Health care providers and educators are planning and preparing for the launch of the Three Sisters Rural Track Program Family Medicine Residency – the first graduate medical education residency primarily based in Central Oregon.

Officials from St. Charles Madras, St. Charles’ Madras Family Care Clinic, Mosaic Medical, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Indian Health Service (IHS) have met multiple times over the past few months to discuss details of the program, which is expected to bring six resident physicians to Jefferson County in 2025.

The group met recently in Madras for its third faculty development session, said program director Dr. Jinnell Lewis.

“We’re talking about the details of running a residency, how to teach residents and how to work with residents, plus we’re planning for recruitment, which happens this fall,” she said. “It takes a lot of work and collaboration to launch something like this and we’re deep into that process right now.”

Medical students will apply for residencies in September, and program officials will have less than two weeks to review applications and decide who to offer an interview, Lewis said. They hope to interview 90-100 applicants for six positions in the program’s first class.

That class will spend its first year at OHSU, then two years in Jefferson County. The Three Sisters program is unique because it offers three “continuity sites” in a rural area: Mosaic Medical’s Madras clinic, St. Charles’ Madras clinic and the Warm Springs Health & Wellness Center. Resident physicians will work at each of the three sites and will see their own panel of patients under the supervision of a teaching physician.

“With our three sites, we’re able to give residents an array of experiences, including a hospital-owned clinic, an FQHC in Mosaic and a federally run IHS clinic in Warm Springs,” Lewis said. “It’ll provide a well-rounded education in practice management, as well as exposure to different kinds of health care settings.”

The work has given Lewis a chance to meet and collaborate with a number of individuals and organizations in the area, she said.

“I’ve been to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs’ Tribal Council and met with Madras City Council and Jefferson County Commissioners, and everyone is supportive of this huge opportunity for our community,” she said.

The program will look to hire a new coordinator position soon, Lewis said. Resident physicians are expected to arrive in Jefferson County in August of 2025.

Hello St. Charles newsletter readers! I am taking over this month's column to let you know that the health system's Board of Directors, which I chair, is pleased to announce that Dr. Steve Gordon has accepted the position of president and CEO for the health system on a permanent basis. He has been serving as interim president and CEO since July.

In that time, he has launched a new service-line focused structure that groups and manages services that support a patient throughout their health care journey. Under his leadership, St. Charles realized improved financial performance for the second half of 2022 and is committed to returning to a positive operating margin by the end of 2023. Retaining highly experienced caregivers and working to recruit new permanent staff are among his top priorities.

Additionally, Steve is an experienced health care executive and former member of the St. Charles Board of Directors. A primary care and internal medicine physician by training, he has served in executive leadership roles for PeaceHealth in Vancouver, Wash., Providence Health and Services in Portland and Salem Health. He is a graduate of Harvard College, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government. 

I can tell you that the Board of Directors has been very appreciative of Steve's leadership over the past seven months, and we desired to have him become the permanent CEO. We are thrilled that he has accepted the position, and we look forward to a productive partnership with him for the benefit of the community and our patients.

The Board did not offer Steve the permanent position without input from others, however. Working with an external search firm, we conducted a survey along with small group and individual meetings with a variety of identified stakeholders to determine the attributes most desired in the next health system CEO. The top qualities identified by more than 1,600 St. Charles caregivers and community partners were:

• Compassion for patients and staff
• Experience as a direct health care provider
• Visibility and presence across all sites of care and in the communities St. Charles serves

Said Ann Rhoads, who chaired the Board's CEO search committee: “During this interim period, Steve has naturally embodied these attributes making him easily the top choice for the position. We heard repeatedly from the listening sessions that caregivers, physicians and community partners would be thrilled to see Steve in the role for the long term. We believe he is the best person to lead St. Charles into the future and that he will drive the system to provide excellence in care, service and organizational culture.”

I couldn't agree more. I’ll close by giving Steve the final word, as I believe it conveys the positive energy and servant’s spirit that he has brought to his role, and it makes me excited for the future of St. Charles under his guidance:

“I am energized to build on what we’ve learned so far from service line development in many areas of the organization,” he said. “Plenty of work still lies ahead, but we’re seeing results from focusing first on clinical excellence and a better experience for our patients, caregivers, physicians and providers. I have enjoyed getting to know this extraordinary organization in a new and deeper way in recent months. We simply have the best people who are committed to providing patients with exceptional care. I want to continue supporting them in that noble endeavor.”

Sincerely,
Jamie Orlikoff
Chairman, St. Charles Health System Board of Directors

St. Charles Health System names Dr. Steve Gordon president and CEO

BEND, Ore. – St. Charles Health System’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Dr. Steve Gordon has accepted the position of president and CEO for the health system on a permanent basis. Dr. Gordon has been serving as interim president and CEO since July.

“The board has been very appreciative of Steve’s leadership and desired to have him become the permanent CEO,” said Jamie Orlikoff, chairman of the St. Charles Board of Directors. “We are thrilled that he has accepted the position. We look forward to a productive partnership with him for the benefit of the community and our patients.”

Gordon is an experienced health care executive and former member of the St. Charles Board of Directors. A primary care and internal medicine physician by training, he has served in executive leadership roles for PeaceHealth in Vancouver, Wash., Providence Health and Services in Portland and Salem Health. He is a graduate of Harvard College, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

“I am energized to build on what we’ve learned so far from service line development in many areas of the organization. Plenty of work still lies ahead, but we’re seeing results from focusing first on clinical excellence and a better experience for our patients, caregivers, physicians and providers,” Gordon said. “I have enjoyed getting to know this extraordinary organization in a new and deeper way in recent months. We simply have the best people who are committed to providing patients with exceptional care. I want to continue supporting them in that noble endeavor.”

Over the past seven months, Gordon has launched a new service-line focused structure that groups and manages services that support a patient throughout their health care journey. Under his leadership, the health system realized improved financial performance for the second half of 2022 and is committed to returning to a positive operating margin by the end of 2023. Retaining highly experienced caregivers and working to recruit new permanent staff are among his top priorities.

Working with an external search firm, the St. Charles Board conducted a survey along with small group and individual meetings with a variety of identified stakeholders to determine the attributes most desired in the next health system CEO. The top qualities identified by more than 1,600 St. Charles caregivers and community partners were compassion for patients and staff, experience as a direct health care provider and visibility and presence across all sites of care and in the communities St. Charles serves.

“During this interim period, Steve has naturally embodied these attributes making him easily the top choice for the position,” said Ann Rhoads, chair of the board’s CEO search committee. “We heard repeatedly from the listening sessions that caregivers, physicians and community partners would be thrilled to see Steve in the role for the long term. We believe he is the best person to lead St. Charles into the future and that he will drive the system to provide excellence in care, service and organizational culture.”

About St. Charles Health System

St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates St. Charles Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond. It also owns family care clinics in Bend, Madras, Prineville, Redmond, La Pine and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,500 caregivers. In addition, there are more than 350 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with the health system to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.

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Baked salmon with garlic, dijon and lemon

This easy recipe makes a fresh and light entrée packed with healthy omega-3 fats.

Ingredients

1.5 pounds salmon
2-3 garlic cloves
1 sliced lemon
2 Tbsp. parsley
1/2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 cup olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut salmon into four even steaks and place on baking sheet lined with foil.

In a small bowl, mix together parsley, garlic, mustard, salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice.

Brush all sides of salmon steaks with marinade.

Top with fresh lemon slices and bake for 12-15 minutes.

Join Us in Making a Difference 

At St. Charles, we believe in the profound impact of compassionate care. As a hospice volunteer, you have the opportunity to offer support and comfort to patients and families during a crucial time. Whether through companionship, respite care, or helping with daily tasks, your presence makes a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. 

Our dedicated team is committed to providing comprehensive training and ongoing support, ensuring that each volunteer feels prepared and valued. Your kindness and empathy can bring solace and a sense of peace, making every moment count. 

If you have a caring heart and a few hours to spare, we invite you to join our community of volunteers and be part of something truly special. Together, we can create moments of light and warmth in the journey of hospice care. 

Ready to make a difference? Apply today to become a hospice volunteer and help enrich lives.

Apply to be a Hospice Volunteer

"It’s a progressive organization as far as change. There’s always change going on, and that has been bittersweet. But I will always love St. Charles. I’m loyal to St. Charles, because we’re all on the same team here, trying to do the same thing, which is making sure the patient gets the best care. It’s a really good place.”

- Karen, a clinical documentation integrity specialist, who celebrated her 40th anniversary with St. Charles last fall. Karen is an RN who worked in the OR for 30 years before moving into her current role, in which she examines various documents and works with providers to ensure the clinical records of inpatients are clear, allowing coders to accurately code diagnoses. "One of my goals is for the patient's record to accurately reflect their severity of illness," she said. Karen is pictured with her dog, Moose, who brings her a lot of joy. 

St. Charles Cancer Center’s new breast surgeon, Dr. Caitlyn Truong, brings to Central Oregon a passion for breast health, fellowship training at Stanford University, and a comprehensive, compassionate approach to patient care.

Truong – who is also the new medical director of St. Charles’ breast cancer care program – comes to the health system from the Centura Health system in Colorado, where she practiced for the past nine years. Though initially trained as a general surgeon, she now specializes in a wide range of breast health care and treatments, ranging from benign conditions to breast cancer.

“Our breast cancer program is so fortunate to add Dr. Truong as our breast surgeon and medical director of breast cancer care,” said Dr. Linyee Chang, clinical division director of St. Charles Cancer Services. “We have already benefited from her thoughtful contributions to strategic development, and I am confident she will provide the leadership to elevate our breast cancer program.”

Truong has wanted to pursue a career in cancer treatment for most of her life, she said.

“I became interested in the field after one of my cousins passed away from cancer when we were kids,” she said. “From that moment on, I knew I wanted to do something in oncology.”

At first, she planned to go into pediatrics, but then she found her calling in surgery.

“I really liked the surgical aspect of (when) you see a problem, you’re able to act on it,” she said.

Born and raised in the Bay Area of California, Truong attended medical school at the University of California San Diego. During her general surgery residency at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, she mentored under a breast surgeon who inspired her to focus on breast surgery.

“I spent more time with breast patients and really fell in love with breast health and what we can afford to give them,” she said. “I'm trained as a general surgeon, but since I specialize, I don't do any other surgeries. Breast health and breast surgery is my passion.”

In Colorado, Truong helped build up the breast surgery program at several of Centura Health’s 15 campuses, increasing accessibility to breast care in the area. She strongly encourages shared decision-making between provider and patient, with an emphasis on promoting health, fitness and improved quality of life.

She also can’t wait to get outside and enjoy some of Central Oregon’s beautiful trail runs.

“I’m so excited to be here,” Truong said, “not only for the opportunity to live in such a vibrant place, but also to serve this community and to give people the compassionate care they need in what can be a worrisome time.”

A few stories about St. Charles caregivers going above and beyond to help people have made their way to me lately, and they serve as good reminders of why we do what we do.

These stories played out in three different towns in the area we serve – which is about the size of South Carolina, in case you weren’t aware.

They involved different types of caregivers – nurses, a surgeon, pharmacists, administrators, lab workers and so on. One of these situations involved a single caregiver, one involved a team and one required cooperation between St. Charles and multiple partner agencies.

In one case, a medical assistant on a break from work was running errands in town, discovered a person struggling and performed CPR until an ambulance arrived. She is credited with saving the person’s life.

In another, St. Charles caregivers moved swiftly and efficiently to help with a traumatic accident. They gathered necessary supplies, went to the scene of the incident and, working closely with emergency responders, provided life-saving care as quickly as possible.

In the third, a group of pharmacists became aware of a patient who was concerned about a barrier standing between her and an important medication. They worked together to help her overcome that barrier and filled her prescription the next day.

In a variety of situations, St. Charles caregivers came across a person who needed help. And in all three, our people rose to the occasion just like so many of our caregivers do day in and day out.

Quite simply, these stories have served as a reminder to me that, at its core, St. Charles is about much more than buildings and technology, policies and procedures.

St. Charles is about people.

It’s about people who need care, it’s about the people who provide that care, and it’s about the interaction between those two groups. Those interactions happen hundreds – maybe thousands – of times every single day at St. Charles, and they are overwhelmingly positive.

I am proud to lead an organization that puts people at the very center of everything we do.

Sincerely,
Steve

St. Charles Health System announces cancer center expansion in Redmond

BEND, Ore. – More than 40% of patients treated at the St. Charles Cancer Center in Bend travel from Redmond, Madras, Prineville and other rural communities for their care. If they need radiation as part of their treatment, this can mean traveling more than 50 miles for services multiple days in a row for weeks at a time.

“We know that many of our patients travel farther than patients at other cancer centers in the country for their care,” said Dr. Linyee Chang, medical director of the St. Charles Cancer Center. “Some patients opt out of treatment because of the travel and that’s not OK.”

To better meet the needs of these patients, St. Charles Health System is excited to announce plans to expand cancer services in Redmond.   

Using $90 million secured through bonds in the fall of 2020 that are restricted and must be used for new construction, St. Charles will build a new cancer center on the St. Charles Redmond campus at the corner of Canal Boulevard and Kingwood Avenue.

“The announcement of a world-class cancer center to be constructed here at the St. Charles hospital in Redmond is a milestone event in the history of our community,” said Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch. “I want to express our deep appreciation to the St. Charles Board of Directors for its commitment to the health care needs of Redmond as well as the other communities this center will serve. The city and the community will do all we can to help facilitate this project and the future expansion of health care services here in Redmond.” 

The facility will include a linear accelerator to provide radiation oncology treatments, along with space for chemotherapy treatments, nutrition, massage, acupuncture and other support services. It will also include space for additional outpatient services and medical office building needs.

“As the health care industry continues to face significant challenges, we are looking to maximize the efficiency of the services we provide to ensure we continue meeting the most critical needs of our Central Oregon communities,” said Dr. Steve Gordon, interim president and CEO of St. Charles. “We are making a significant investment in ambulatory services on the Redmond campus that will ultimately provide better access to care for patients.”

Building design is underway and ground was broken on the project in the summer of 2024. Currently, the facility is slated to open in 2026.

View preliminary site plan

About St. Charles Health System

St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates St. Charles Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond. It also owns family care clinics in Bend, Madras, Prineville, Redmond, La Pine and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,500 caregivers. In addition, there are more than 350 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with the health system to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.

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Residency Programs at St. Charles