HERMISTON, Ore.- Good Shepherd Health Care System (GSHCS) held a reception for retiring Respiratory Therapy Manager Tony Garberg on June 30.
“Over the past 26-plus years Good Shepherd has been good to both me and my family,” said Garberg, on his retirement. “My two youngest kids were both born here and attended the daycare until they went to school.”
Throughout his two-and-a-half decades with GSHCS, Garberg witnessed many changes in the medical field, as well as the expansion of GSHCS.
“Emergency medical protocol is probably one of the biggest changes that comes to mind. We do so much better now than we did then,” said Garberg, citing chest compression CPR as just one example that has increased patient survival rates.
During his career with GSHCS, Garberg held many roles and led several programs, including Home Medical Equipment, Electroencephalogram (EEG), Sleep Lab, Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT), and Stress Lab services.
Garberg also helped build the Respiratory Therapy and Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation programs at GSHCS 15 years ago, which have become nationally accredited services.
“I’m most proud of building the cardiopulmonary rehab program and adding pulmonary rehab,” said Garberg in looking back on his career. “The people, without a doubt, hands down will be what I miss the most. I hope they will remember how much I cared. I still remember everyone who worked for me, and with me, their families, and the relationships we had.”
Friends, co-workers, staff, and GSHCS Administration attended the reception in Garberg’s honor, with a steady stream of well-wishers dropping by throughout the event.
“Tony’s awesome, he’s an amazing visionary and very knowledgeable,” said Paula Hagel, BS, CEP, Assistant Manager of GSHCS Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, who was part of the same new-employee orientation with Garberg back in 2000. “He’s the best boss; he always has your back and has always been there if you need anything.”
For Tom Hunsaker, part of the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation team, who has been with GSHCS for 15 years, the low-stress, yet supportive environment that Garberg fostered was appreciated.
“Tony gave me all the support I needed to do my job, but he didn’t micro-manage” said Hunsaker. “He knew you could do your job and expected you to do it. Plus, he’s a walking encyclopedia if I ever had any questions.”
Garberg plans to stay busy in retirement, with home improvement projects, including a bathroom and a couple of decks to finish, and even a little farming, on his to-do list.
Garberg also intends to travel with his wife and family in retirement, perhaps taking one trip outside the country a year.
