to data that we didn’t have before, such as what was the time that it took, what complications did we have,” Reese said.
Using this technology, MultiCare doctors can even compare themselves to other doctors all over the country or world.
“We do better by pushing for new goals,” said Reese.
“We continuously do a quality assessment. We feel very confident that we do as good a job as anyone in the world.”
Locally, Deaconess is the only hospital where robotic surgery is available any time of the day or night, as all surgeons have been trained on the da Vinci machines.
“That means the patient that comes in at 2 a.m. gets the same care as a patient that comes in during the day,” said Reese. Whether day or night, MultiCare officials want area residents to know that they don’t have to leave Spokane to get the highest quality care. Deaconess and Valley Hospitals have been nationally recognized with accreditations of Robotics Center of Excellence and Hernia Center of Excellence from the Surgical Services Corporation (SRC); prestigious accreditations that involved an extensive assessment and inspection process taking almost two years.
“I’ve been in Spokane for the past 30 years and it’s always been on the forefront of medical care,” said Reese. “…If you come to Deaconess, we have avant-garde care here and we’re ready to give people of this town and people of the region the best care possible.”
CAPTIONS
Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review
Previous page, Dan Springer, Chief Operating Officer of MultiCare Deaconess and Valley Hospitals, shows a variety of specialized robots used by MultiCare staff for a variety of treatments.
By Jean Arthur Marketing Correspondent
In the U.S., about 3.6 million babies are born each year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and about 12 percent of these births are attended by midwives.
According to the American College of Nurse-Midwifery, childbearing individuals encounter “a host of good outcomes” when employing a nursemidwife, similar findings to outcomes
at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, where Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) Ronda Williamson has delivered babies -- some 3,000 of them -- since 2005.
“I can speak to our group statistics,” Williamson says of Kootenai OB/GYN practice. “Our stats are that a person has a 6-12 percent chance of a cesarean section in our service, compared to nationally, which is really low. The
World Health Organization says that below that is too low and above 15 percent C-sections is too high. We are in that happy zone – we know that C-sections are lifesaving. We try everything to safely have women have vaginal births.”
According to the American Medical Association, In 2023, 32.3 percent of U.S. live births were cesarean deliveries.
Eight CNMs at Kootenai Health work in labor and delivery. Williamson says they have excellent relationships with the physicians. Complicated pregnancies such as twins, or mothers with high blood pressure, diabetes or a history of seizures, see OB/GYN doctors. “Birth is not a medical procedure,” asserts Williamson, noting that it’s a natural process. “But at times, we need
emergency safety nets. Midwives give women more personal decision-making such as a medicine-free birth. There are lots of options, and we support all options for women.”
Williamson started as a nurse through her first degree at North Idaho College. She earned her midwifery degree from Frontier Midwifery School in Kentucky. Confusion exists over various roles with similar names. Today, certified nurse midwives have earned a master’s or doctorate degree in nursing and midwifery. They may provide general reproductive care, prescribe medicine, order lab tests and diagnose conditions. They work in hospitals and birthing centers and are certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board to work in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Others engaged in pregnancy care include certified midwives (CMs) who earn a master’s degree in midwifery but do not hold a nursing school degree. Nine states allow CMs to practice. Certified professional midwives (CPMs) work in birthing centers or conduct home births. The North American Registry of Midwives licenses CPMs in 37 states including Idaho, Montana and Washington. CPMs cannot prescribe medications.
Lay midwives have no certification nor license to practice but have training such as an apprenticeship. They conduct home births.
Certified doulas support families during pregnancy and labor and advocate for clients regarding pain management techniques and emotional support, plus postpartum support including breastfeeding and newborn care. According to Harvard Health at Harvard Medical School, “Midwives and doulas tend to have a few overlapping duties. But there’s a key difference: Midwives provide medical care and doulas don’t.” In Spokane at Quilted Health, CNMs “caught 387 babies in 2024,” says Lisa Larkin, NM, Doctor of Nurse Practitioner, and clinical director. “Over the past 5-6 years the midwives on this team (some of us were employed by Northwest OBGYN prior to joining Quilted Health in 2023) have caught an average of 10-20% of the babies born at Sacred Heart.”
Larkin notes that demand for CNMs has increased for several reasons, partly due to the similar increased need for registered nurses due to burnout, retirement and politicized maternal health.
“There is a growing need for new CNMs in the Spokane area, regionally and nationally,” Larkin says. “Maternal health is in flux, and we need to utilize the specialists we have (MFM/ Perinatologists, OBGYNs, etc.) wisely so that they don’t burn out, and we can stop the spread of maternity care deserts in our country.”
She said the industry can work on this by shifting the care of a majority of low-risk birthing people to midwives and allow high-risk colleagues to sleep more and maximize their time with consultations, surgeries, and care for high-risk clients.
“Additionally, we need more midwives of color to help address the Black maternal health crisis in this country in a holistic, culturally competent way,” Larkin said.
Several universities offer CNM degrees such as the newly accredited Mark and Robin Jones College of Nursing at Montana State University in Bozeman. Montana ranks high in infant mortality and more than half the state’s 56 counties lack a women’s health specialist and nine counties lack a family care physician. The first group of seven students will graduate from the three-year program in spring 2027 with a DNP degree in nurse-midwifery. Six students began this summer.
learning through programs like D.C.’s Georgetown University or Kentucky’s Frontier Nursing University.
“Our students are all over Montana, with many living in rural and tribal communities,” said Mariah Hill, clinical professor and program lead for nurse-midwifery. “It is really worth the extra challenge of figuring out how to accommodate students living in Montana’s most isolated communities to build a maternal health workforce where we need it most.”
University of Washington School of Nursing’s midwifery program is among the 46 accredited midwifery programs nationwide.
Midwives “love to maintain care for people after they’ve had their babies and often see our clients well into their perimenopause/menopause years,” Larkin says. “We do annual wellness visits (pap smears, breast cancer screening, etc), problem-focused gynecology care (treating STIs, UTIs, yeast infections, breast concerns, etc.) and even some primary care (mental health, thyroid, skin conditions, etc.). We can help meet the needs of a large number of women in this country who struggle to find a primary care provider.”
After graduating with a DNP degree, students must pass a national board exam provide by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. While there are many routes to becoming a practicing midwife who provides comprehensive care throughout pregnancy and birth, nurse-midwives are unique in that they can prescribe medication, provide primary care to women across the lifespan starting in adolescence, and work in hospitals or community-based birth settings. According to nursing officials, there are roughly four dozen nurse-midwives in Montana, with most practicing in urban areas.
Until last year, Montanans wanting to pursue nurse-midwifery had to leave the state for school or pursue distance
CMs. and CPMs.
“I anticipate hiring a few more midwives (at minimum) within the next year or two to meet the Spokane community’s demand,” Larkin says. “Our team has doubled since joining Quilted Health in September 2023 (from 5 to 10 midwives) and we are excited to see how these next years will continue to evolve so that midwifery is more accessible to everyone in this region who desires it and the midwives in the community feel connected and supported.”
“I just want to be there for people who want a CNM to be there by their side,” adds Williamson. “It’s amazing that everyone has different options that include out of hospital births. It’s all an import part of puzzle of birth and I’m grateful I get to do it.”
It hasn’t always this way. According to Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, during the 1800s, male physicians became more involved in childbirths, and opposed midwifeassisted care. The rise of obstetrics pushed out midwives.
In 1915, a prominent obstetrician, Joseph DeLee, claimed that midwives were incompetent. He changed hospital care and interventions with forceps, sedatives and ether for women in labor. Federal laws soon legislated against home birth and demanded that states enact laws restricting midwives’ practices. According to OHSU’s timeline, the decline in midwifery-attended births changed course with the Women’s Movement in the 1960s and 1970s, noting, “Today, more than 98 percent of births in the United States take place in hospitals.”
In countries such as Sweden, France and Japan, midwives are part of 75 percent of births. In the U.S., about 17,000 practicing midwives include CNMs,
CAPTIONS
Previous page
Courtesy Quilted Health
The staff at Quilted Health in Spokane includes Holly, Haleigh Peterson, Julie McCormick, Shelley Northern, Nicole Stinson, Jane Silver, Fleur Coulter, and Lisa Larkin.
When quality matters use the only accredited compounding pharmacy in the Inland Northwest
By Tracy Damon Marketing Correspondent
As with most medical fields, the technology behind prosthetics has increased exponentially in recent years. Advances such as robotics, new materials, and artificial intelligence are enhancing the quality of life for amputees and assistive device wearers. Regionally, there are three major producers and providers of prosthetic devices; Veterans Affairs, Shriners Children’s Hospitals, and Spokane Falls Community College.
Veterans Affairs Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) is the largest and most comprehensive provider of prosthetic devices and sensory aids in the world.
“In fiscal year 2024, Veterans Integrated Service Network, the VA regional network that provides healthcare to veterans in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, provided more than 236,300 unique veterans with prosthetic services,” Alex Berardo-Cates, Development Engineer and Digital Prosthetics Lead with VHA Office of Advance Manufacturing, wrote in an email.
VA involvement in prosthetics dates to 1921 when the Veterans Bureau, the VA’s predecessor, was given responsibility for providing artificial limbs and appliances to World War I veterans. Things have come a long way in 104 years.
“Veterans have access to the most advanced prosthetic technologies at VA, including bionic limbs with enhanced energy efficiency and adaptability which improve stability, control, and community involvement,” wrote Berardo-Cates. Prosthetics are considered any device that support or replaces a body part or function.
“VA’s PSAS serves veterans with a broad range of equipment and services including artificial limbs, hearing aids, ramps, vehicle modifications, surgically implanted devices, and other medical aids through an extensive network across the United States,” wrote Berardo-Cates.
Today’s prosthetics are more comfortable, natural looking and moving than in the past, thanks in part to alternative high-performance materials like polymer that allow for lighter, stronger, and more personalized devices than the carbon that has been the standard until recently. Retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Bill Stuart, an Oregon resident, was the first veteran fitted with a 3D printed socket- the part of the prosthetic limb that attaches to the residual limb or “stump.” Digital scans were taken of Stuart’s stump and a test socket created. Based on his input, adjustments were made and a prototype was printed out literally while he waited. The socket was supposed to be
temporary but was so much more comfortable than the one it replaced that Stuart insisted on keeping it. Building the same socket using traditional plaster-based models would have taken days or even weeks.
“Our hope is that someday veterans will be able to walk out the same day with their new socket,” Berardo-Cates wrote. Which may not be far in the future considering that 32 VA medical centers already have on-site, 3D printing capabilities, in addition to one office dedicated to finding solutions to clinical challenges through 3D printing and other innovative solutions.
Another prosthetic advance involves connecting devices to the mind, not just limbs. There are already several devices available- typically hands, ankles, and knees- that can be controlled using brain signals but VA is researching additional use of brain-computer interfaces and peripheral nervous system stimulation devices to improve the lives of veterans needing prosthetics.
Kimberly McKinney, Registered Nurse, Kaiser Permanente Riverfront Medical Center
How long have you worked in
healthcare?
Thirteen years here. I have been working in healthcare for 24 years. I started out in caregiving while I in nursing school. I then worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse before becoming an RN
Finding a well-fitting prosthetic for growing children used to be a challenge. Shriners Children’s Pediatric Orthotics and Prosthetic Services, LLC- POPS for short, designs, fits and manufactures orthotics and prosthetics for youth from infants to young adults. They provide a full range of prosthetic services, including upper (arms and hands) and lower (legs or feet) extremity prosthetic care, scoliosis braces, and other devices.
POPS not only designs braces, artificial limbs and adaptive devices, but emphasizes fit, comfort, and appearance that improve function and mobility, reduce pain, and allow children to live more independently and less self-consciously. Shriners uses noninvasive advanced computer aided design (CAD) and manufacturing (CAM) technologies to get detailed images of a child’s limbs, extremities, or spine, then uses them resulting 3D images to manufacture custom-fitted devices. Using this system, they can typically produce a prosthetic in days instead of weeks.
What do you most like about what you do?
I enjoy helping people and making a difference in their lives. I mostly do wound care. I often have patients who have long-term wounds over months. I like helping them heal and giving them hope back.
I often get patients who come frustrated and feeling helpless or doomed. They have wounds that won’t heal and that are impacting their lifestyle and their quality of life. We make adjustments to their care as needed, and watch the whole process of healing. Seeing how they respond at the end of the journey is enjoyable.
That’s what I like about working in a clinic setting — I get to see the process from start to finish. In a hospital, all the wound care happens there, then the patient leaves.
By the time we’ve healed the wound, a lot of my patients say, “I’ve enjoyed our visits. I will miss seeing you, but not the wounds.” I get to know them, and they get to know me on a friendly level, while also improving their quality of life.
Possibly the best part for Shriners’ young customers is that they can customize prosthetic limbs and other devices with favorite colors, characters, sports teams, or other interests.
Spokane Falls Community College’s Orthotics and Prosthetics program has a double purpose: providing prosthetic devices for those who need them while teaching students a trade. SFCC’s program, the only one in the Western United States, with the next closest in Minnesota, provides a one-year technician certificate that gets students into the workforce quickly to help meet industry demand for prosthetics. If desired, students can do a second year in the program to obtain an Associate in Applied Science - Applied Orthotic and Prosthetic Sciences degree. The program’s first year curriculum is a simulated business model, combining hands-on and soft skills. The second year includes business courses that teach digital workflows of orthotics
Jake Chapman, Director of PBM and Retail Pharmacy Services, Kootenai Health
How long have you worked in healthcare?
I have been at Kootenai Health for a
and prosthetics manufacturing using cutting-edge technology.
Administrators are currently working to offer a hybrid-remote format of the program to make it accessible to students in rural areas, supply the industry with much-needed workers, and make prosthetics more accessible to patients.
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little over 10 years and in healthcare for 13 years.
What do you most like about what you do?
Currently, the thing I like most is working with so many different leaders to find ways in which we can provide the best care possible in our region. The level of collaboration and teamwork is inspiring to see and to be a part of. With my background in business, I enjoy the business development side of my job and being able to grow service lines. Kootenai Health has been growing at a fast pace over the last decade, and it has been incredibly satisfying to be part of this growth and business development.
Elizabeth Grosen, Gynecologic Oncologist, Division Chief Women’s Health, Providence Medical Group
How long have you worked in healthcare?
I have been working as a gynecologic oncologist in Spokane since 2000. I was Spokane’s first gynecologic oncologist. I have been working in the field of gynecologic oncology for 31 years.
Rochelle Provancha, Epic Applications Manager –Healthcare Informatics and Education, Kootenai Health
How long have you worked in health care?
I’ve worked at Kootenai Health for 25 years, and in health care for 26 years. I began as a bedside nurse in the Nursing Resource Team, where I spent 14 years
What do you most like about what you do?
My patients – they are such amazing, strong women! I also enjoy performing surgery and managing complex oncology care.
Where did you study?
Undergraduate: Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, Medical school: University of Washington. Residency: University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, Fellowship: University of California, Irvine.
What would you like people to know more about what you do?
The joy in caring for my patients, and the challenges of oncology care. It takes a team to help treat cancer patients. I am lucky to be part of an amazing team, including my office staff, hospital operating room staff, and hospital staff.
Melanie Barnes,
M.D., Family
Medicine
Physician, Providence
How long have you worked here and in health care?
Almost one year. I graduated from residency in Colville in 2024.
What do you most like about what you do?
I enjoy getting to know people, and I love
being able to help when I can. Being a physician puts you in a unique position to know people so deeply, and it is incredibly gratifying when you can do something to make their life better. I also love that if I think of a funny joke, I can tell it multiple times throughout the day and it doesn’t get old.
Where did you study?
University of Washington, Spokane Cohort
What would you like people to know more about what you do?
Being a physician means having 18-20 meetings a day with minimal agenda ahead of time and multiple decisions made during each meeting. We address MyChart questions and results in between those meetings, so please be patient if we don’t answer your message right away!
caring for patients directly. For the past 11 years, I’ve been part of the IT team, combining my clinical background with informatics to support our clinicians and enhance patient care.
What do you most like about what you do?
I love that I still get to make a difference in patient care, even though I’m no longer at the bedside. This role allows me to combine my clinical expertise with the technical skills of informatics to improve health care delivery and outcomes. What I enjoy most is knowing the work I do helps support patients and clinicians every day — and I feel especially fortunate to collaborate with such an amazing team while doing it.
Where did you study?
North Idaho College and Western Governors University
Trisha Harbison, Blood Bank Supervisor, Kootenai Health
How long have you worked in healthcare?
Kootenai Health for 24 years. I started as a generalist in the lab and have worked as a dedicated blood banker for five years. I am now the supervisor and love what I do.
What do you most like about what you do?
Knowing the difference laboratorians make in a patient’s life, behind the scenes. While we don’t often get to see patients, we are an invested group providing lab results and lifesaving transfusions. Transfusions of red blood cells, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate can be used in surgery, trauma, cancer care, and situations where multiple products are needed rapidly.
Many departments, including phlebotomy, client services, specimen processing, point of care testing, histology, along with analytical departments, including blood banking, coagulation, hematology, chemistry, urinalysis, immunology, and microbiology, work together to provide lab results that aid in patient diagnosis and treatment.
Please donate blood! One donation potentially saves up to three people. Platelets are also in high demand. Please contact vitalant.org and make a difference!
To participate in this premier event please contact events@spokesman.com or call 509-459-5095
Nancy Zietlow, Food and Nutrition Services
Department Systems Coordinator, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
How long have you worked in healthcare?
I have been working in healthcare for 48 years, all of which I’ve spent here. I started as a high school student as a candy striper—a junior volunteer. It’s been a rewarding experience being part
Kristopher Holden, Motion Analysis Center
Physical Therapist, Shriners Children’s Spokane
How long have you worked here?
I started in early 2020 in the Motion Analysis Center. This uses video camera capture overlaid on 3D motion capture data, electromyography, force plate analysis, pedobarography and Kinematic and Kinetic data on each person. We use the data, a physical evaluation, and history to determine their profile
of such a dedicated team.
What do you most like about what you do?
The constant opportunity for change and improvement. We’re always looking for ways to enhance patient care, whether it’s through improved nutrition services or safety measures. The progress we’ve made is inspiring, and it’s fulfilling to know that my role contributes to our mission of serving patients.
Where did you study?
I earned my Associate of Applied Science in Dietetics from Spokane Community College, followed by a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Eastern Washington University. My leadership team has consistently encouraged me to pursue further education and embrace professional growth opportunities. Their support allowed me to complete both degrees while working full-time. This blend of formal education and diverse training opportunities have been essential to my development and ability to contribute meaningfully.
regarding impairments and limitations related to walking, running, and returning to sports.
Our clientele is primarily children with central nervous system impairment. We look at kids with simple bone alignment and musculoskeletal dysfunction and various injuries, using motion capture data to help guide care.
We also look at return to sports testing utilizing tests and skilled movement analysis. We look at the image of each child’s walk or foot pressure mapping to see foot morphology and center of pressure progression compared to normal/typical grouping.
What do you like most about what you do?
Seeing the joy on kids’ faces when we show how they can be a superhero similar to any Marvel movie character. The system is the same that Hollywood uses for those movies.
Taruwe Rilometo, Community Worker -- TB Program, Spokane Regional Health District
How long have you worked here and in public health?
I have worked at SRHD and in public
health for 7 years.
What do you most like about what you do?
Seeing our patients feel much better and encouraging others to get treated.
Where did you study?
Massachusetts Bay Community College
What would you like people to know more about what you do?
I don’t work with the TB Program only, but with other programs, like Data Center, Immunization Assessment & Prevention, HIV/STD Prevention. I help with translation and interpretation and sometimes help connect patients with coordinated care representatives with community partners such as CHAS or MultiCare.
Baylee
Valentine,
Social Worker, Shriners Children’s Spokane
How long have you worked in healthcare?
2 years in healthcare, 1 year at Shriners Children’s Spokane
What do you most like about what you do?
One of my favorite parts is leading and
planning patient support groups. We offer a monthly Teen Scoliosis Group. We also have an International Group for patients who stay during extended medical treatment.
My role centers on child welfare, mental health support, patient advocacy, and legal guardianship. I value the opportunity to meet patients where they are, understand their experiences, and support them in achieving their goals, whether that is accessing financial resources, navigating mental health needs, or understanding their healthcare journey.
I love building long-term relationships with patients. We have an incredible and compassionate team that works to provide comprehensive care, and I am happy to be part of it.
Many of our patients stay with us, especially when facing major surgeries or ongoing treatment. Our multidisciplinary team comes together to make the experience as supportive and positive as possible.
Todd Hogue, Supply Chain Manager, Shriners Children’s Spokane
How long have you worked here and in health care?
15 years at Shriners Children’s and in healthcare
What do you most like about what you do?
My role is to ensure that everyone in
the hospital has the supplies they need to care for patients — from basic items like office supplies to complex items like spinal implants. I take pride in helping others by responding to their requests and finding creative solutions to unexpected challenges.
What would you like people to know more about what you do?
The medical supply chain industry has faced significant challenges in recent years — from the COVID-19 pandemic and reliance on offshore manufacturing to natural disasters like hurricanes that have damaged IV solution factories. As a result, no two days in my role are the same. My responsibilities and priorities constantly shift depending on which products are currently on manufacturer backorder.
For 140 years, we’ve been partnering locally to support communities in the ways they need it most. Because healthy communities need more than health care.
multicare.org
One man’s experience putting his livelihood in a co-worker’s hands
By Tracy Damon Marketing Correspondent
It’s hard to go from being the guy that protects others to being the one that needs to be taken care of. That’s what happened to Devin Yates, Senior Education Program Coordinator with Providence. Among other duties, as part of Providence’s security team, Yates teaches self-defense classes to 6,200 of the company’s healthcare providers.
“Self-defense is very important to caregivers for their safety,” he said. It isn’t uncommon for people having mental health crises or reacting to drugs to attack the very people who are trying to help them. Because of this, Yates spends much of his work time demonstrating how co-workers can physically protect themselves. After the work day is done, there’s little rest for his body, as his hobbies are physical as well.
“I lift weights, I swim, I was in the military and was a police officer locally so there has been a lot of wear and tear on my body over the years,” he said. That wear and tear eventually required Yates to have cortisone shots in his right shoulder to relieve the pain and allow
him to do his job.
“Dr. Clinton said I have the shoulders of someone 10 years older than me,” he said. “After I’d received about a year-and-a-half worth of shots, the effectiveness of the shots was starting to diminish, impacting my ability to do my self-defense. We were to the point where the doc was like ‘you either have to get surgery or change what you do.’”
For Yates, that was a scary prospect.
“I was nervous because I am so active and physical fitness is a big part of my life. I was terrified that I could lose that lifestyle and that I wasn’t going to be able to do this anymore,” he said.
“(Dr. Clinton) really and truly put my mind at ease,” he said. “He came highly recommended. The caregivers around here were like ‘That’s the guy you want to go to.’”
Devin Yates
Yates didn’t know Dr. Jeremiah Clinton, MD, personally before needing his assistance but he had trained his team in self-defense.
Yates had choices as to where he could go for his procedures but the recommendations for Dr. Clinton from his peers carried a lot of weight. Even so, he knew his job would change more than physically if surgery didn’t go well.
“I believe in its (Providence’s) mission and core values down to my bones,” he said. “I do a lot of outreach for our organization and didn’t think I could talk positively about it if I had a bad experience.”
Fortunately that was never an issue, either with the surgery or the surgeon.
“He didn’t have a ‘God complex’ at all,” Yates said of Dr. Clinton. “They (Clinton
and Physician Assistant Caitlin Kokot) were the nicest human beings, friendly and caring. My surgery was minor to them but they made me feel like I was the most important patient they had that day.”
The surgery, called a distal clavicle excision, is pretty elementary for Dr. Clinton “Fairly common,” he said of the procedure. “(I) do them weekly.”
The procedure involves shaving off part of the shoulder bone clavicle (which is why Clinton told Yates he refers to himself as a carpenter), to relieve pain and increase range of motion lost from arthritis or excessive use of the shoulder. And it doesn’t matter whose bone is being removed -- the same effort goes into every procedure.
“Not really that much different,” he said of performing surgery on a co-worker vs. a patient who he doesn’t know well. “I try and treat everyone the same.”
Now, after a successful surgery and Yates now being able to do everything he did prior to shoulder issues, he and Dr. Clinton are far from strangers.
“We’re both University of Washington grads so we hit it off. We talk football,” Yates said.
Dr. Clinton said there’s a chance that Yates might need help in the future with his other shoulder. He also said there are things that everyone can do to not need
While there’s a chance he could need to see Dr. Clinton professionally again in the future for his other shoulder, Clinton says there are some basic steps he and the the rest of us can take to avoid becoming his patients.
“Stay healthy, stay fit and take care of your body. You only get one.”
By Tracy Damon Marketing Correspondent
With an increasing number of people requiring procedures like Devin Yates’ (see main story) on worn knees, ankles, shoulders, and other body parts, orthopedics is one of the fastest growing medical specialties in the United States. Orthopedics focuses on treatment of diseases and injuries to the musculoskeletal system, which is made up of bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves -- all the parts that help the body move.
As with Yates, many orthopedic ailments stem from overuse of the body, resulting in tendon tears, ligament and muscle injuries, and fractures. Others are a result of aging, such as tendonitis, arthritis, bursitis, and muscle atrophy. With close to 60 million people in
the U.S. being 65 or older (and that number projected by the U.S. Census Bureau to increase to 82 million by 2050), orthopedic healthcare providers are in big demand. Medical schools and healthcare companies are working to increase the number of providers specializing in orthopedics by adopting policies that expand education and training options, provide more student loans to people looking to get into orthopedics, and make it easier for doctors from other countries to get into the field in the U.S.
Many doctors currently specializing in orthopedics are adopting new practices or technology to help keep up with the demand for service. One trend in the field of orthopedic surgery is to perform surgeries that
are as minimally invasive as possible to reduce tissue damage and recovery time. Orthopedic doctors are also increasingly using stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma to promote faster healing and utilizing technology such as telehealth appointments to reach more people more efficiently.
Because a robot can do the job more efficiently, some surgeons are even using robotics for tasks like cutting and reshaping bone and positioning implants. Some of those implants are created by 3D printing, which allows an implant to be sized and fitted to the specific patient. This can reduce surgery time and the potential for complications.
By Kate A. Miner Marketing Correspondent
In recent years, the Inland Northwest has seen a significant shift in healthcare approaches, with complementary and functional medicine gaining traction alongside traditional medical practices. This evolution reflects a growing recognition that optimal health often requires a more holistic, personalized approach to patient care.
Complementary medicine, also known as integrative medicine, combines conventional Western medical practices with what were once considered
“alternative” approaches. This can include treatments like acupuncture, massage therapy, nutrition counseling, and mind-body practices. Functional medicine, a related approach, focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease, often through lifestyle changes and natural interventions.
“We’re seeing a major shift in how people think about health and healing,” explains Dr. Gina Wolf of Wolf Chiropractic in Spokane Valley. “Patients
are looking for healthcare providers who will understand their individual needs and work with them to create a personalized treatment plan that takes into consideration their lifestyle and unique circumstances.” This trend is part of a larger movement sweeping the healthcare industry. According to recent market research, the global complementary and alternative medicine market is expected to reach $362.97 billion by 2029, growing at an annual rate of 17.9 percent. The rising
demand is driven by factors like the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, growing interest in natural remedies, and a desire for more personalized care.
In Spokane, one shining example of innovative complementary care can be found at Shriners Children’s Hospital. The facility houses an internationally recognized Motion Analysis Center (MAC) that uses cutting-edge technology
to help children with mobility impairments move more efficiently and confidently.
“Our Motion Analysis Lab is truly at the forefront of pediatric care,” says Dr. Mark Driscoll, Medical Director of the MAC at Shriners Children’s Spokane. “We use the same motion capture technology you might see in Hollywood blockbusters to analyze a child’s gait and movement patterns in incredible detail.”
The process involves placing reflective markers on a child’s body and using high-speed cameras to create a 3D model of their movements. This data is then analyzed by a multidisciplinary team including doctors, engineers, physical therapists, and kinesiologists.
“What’s amazing about this approach is that it allows us to see things the naked eye might miss,” Dr. Driscoll explains.
“We can identify subtle issues in how a child walks or moves that, if addressed early, could prevent more serious problems down the road.”
The MAC team uses this information to guide treatment decisions, whether that involves surgery, bracing, or targeted physical therapy. They’ve even expanded their services to help young athletes recover from injuries and assess their readiness to return to sports.
Across the region, numerous clinics and wellness centers are offering a variety of complementary and functional medicine services. Integrative Medicine NW, with locations in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, takes a functional medicine approach to address chronic conditions and promote overall wellness. The Wellness Tree in Spokane provides naturopathic medicine, chiropractic care, and acupuncture services, along with a juice bar offering organic options.
While Embodied Wellness offers a full spectrum of Eastern Medicine practices, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutraceuticals, cupping, gua-sha, and point injection therapy.
For those seeking more specialized care, Argonne Integrative Medicine in Spokane offers a combination of traditional and alternative therapies, including regenerative medicine techniques. House of Healing in Spokane Valley, led by Dr. Pamil Sidhu, specializes in integrative functional medicine, focusing on treating patients as whole individuals rather than just addressing symptoms.
Clinic 5C in Spokane takes a unique approach by combining functional medicine with regenerative modalities
such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, IV infusions, and stem cell treatments. Meanwhile, Kaiser Permanente has incorporated complementary care options into their coverage, offering members access to services like acupuncture, naturopathy, and massage therapy through their ChooseHealthy™ program.
Integrating Complementary and Conventional Medicine
“It’s not about rejecting conventional medicine,” says Dr. Emily Chen of Integrative Medicine Northwest. “It’s about integrating the best of both worlds to achieve optimal health for each individual patient.”
This integrative approach is gaining traction in Spokane’s larger healthcare institutions as well. Providence Health Care, the region’s largest healthcare provider, now offers complementary services like acupuncture and massage therapy alongside traditional medical care. Challenges and Future Outlook
The growing acceptance of complementary and functional medicine approaches is not without challenges. Insurance coverage for many of these services remains limited, and some in the medical community remain skeptical of treatments that haven’t
undergone rigorous clinical trials. However, as more research emerges supporting the efficacy of many complementary therapies, and as patient demand continues to grow, it seems likely that this integrative approach to healthcare will only become more prevalent in Spokane and beyond.
“The future of medicine is about collaboration and personalization,” Dr. Wolf concludes. “By combining the best of conventional and complementary approaches, we can provide care that truly meets each patient’s unique needs. That’s what healthcare should be all about.”
As complementary and functional medicine continues to evolve in the Spokane area, patients have an expanding array of options for addressing their health concerns. From cutting-edge motion analysis technology to time-honored practices like acupuncture and naturopathy, the region is embracing a more holistic approach to healthcare. This integration of diverse healing modalities promises to offer patients more comprehensive, personalized care options in the years to come.
How long have you worked in healthcare?
I have supported the Spokane community in healthcare and social services for nearly 40 years including seven years at SRHD. Promoting healthcare and optimized quality of life in communities facing barriers to
wellness is a common thread. This has included providing direct services here, supporting agencies like the Spokane AIDS Network, the Inland Northwest AIDS Coalition, and Volunteers of America, becoming certified in counseling, testifying before the State Senate, and serving as Rainbow Grand Marshal at this year’s Pride.
What do you most like about what you do?
Using my personal life lenses to help my fellow humans achieve the quality of life they want.
What would you like people to know more about what you do?
How vital and transformative personal life lenses are to understand how healthcare and community resources can be combined to help others. The impact of one person’s journey of life and authentic sharing of their spirit with the community they love cannot be overstated.
How long have you worked in healthcare?
In Spokane for 1 year and in healthcare for 20 years
What do you most like about what you do?
I have the opportunity to be a part of helping people and families through what can be one of the most significant, frightening and transformative moments of their lives. Surgeries to fix diseases of heart arteries, heart valves or the aorta are some of the largest surgeries we do, but they also can provide the most benefits.
Patients often don’t realize how much a blocked artery, a valve that does not function well, or the burden of a “ticking time bomb” aneurysm has been holding them back. I feel lucky that I can fix or improve those problems for the immediate benefit of the patients as well as the long-term impact on patients and families.
Going through cardiac or aortic surgery is one of the moments where patients say that with this opportunity, they have been able to change their lives in terms of better nutrition, more exercise and activity, and a new appreciation for each day with family and friends.
with
Todd Bristow, Physical Therapist, MultiCare
How long have you worked in healthcare?
21 years
What do you like most about what you do?
I enjoy collaborating with patients to help them achieve specific goals and return to their favorite activities. It’s exciting to see patients progress and achieve their goals.
Eastern Washington University
What would you like people to know more about what you do?
Working in healthcare is a calling and I especially enjoy working with orthopedic patients and sports medicine. I’m continually amazed by the progress my patients can make with hard work and dedication. After 21 years, I enjoy coming to work every day and continue to learn and grow in my profession daily while making a difference in the lives of our patients.
Cindy Roberts Hollon, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, MultiCare Rockwood Clinic
How long have you worked in healthcare?
16 years
What do you most like about what you do?
As a pediatric nurse practitioner, I have the privilege of walking alongside families from those first tender days – when parents are both unsure and hopeful – through the winding path of childhood. I cherish watching children grow into teenagers, navigating the challenges and triumphs, and then stepping with confidence into young adulthood. Bearing witness to these transformations in both child and parent is the deepest joy and honor of my career.
I work hard to stay current in evidencebased medicine, remain humble, and to provide the most comprehensive care to those who present for care. I love continuing to learn and grow. I always work to treat people how I would like to be treated or how I would like a family member to be treated.
How long have you worked in healthcare?
Eleven years, including the last three years with MultiCare.
Tanisha Morton, MD, FAAP, District Medical Director of Eastern Washington, Kaiser Permanente Washington
How long have you worked in healthcare?
I graduated from medical school in 2008. I went on to the U.S. Air Force and completed my pediatrics residency. I moved to Fairchild in 2011, where I served as a general pediatrician. I
What do you most like about what you do?
Watching our patients through each step of their recovery process and being able to be a part of them returning back to normal life and activities. As an Athletic Trainer, my education and training allow me to treat injury prevention, evaluation, emergency medical management, surgical assistance, general medical management, postsurgical treatment, and rehabilitation. If you come across the title Athletic Trainer and are unsure of what our profession is capable of, always ask! We love to educate on what we bring to the table. Of course, if you’d like to do a deeper dive, look into our profession on our national site, NATA.
also spent time as medical director of immunizations, medical director of the pharmacy and therapeutics committee, medical director of infection prevention, and flight commander.
In 2016, I joined Kaiser Permanente as a general pediatrician. In 2020, my role expanded to include administrative responsibilities in medical operations while continuing my clinical practice.
What do you most like about what you do?
I believe in leading with empathy and integrity. My goal is to foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and continuous learning. I make sure my team knows they are heard and supported. I also believe in celebrating wins because recognition fuels resilience. It’s rewarding to see our efforts translate into better patient outcomes.
Anything else you want readers to know?
I am both fortunate and blessed to be a mother and fierce advocate for an amazing 11-year-old girl. She’s filled with spirit and has an infectious laugh, compassionate heart, and daring personality.
