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2021 tested our resiliency. The pandemic continued to present its challenges through caring for very sick patients, full beds at transfer partner hospitals and daily vigilance over our supplies, PPE, and most importantly, our people. Pullman Regional Hospital and our network of clinics is people. We retained 98% of our employees during the COVID-19 Washington State vaccine mandate—a testament to the strength of our culture and the commitment of our people. A shared commitment to persist, adapt and overcome is why we can look back today and reflect on growth.
In 2021, we welcomed fourteen new physicians to the Palouse. We opened Pullman Surgical Associates in September, a new general surgery and gastroenterology practice with well-established local surgeons Dr. Nancy Panko and Dr. John Visger. Our new practice model supports a simplified, patient-focused experience. Dr. Panko and Dr. Visger see and treat scheduled patients in the office and OR and we expanded the team through the addition of two nationally recognized general surgeons, Dr. Ron Martin and Dr. Randy Zuckerman, who cover emergency and unscheduled surgery.
The WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program at Pullman Regional Hospital earned accreditation in 2021 and we broke ground on the construction of the clinic where physician residents will treat patients and learn from members of our local medical community. While we’ve always been a teaching hospital, this partnership elevates our ability to recruit and retain physicians of the highest caliber.
We also created a team approach to the crucial liaison role of Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Edwin Tingstad (orthopedic surgeon with Inland Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine), Dr. Stephen Hall (family medicine physician with Palouse Medical) and Dr. Peter Mikkelsen (PRH emergency medicine physician and director) have agreed to support the hospital and share these duties; they have longtime established careers and bring a wealth of expertise from different fields of medicine.
Despite the challenges 2020 and 2021 posed, this hospital is moving forward with a vision and plans for growth, better access to more specialty services and evolving as a regional destination for premiere health care. We can and will do this because we continue to invest in people. We are poised to do amazing things in the years to come. Expect more. Expect Excellence.
- Scott Adams, MPA, Chief Executive Officer at Pullman Regional Hospital
Hospital Leadership
Scott Adams, MPA
Bernadette Berney, MSML
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Carrie Coen, DPT
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Jeannie Eylar, MSN
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Steve Febus, MBA
Rueben Mayes, MBA, CFRE
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Karly Port, MBA
Dr. Stephen Hall has been providing family medicine and obstetrical care since 1997 at Palouse Medical in Pullman, WA. He is also the Program Director for the Family Medicine Residency Program- Pullman, through Washington State University’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.
Stephen Hall, MD
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New Physicians & Providers
Jonathan Lee, MD
Usha Nandhini, MD
Erik Bayona, MD
Aaron Vandenbos, MD
Mathew Taylor, MD
Nancy Panko, MD
John Visger, MD
Ronald Martin, MD
Randy Zuckerman, MD
Johanna Taniguchi, ARNP
Katherine Baugher, DO
Garrett Luettgen, MD
Brad Capawana, DPM
Justin Lytle, DO
Dana Martin, CRNA
Kyle Jennings, CRNA
Troy Sibbett, CRNA
Lisa Cordodor, RN
Lisa Cordodor, RN was nominated by a patient that shared "Lisa came in to see me before my procedure to discuss my surgery, my concerns, and how she could help me. I was reassured and she helped me work through my fears. Knowing Lisa was my advocate made me feel so much better."
Charles Gunkle, RN
Charles Gunkle, RN in BirthPlace was nominated by a patient who shared "from our first interaction, Charles made quite an impression. We immediately felt that we were in safe hands. His clear communication inspired confidence in the entire process.”
Kelsey Weiss, RN
Kelsey Weiss, RN in the ICU was nominated by a grateful family member who expressed immense gratitude for easing worries and nerves about her mother's complex surgery and multiple-day hospital stay.
Anna Engle, RN
Anna has worked at the hospital for 16 years and is a Clinical Coordinator and registered nurse in the Medical/Surgical unit. Anna serves on numerous committees, and is praised for being a leader and team player.
Caitlin Carl, RN
Caitlin has worked at the hospital for 11 years and is a registered nurse in the Medical/Surgical unit. Caitlin is always quick to devote time and energy to efforts that continually improve patient care and teamwork.
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Dr. Mike Frostad
Dr. Mike, as he’s known by most, is a staple of Palouse Pediatrics—which was founded by his father, Dr. Al Frostad.
Guardian Angel Awards
The Guardian Angel program gives grateful patients an opportunity to make a gift in honor of a caregiver.
2021 honorees: Karen Geheb, M.D., Aaron Scott, M.D., Blake Brackin, RN, Aileen Tolman, RN & Pullman Regional Hospital Medical Surgical Unit Staff, John Keizur, M.D. (2 awards), Erin Rose, ATC, Dennis Simpson, M.D., John Visger, M.D.
Jan Gaskins
Pre-Pandemic, Jan was one of our volunteers that ensured hospital reading materials were clean and looking their best for patients and visitors.
When volunteer programs halted, she jumped in and served countless plates of goodies to staff to keep them smiling and at their best for their patients.
Betsy Wheeler
When there is a job to be done, Betsy is always willing to jump in. She completes all of her volunteer work with accuracy and a smile.
Her positive attitude is contagious to others and she truly makes Pullman Regional Hospital a better place with her presence.
Cheryl Holman
Cheryl is a member of the creative team and takes a strong lead on the sewing of rice bags for the BirthPlace. Cheryl does a perfect job sewing, but also does a great job coordinating the needs for other sewers. She picks up supplies at the hospital to distribute and then delivers the finished product to back to the hospital ready to be distributed to patients and staff.
Peggy McDonnell
Peggy was instrumental in launching our Story Time and Pen Pal programs this year. She jumped in to make the first Story Time video which not only acted as an example for others to create their videos, but encouraged others to participate as well. Peggy was also one of our first volunteers to join the Pen Pal Program where she has built a fun relationship with the little guy that she writes back and forth with.
A Gift of Time
Did you know that in a typical year, Pullman Regional Hospital has over 200 volunteers serving over 18,000 hours?! Volunteers are an essential and valued part of Pullman Regional Hospital & Clinic Network. From greeting visitors at the front door to serving in the gift shop, enhancing the experience for patients and assisting at events- volunteers help each and every department at Pullman Regional Hospital continue to pursue excellence in healthcare.
Pediatric Vaccine Clinic @ SEL
In November, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) authorized COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories hosted pediatric vaccine clinics at the SEL Event Center in Pullman. Our provides and nurses attended and administered COVID-19 vaccines to the region's pediatric population.
No Stress November
During the month of November, the Pullman Regional Hospital Wellness for Life and Generosity Inspires teams hosted activities to provide staff refreshment, relaxation, and appreciation.
Employees had the opportunity to participate in 15-minute massages, Prescription Pet visits, goody bags, gift cards to local restaurants, snacks, paraffin hand wax & more!
Pullman Surgical Associates
In September 2021, Pullman Regional Hospital & Clinic Network opened Pullman Surgical Associates, offering general surgery, endoscopy, and gastrointestinal treatments for the region. Pullman Surgical Associates strives to provide patient-focused care: Surgical Excellence Simplified.
Dr. Nancy Panko
Dr. Nancy Panko is a General Surgeon and Medical Director of Pullman Surgical Associates. She's been providing care on the Palouse since 2019.
Dr. Panko specializes in da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical procedures.
Dr. John Visger
Dr. John Visger, General Surgeon, has been operating on the Palouse since 2006. His surgical specialties include thyroid, breast cancer, laparoscopic cases, and da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical procedures.
Dr. Ronald Martin
Dr. Ronald Martin has over 25 years of experience as a surgeon; in Pullman, he handles on-call (emergency) surgery. Dr. Martin is a retired US Army Reserve Colonel. He's served several combat deployments in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan and was the Senior Surgical Advisor for the US Embassy in Kuwait. He has also authored more than 100 scientific papers and books.
Dr. Randy Zuckerman
Dr. Randy Zuckerman's 18 years of experience as a surgeon help him serve the region's need for emergency (on-call) surgery. Dr. Zuckerman has authored over 75 scientific papers and presentations, is the Chair of the Advisory Committee for Rural Surgery, and is an Admissions Committee Member of the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Johanna Taniguchi, RN, ARNP
Johanna M. Taniguchi, RN, ARNP, has 10 years of experience in the Gastroenterology field. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and has experience providing Gastrointestinal care at many large hospitals including Harborview Medical Center, Pacific Medical Center, and Swedish Medical Group.
Lisa Cordodor, RN, BSN, CNOR, MBA
Lisa Cordodor is the Clinic Manager for Pullman Regional Hospital’s new surgery practice – Pullman Surgical Associates. With more than 14 years of experience in the operating room, Lisa’s intimate working knowledge of how surgery works best lends itself to her new role and providing an exceptional experience for both patients and referring providers.
Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Earned Accreditation
Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine has earned accreditation to start its first family medicine residency program in Pullman. Residents are set to arrive in Pullman in 2023.
WSU Family Medicine Residency Clinical Space Fully Funded
With the WSU Family Medicine Residency clinical space fully funded and physician residents slated to arrive in Pullman Spring 2023, we are building a premier program to attract top tier residents who stay local and serve our communities. Philanthropy is essential as we take steps to ensure Pullman recruits, trains, and is home to doctors of the highest caliber.
Small Towns, Big Investments and Bold Returns
The Nihouls gave $250,000 to support access to rural medicine through the Family Medicine Residency Program. “When we were learning about the joint efforts of WSU and Pullman Regional Hospital to establish a residency program in Pullman, it really resonated with us."
Primary Care
Palouse Health Center, located in Palouse, WA, is moving into a brand new space! The move is slated to happen in fall 2022 and will provide space for more exam rooms, procedure, and administrative spaces.
Pullman Family Medicine is dedicated to providing inclusive primary care on the Palouse. Pullman Family Medicine makes a point of using gender-inclusive terminology. Staff are trained to use correct pronouns and names. “We make every effort to care for each patient to the best of our abilities, no matter their age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, et cetera,” said Dr. Laura Baker. The team listens to patients to help support their own health goals.
Meet Dr. Jonathan Lee
Dr. Lee joined Pullman Regional Hospital’s pediatric medicine practice, Palouse Pediatrics, in 2021. He sees patients in both the Moscow, ID and Pullman, WA offices. Dr. Lee earned an undergraduate degree from the California Institute of Technology in electrical and Computer engineering. He attended Medical School at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and completed his residency at Seattle Children’s Hospital. He holds a certification through the American Board of Pediatrics.
One of Dr. Lee’s favorite parts of his job (and what he considers the greatest privilege of his work) is meeting a family with a new baby and being able to take care of that child from infancy until adulthood. Dr. Lee says that “Seeing your kids at least once a year helps us to connect and make sure they are growing perfectly."
A shared space supports important collaboration with other physicians. There are strong relationships with sleep health, heart health and mental health—allowing for Dr. David Jones (Cardiologist), Dr. Usha Nandhini (Sleep Medicine Specialist), and Dr. Erik Bayona (Psychiatrist) and his behavioral health colleagues to work together more conveniently through team medicine.
Also new is care coordination: care coordinators, who are registered nurses, can work with patients to check in after procedures, find answers to questions quickly and schedule appointments.
Robotic-Assisted Surgery
Total knee replacement surgery used to be a highly-involved procedure that left patients with sizeable scars and an extended recovery. New technologies, such as the CORI total knee system, are optimizing patient outcomes.
This new robotic-assisted technology allows orthopedic surgeons to customize total knee replacement surgery to a patient's unique anatomy!
Team Physicians
Dr. Ed Tingstad and Dr. Kyle Hazelwood, Orthopedic Surgeons, serve as team physicians for Washington State University Athletics and the University of Idaho Athletics respectively.
In this role, they provide immediate on-field medical care and assistance, connect student-athletes to imaging services and surgery when needed, and work on preventative care with athletes before and after games.
Regional High School Athletic Training Program
In the program's first 4 years, four full-time and one part-time athletic trainers have provided over $1,000,000 in treatments and care to over 750 local student-athletes at no added cost to parents.
This program is funded in part through philanthropy supported through the Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation.
Orthopedic Care Coordinator
One of the benefits to having total joint surgery at Pullman Regional Hospital is the Orthopedic Care Coordinator program. The Orthopedic Care Coordinator, Maile Keller, PTA, helps guide patients through the surgical process for total joint surgery. As soon as a patient's appointment is scheduled, Maile Keller, PTA, is available to answer any questions, remind them of important tips to remember before surgery, help coordinate post-surgery care options, and so much more.
Dr. Aaron Vandenbos
Dr. Vandenbos joined Inland Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Clinic in October 2021. He spent the last 5 years serving at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. He graduated from Boise State University with his Bachelor of Science degree, then obtained his medical degree at the University Of Toledo College Of Medicine followed by residency at San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium.
Dr. Mat Taylor
Dr. Taylor joined Inland Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Clinic in September 2021. He is a board eligible Orthopaedic Surgeon that has recently completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship with Orthopaedic Research of Virginia.
Dr. Taylor is passionate about total joint replacement surgery and strives to help his patients get back to their lives fast.
Emergency Department
Pullman Regional Hospital's Emergency Department is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. There were a total of 12,676 Emergency Department visits in 2021, and a 14% increase from 2020.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic's chaos, the Emergency Department was able to lower their average "door to doctor" time from 7 minutes to 5 minutes! That means less time waiting for emergency care for you and your loved ones!
Coffeehouse-Style Conversations with Healthcare Providers
These monthly events provide participants with access to facts, information about current trends in healthcare, and an opportunity to ask health professionals questions in a conversational way. Guests included Dr. Nancy Panko, Dr. Erik Bayona, Employee Health Nurse Diane Whittick & more!
Monthly Educational Videos
Each month, a different Pullman Regional Hospital employee was featured in a short video talking about a new and exciting development or technology in their area. These education pieces were an important part of engaging with the community during the COVID_19 pandemic. Learn about the C-Arm X-Ray System, 3-D Tomosynthesis, MARTTI interpretation service & much more!
Partnership with WSU's Children Center
H.E.ART's goal is to providing children with a vehicle to help them adapt and engage in learning and express themselves when they can't find the words, especially when learning about big topics like their bodies and health. The hospital has received approximately 375 pieces of children’s art that have been displayed throughout the hospital.
2021 Grant Awards
In 2021, 15 grants were awarded totaling nearly $20,000! Your support of Diane’s Gift Garden, Have-a-Heart, the Christmas Tree Raffle and becoming a member of the auxiliary made these grants possible.
2021 grant recipients:
- BirthPlace- Sleep Sacks & Toiletries
- Care Coordination- Backpacks of info/supplies for newly diagnosed Type 1 Diabetics, End of Life comfort care items
- Emergency Department- Play Station, TV and Virtual Reality Set for patient distraction therapy
- MSU/ICU- 2 iPads for patient education and distraction therapy, 6 Video Monitors for Patient Rooms, Pediatric Play Cart Restock, Ostomy Model
- Infection Prevention- Sanitation Station
- Same Day Services- Procedural Sedation Certification for 21 RNs
- Summit Therapy- Pediatric Swing, Outdoor Seating
- Volunteer Services- Rice Bag Materials
- All Departments- Stuffed Animals for Pediatric Patients
Karin has worked for the WSU Foundation since 2004. She serves as the Director of Foundation Relations focusing on securing gifts and grants from private foundations in support of programs across the university. Karin has worked in the non-profit sector most of her career including ten years at the Community Action Center in Pullman.
Karin grew up in Sweden and got her master’s degree from the University of Gothenburg. Her two sons were both born at Pullman Memorial Hospital on the Pullman campus and she is a proud Coug Mom.
Karin Neuenschwander
Dr. Bergmann attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with degrees in liberal arts and medicine. He received further training in pediatrics and began professional life as a health provider for children. Looking for an additional challenge, a year was spent in a pediatric critical care fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of British Columbia in 1988. Dr. Bergmann is certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics in the subspecialty of pediatric emergency medicine.
Dr. Bergmann joined Pullman Memorial Hospital in 1999 in the department of emergency medicine. Dr. Bergmann is proud of his 19 years at the hospital, noting the growth of the staff, medical specialties, and moving into the new facility as exciting eras. Dr. Bergmann retired from the hospital in 2017.
Stephen Bergmann, MD
Homes for Health
Raised: $12,500
Each spring, investing in a home means investing in your health. Local participating realtors teamed together in support of Pullman Regional Hospital's highest needs.
Auto Dealers For Health
Raised: $8,200
Local auto dealerships teamed together for a ninth year in support of our community! $100 from all new and used cars sold throughout the month of August benefitted Pullman Regional Hospital’s highest needs.
Annual Golf Classic
Raised: $68,000
The Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation 16th Annual Golf Classic & Luncheon presented by Swire Coca-Cola was held at Palouse Ridge Golf Club.
Looking Towards the Future: Next CEO
The Pullman Regional Hospital Board of Commissioners have named Matt Forge, MHA, Pullman Regional Hospital’s incoming Chief Executive Officer.
Slated to arrive in Pullman in August 2022, Forge will serve as Assistant CEO until November 2022, when the Board will authorize a transfer of chief executive officer/superintendent duties from current CEO, Scott Adams, to Forge.
Forge has served as President & CEO of Osceola Medical Center in Osceola, WI and as Chief Administrative Officer for Essentia Health overseeing St. Mary’s & Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics in Orofino Idaho and St. Mary’s Hospital and Clinics in Cottonwood, ID. He earned a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Sciences degree from the University of Idaho, College of Business.
