About Ketchikan Medical Center
Ketchikan Regional Executive Team
Members of the PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center Regional Executive Team embrace a leadership model fully rooted in our Mission and Values and in our heritage as a Catholic health care ministry. This model guides our leaders in every aspect of their work and oversight responsibilities. It challenges us to relentlessly pursue improvements in patient outcomes and service to patients and families while awakening joy, meaning and purpose in the human spirit.
Kendall Sawa, RN
Kendall began his leadership journey as an RN on the front line of patient care, serving a 15-year tenure at PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center. He returned to PeaceHealth after amassing more than 25 years of experience and innovation in executive healthcare leadership. Leading in multiple care environments, he is a skilled relationship-builder recognized for his thoughtful communication, presence and teamwork. Prior to rejoining PeaceHealth, Kendall served as chief operating officer for Providence Portland Medical Center. During his tenure, Providence gained top-quartile patient experience scores for inpatient and the Emergency Department as well as Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade A. Kendall holds a master’s in healthcare administration from the University of Phoenix.
Sarah Cook
Sarah is an experienced leader with a proven track record at PeaceHealth and has a deep commitment to the region. As the former Director of Surgical Services, Sarah identified and improved access and process flow in the OR. Sarah has worked collaboratively across disciplines and departments to foster a culture of teamwork. Prior to her role in Surgical Services, Sarah managed the Labor and Delivery unit and served as a house supervisor. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain University in St. Louis, MO, and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in healthcare leadership from Boise State in Boise, ID.
Jamie Park, MD
Jamie Park, MD, is an experienced physician leader from the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Park began his medical career as a family medicine physician and remains clinically active in both the ambulatory and acute care settings. Dr. Park has served as a Chief Medical Officer since 2015, first at UW Medicine, Valley Medical Center and later for Providence-Swedish. Within these roles he has championed the increase in safety reporting, improved patient experience scores, raised physician engagement scores and decreased physician turn over.
Wendy Dennis, RN, MSN
Wendy is a dynamic leader who began her healthcare journey more than 20 years ago as a telemetry bedside nurse. Her career has spanned nearly every nursing department across large hospitals to smaller community hospitals, where her greatest passion lies. Before joining PeaceHealth in early 2022, Wendy served as the interim chief nursing officer at HCA Regional Medical Center in San Jose, California. Wendy instills a goal-orientated team approach in ensuring team success and sustainability. That focus, along with her emphasis on quality, engagement and change management has contributed to the hospital’s clinical excellence achievements, along with continuous improvement on caregiver engagement scores. Wendy holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Walden University, Minneapolis, and a certification in ANA Nursing Executive Leadership.
Community Health Board
PeaceHealth is guided by the PeaceHealth System Board of Directors and by Community Health Boards in each of our network service areas in Oregon, Washington and Alaska.
These volunteer board members are community leaders who fully partner with PeaceHealth in making and supporting decisions based on our Mission and Values as well as our Vision for the organization—that every person receives safe, compassionate care: every time, every touch.
- Sarah Cook – Chief Administrative Officer, PeaceHealth
- Russell Cockrum – Board Chair and commercial fisherman
- Angela Salazar – Board Vice-Chair and Harbor Point, LLC
- Russell DeGroote, MD – Chief of Staff, PeaceHealth
- Sister Marilee Murphy – CSJP
- Kristel Mitchel – Board Secretary, Self Employed Property Manager
- Maxwell Mercer – Director, Community Connections, Inc.
- Alma Manabat Parker – Director, Ketchikan Wellness Coalition
- Justin Gubatayao – Director, First Bank Branch Manager
- Virginia Adams – Director, Retired from Administrative Health Care