On the week of Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2022, Adventist Health Tillamook President Eric Swanson unveiled a personal project a year in development to recognize Adventist Health Tillamook military veteran associates, providers, board members and volunteers in a mural wall on the first floor of the hospital. Located immediately across from the outpatient waiting area, the newly installed plaques recognize 10 veterans who volunteered to be honored for their selfless service to our country and community. “Recognizing our veterans for their sacrifice is very important to me and serves as an inspiration to us all” shared Swanson, in front of many hospital and medical office personnel, volunteers, board members and patients. He continued, “I’m hopeful that many more Adventist Health Tillamook military veterans will want to be honored on our mural soon to share their story,” shared Swanson.
Those who were honored in this unveiling include Dr. Andrew Nelson (Physician, Radiology), Sandra Tyrer (Volunteer), Chuck Bridge (Civic Advisory Board Member), William E. Hatton (Civic Advisory Board Member), Dr. William Goodhue (Physician, Emergency Medicine), Lynn Nowland, RN (Nurse Care Manager), Dr. Fredrick Foss (Physician, General Surgery), David N. Arnett (Paramedic), Ginger Gord (Data Support Analyst) and Paul Schmitt (Surgical Technician). Many of them were in attendance at the event and remarked about their appreciation for the recognition of their military service. In the hours following the event, several more veteran associates volunteered to be recognized in future updates to the mural to be posted early in 2023. The mural wall is open to the public during regular medical center hours, Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., for all community members.
Adventist Health Tillamook is a faith-based, nonprofit healthcare organization that includes: a 25-bed
critical access medical center located in Tillamook, Oregon; the largest hospital-based ambulance service
in the state of Oregon with four stations located throughout Tillamook County; and rural health clinics
and urgent care medical offices serving the northern Oregon coast as well as the Oregon communities of
Sheridan, Vernonia, Estacada and Welches. Adventist Health Tillamook employs over 550 associates and
healthcare providers, part of Adventist Health, an integrated health system serving more than 80
communities on the West Coast and Hawaii pursuing one mission ‒ living God’s love by inspiring health,
wholeness and hope. Adventist Health is transforming the American healthcare experience with an innovative, yet timeliness, whole-person focus on physical, mental, spiritual and social healing to support community well-being. For more information about Adventist Health Tillamook, please visit:
https://www.adventisthealth.org/tillamook/about-us/