About Peace Harbor Medical Center

A former hospitalist and experienced physician leader, Dr. McGovern has an eye on high-quality care and helped guide PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend to its first ever CMS 5-star rating while securing multiple Leapfrog A ratings. Dr. McGovern came to PeaceHealth from Wisconsin-based ThedaCare, where he served in several leadership roles including system vice president of medical affairs. He was recognized as a US News and World Report Top Doc while working in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. McGovern graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin and did his internal medicine residency at St. Vincent Hospital in Indiana.

A career spent in the rural healthcare setting, Jason Hawkins has over 35 years of healthcare experience. He came to PeaceHealth from the Fulton County Medical Center in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, where he most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer. A Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, native, Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in business administration. During his time in Pennsylvania, Jason chaired the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania’s Small Rural Health Council, representing the Pennsylvania and New York regions. Jason is active with both state and federal healthcare advocacy, including the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health System’s Rural Hospital Council, helping to shape policy and strategic direction for rural hospitals. Locally, he is an active member of many organizations including Lane Community College Advisory Committee and Rotary International. 

As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Bzdega leads quality, patient safety and patient experience at Peace Harbor Medical Center. Prior to his new role, Dr. Bzdega served as the CMO for PeaceHealth Medical Group at PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center in Ketchikan, Alaska. He began his career at the University of Florida, Department of Anesthesiology, as the General Anesthesia Assistant Clinical Professor and OPS Anesthesiologist before joining PeaceHealth in 2017 as the Anesthesiologist Department Chair for PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center. Dr. Bzdega earned his bachelor’s degree in Applied Physics, with a Minor in Applied Math, from Emory University and his master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine where he also completed his residency in anesthesiology.

Ruth Franke, MSN, RN has dedicated more than 35 years to providing compassionate healthcare at PeaceHealth. After her start in 1989 as a registered nurse in the neurosurgical unit at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center, University District, she then served in the intensive care unit (ICU) for more than 15 years. From there, she ascended through the department’s leadership roles, becoming the ICU’s nurse manager in 2014 and then director of nursing for critical care services in 2016 at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. In 2021, Ruth transitioned to chief nursing officer at Peace Harbor Medical Center. Ruth earned her Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Kim Ruscher, MD, MPH, joined PeaceHealth in 2013 as a pediatric surgeon and has taken on progressive leadership roles throughout her career with a focus on improving access to healthcare for underserved communities and on quality of care. She was appointed chief medical officer for the PeaceHealth Oregon network in 2024 after previously serving as chief medical officer — surgical for Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. Prior to that, Dr. Ruscher had served as Pediatric Specialties Chief for PeaceHealth Medical Group. She earned her undergraduate degree and Doctor of Medicine from Florida State University and completed her general surgery residency at the University of Connecticut. She received her master’s degree in public health from Harvard University School of Public Health and completed a fellowship in pediatric surgery at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

Jennifer Svihus was named the Chief Development Officer for the PeaceHealth Oregon Network in 2022. Jennifer provides philanthropy leadership to the network development staff and the volunteer boards for PeaceHealth Sacred Heart, Cottage Grove, and Peace Harbor. Before joining PeaceHealth, Jennifer was the President and Chief Philanthropy Officer for Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital Foundation in the San Francisco Bay Area. Jennifer also held leadership roles with Sutter Health and the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Jennifer earned her bachelor’s in communications from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, before receiving her master’s in healthcare administration from Chapman University in Orange, California.

Susan Blane joined the PeaceHealth family in 2006, serving as the director of Market Development until 2016 when she was called upon to develop the Community Health program in the Oregon network. She works in close partnership with community organizations to develop collaborative PeaceHealth-sponsored community benefit programs that maximize impact and target investment where they will make the most lasting change in ensuring access to healthy food, supportive housing, mental health and community care. Susan has a Bachelor of Science in organizational behavior from the University of San Francisco, a master’s degree in public health policy and administration from Oregon State University and is a certified integrative nutritional health coach. 

Joe Waltasti has an extensive background in communications and media relations, particularly in the Eugene/Springfield area. After starting his career in communications at universities around the country, Joe was offered a position in the University of Oregon athletics department, where he handled media relations and promotional efforts for a variety of UO teams and coaches for nearly a decade. Prior to joining PeaceHealth in 2021, Joe was the assistant athletics director for communications at San Jose State University. He manages the Oregon network’s internal and external communications strategies and executive communications. A native of Arlington Heights, Illinois, Joe has degrees in history and journalism from Eastern Illinois University.