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 | Community Connections | Fall 2020

Good Shepherd Health Care System | 

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Welcome to our Community Connections Fall Edition! The past six 
months have been an interesting time in health care throughout our 
nation (and, of course, around the world) as we have continued to 
fight the global COVID-19 pandemic. As a novel (new) virus, there 
has been much to learn, but we are making progress and learning 
from each other. As of this writing, Oregon has been very fortunate – 
having a relatively low prevalence rate compared to other states.  
I want each reader to know that Good Shepherd Health Care System 
(GSHCS) is following the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and 
the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) guidelines carefully in order to 
respond most effectively and safely in treating this disease within  
our community. And, yes, these guidelines have evolved as best or 
better practices have been identified. Here are some of the changes 
that we have made to best serve you:

•  We are screening everyone that enters the hospital and  

directing accordingly

•  We have visitor restrictions in place – recognizing that visitation 

is important in patient care, while restricting numbers to reduce 
potential exposure

•  We have segregated sections (to the extent possible) of 

the hospital for treating patients with COVID (or who are 
presumptively COVID-positive) from patients that do not  
have COVID as a precaution

•  We are testing all inpatients routinely upon their admission  

and all elective surgery patients, as a pre-requisite

We have put other environmental controls into play, including barriers 
and enhanced air handling, to minimize the potential for spread. 
GSHCS is also very fortunate to have adequate supply chains to 
ensure that we have the appropriate personal protective equipment 
(PPE) for staff, patient and visitor safety. We believe that the steps  
we have taken to address COVID-19 within our community can 
reassure everyone that we are providing safe, effective healthcare  
for all who need our services.

I am very pleased to report that Dr. David Shanley (Family Medicine) 
has arrived, joining our GSMG Primary Care Clinic. Dr. Shanley comes 

to us from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He completed his residency at 
Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, PA. Dr. Shanley is now accepting 
new patients. Also, I am pleased to report that Dr. Christopher Bowen 
(OB/GYN) will be moving to the Hermiston area and starting his 
practice in September. Dr. Bowen is originally from Yakima, WA, and 
is looking forward to returning to the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Bowen 
graduated from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Seton 
Hill, Pennsylvania. He recently completed his OB/GYN residency at 
Henry Ford Health in Wyandotte, Michigan. We also look forward to 
welcoming Dr. Ken Snider (OB/GYN) once his Oregon licensure has 
been completed.

Last month we opened the new Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 
(PM& R) Clinic which is directly across the hall from the Primary 
Care Clinic in the Good Shepherd Medical Plaza. We hope to have an 
open house as soon as COVID-19 restrictions may allow. We are very 
excited about this clinic and the services that it will provide to our 
community and welcome all the new occupants.

It has been my sincerest pleasure to serve as President & CEO of 
Good Shepherd Health Care System for the past 31 years.  I deeply 
appreciate the trust that has been placed in me by the Board of 
the Trustees, the staff of Good Shepherd Health Care System and 
the communities that we serve.  Last fall I announced my intended 
retirement and Good Shepherd has engaged in a very comprehensive 
search to find the next President of Good Shepherd Health Care 
System. In this issue we introduce and welcome the next President  
& CEO, Mr. Brian Sims, who will officially start October 1, 2020.  
Mr. Sims leaves his recent appointment as CEO of Lucas County 
Health Center in Chariton, Iowa, an accredited Critical Access Hospital 
similar to Good Shepherd Health Care System, where he has served 
for the past five years.  Please note the article on Mr. Sims within this 
addition. Again, we welcome him and look forward to his leadership.

We deeply appreciate your 
support and confidence. While 
this has been a challenging time, 
we are adapting. While we are 
not sure what the new “normal” 
for our hospital and community 
will look like going forward, we 
are here to meet your needs in a 
safe and efficient manner. It is our 
goal to make our community a 
healthier and better place to live.

Thank you, 

Dennis E. Burke 
President & CEO 
Good Shepherd Health Care System

Management (cont.)

Tammy Martin 

Surgical Services
Sheri Lynn Miller 

Administration 
Matt Moore 

Facilities
Jessie Morrison 

Practice Manager
Sid Rittenbach 

Home Medical Equipment 
Debbie Neal 

Case Management
Trixie Ortiz 

Medical Staff Services
Ronda Reisdorph 

Laboratory
Heidii Roberts 

Speech Therapy
Sergio Rodriguez 

Environmental Services
Robert Rose 

Diagnostic Imaging
Cindy Schaan 

Volunteer Services
Mellyssa Seewer 

Practice Manager 
Elizabeth Sperr 

Treatment Center
Jason Stanek 

Accounting 
Jeanne Steffey 

Practice Manager
(Open) 

Home Health/Hospice/Personal 

Home Care
Rachel Tate 

Nutrition Services
Danielle Tao 

Practice Manager
Cassandra Zabel 

Diabetes & Nutrition Center

Letter from the President

Community Connections is 

published as a community service 

for the friends and patrons of Good 

Shepherd Health Care System.

Information provided in Community 
Connections comes from a wide range 
of medical experts. If you would like 
to share your experience at Good 
Shepherd Health Care System, please 
contact our Customer Experience 
Hotline: 541.667.3427

To learn more about the  

services we offer please visit  

www.gshealth.org

You can also connect with us on:

LEADERSHIP

Administration

Dennis E. Burke 
President & CEO
Jim Schlenker 
Chief Operating Officer 
Jan Peter 
Vice President,  
Fiscal Services/CFO 
Brian Patrick,, RN 
Vice President, Nursing
Kelly Sanders 
Vice President, Human Resources
Troy LeGore 
Vice President, Good Shepherd 
Medical Group

Management

John Adams 

Pharmacy
Lucas Bradshaw 

Emergency Department
Rick Burrill, Moses Munar 

Physical Therapy
Sara Camden  

Critical Care 
Paula Cooney 

Medical Records
Kevin Covert 

Information Technology
Caitlin Cozad 

Marketing & Communications 
Jonathan Edwards 

Revenue Cycle
Dawn Eiden 

Practice Manager
Natasha Ellwanger 

Practice Manager
Darren Ernst 

Anesthesia 
Kyle Furukawa 

Family Birth Center
Brian Gachne 

Acute Care Services
Tony Garberg 

Respiratory Care/Cardiopulmonary 

Rehab
Devin Goldman 

Quality Management 
Robert Green 

Good Shepherd Community Health 

Foundation
Juli Gregory 

Education/Wellness Services
Lynn Gutierrez 

Children’s Center
Frances Hernandez 

Patient Financial Services
Cathleen Jensen 

Materials Management