Building connections that save lives

In a region where miles of coastline separate small towns and rural communities, fast access to stroke care can mean the difference between life and death. Thanks to a generous $250,000 grant from the Judith Ann Mogan Foundation, PeaceHealth is advancing our new Telestroke Program that will connect emergency departments across Oregon’s South Coast to expert neurological care at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield.

The program will bring 24/7, real-time consultation from stroke specialists to hospitals in Coos, Curry, and Douglas counties. The goal is simple but transformative: to give every patient, regardless of where they live, the best possible chance for recovery. 

“The Judith Ann Mogan Foundation was created to strengthen the future of Oregon’s South Coast,” said Marjorie Crook, Executive Director of the Judith Ann Mogan Foundation. “This partnership with PeaceHealth honors that legacy by bringing lifesaving technology and expertise directly to our local hospitals. It ensures that patients can receive advanced stroke care closer to home and that rural providers have the support they need when every second counts.”

The Judith Ann Mogan Foundation, established in 2020, continues a long tradition of local investment in community well-being and education that began with Al and Hilda Peirce and their daughter, Judith Ann Mogan. Through decades of business leadership and philanthropy, the family’s impact has shaped the economic and civic fabric of the South Coast — supporting everything from youth development to local museums and community colleges.

This latest investment extends that legacy to healthcare, reinforcing a shared regional commitment to collaboration and equity in access. PeaceHealth’s Telestroke Program builds on years of partnership among healthcare providers, emergency responders and local hospitals to improve outcomes for stroke patients across rural Oregon.

“As a paramedic and RN, I’ve seen firsthand how critical every second is during a stroke,” said Christopher Martin, RN, Telestroke Program Coordinator at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center RiverBend. “This program isn’t just about technology — it’s about empowering rural providers, connecting communities and making sure patients get expert stroke care without delay. We’re building a system where geography doesn’t determine outcomes.”

PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center RiverBend is one of 300 Comprehensive Stroke Centers in the nation and the only one between Portland, OR and Sacramento, CA offering 24/7 neurological intervention. By extending its expertise through the Telestroke network, PeaceHealth and its partners are ensuring that people throughout the region have timely access to the highest standard of stroke care.

As the Telestroke Program rolls out over the next two years, the collaboration between PeaceHealth and the Judith Ann Mogan Foundation stands as a model for how philanthropy, innovation and regional partnership can work hand in hand to save lives.

About PeaceHealth Foundations: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a non-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. Since 1890, PeaceHealth has been guided by a Mission of healing and compassion. Today, PeaceHealth Foundations carry forward that legacy — powered by philanthropy and grounded in community. As the philanthropic partner to PeaceHealth’s nine medical centers and more than 160 clinics, we help expand access, advance technology and empower caregivers to provide exceptional and compassionate care. Every gift ensures that outstanding care continues to reach families, friends and neighbors throughout the Northwest. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Discover the impact of philanthropy at peacehealth.org/foundation.