HERMISTON, Ore.-Good Shepherd Health Care System (GSHCS) held its 8th Annual Community Meeting on November 13.
Over 550 community members joined hospital staff, physicians, healthcare providers, the Good Shepherd Board of Trustees, the Good Shepherd Community Health Foundation (GSCHF) and GSHCS Administration for the meeting at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center (EOTEC).
“I’ve been to the community meeting a couple of times,” said Steve Shultz of Hermiston, who has undergone surgery at GSHCS and gets yearly care at the hospital. “I’ve been here since 2009, and Good Shepherd has grown for the better since then. I came to see what’s new, and it’s always nice to hear from the CEO.”
Health Booth Fair
The meeting started with a health booth fair featuring 41 booths full of information and resources on the services and providers available at GSHCS, including pulmonology, gastroenterology, neurology, cardiology, physiatry, and more.
“We came last year and really enjoyed it,” said Dave Wright of Hermiston, who came to the meeting with his wife, Suzanne. “We’re getting to the age where we might need some of the doctors and services here, so we’re checking it out.”
Attendees could enter to win prizes, including iPad Pros, a treadmill, gift cards and more when they visited different booths, and free A1C testing and flu shots were also available.
“I’m from Richland and I hear amazing things about Good Shepherd,” said Corey Smith. “I came to get a better understanding and a broader view of what the hospital’s doing.”
The first 200 people in the door received a Stanley Tumbler, while the next 100 went home with a GSHCS stadium chair.
Community Meeting
“This gathering is more than an occasion to reflect on our successes,” said Jon Lorence Chair of the GSHCS Board of Trustees, in acknowledging the other members of the Board of Trustees and GSHCS Administration. “Together we remain engaged and dedicated to a bright future for Good Shepherd.”
Lorence then spoke of the transformative year experienced by GSHCS, with the addition of 65 new providers, new service lines in the region, expanded hours and services, and the addition of new technology.
Amanda Carnine, President of the GSCHF, spoke about the collective giving and generosity of the community that allows the foundation to impact the quality of life and general health of residents living in the Umatilla and Morrow County communities.
“GSCHF was built by the community for the community, and every program funded and grant awarded is a reflection of that,” Carnine said, highlighting the more than $280,000 in scholarships and grants awarded by the GSCHF in 2025.
GSHCS President and CEO Art Mathisen spoke of Good Shepherd’s rapid growth, cutting-edge technology, more than 1,700 staff, and the value of community involvement.
“I have not seen anything like the past year at your community hospital,” said Mathisen regarding the addition of 296 new employees, including 77 new Physicians and Clinicians and the addition of five robotic surgery systems. “Most hospitals in rural America won’t add that number in 10 years.”
Mathisen then explained that grit is often one of the biggest indicators of success and praised GSHCS employees for their dedication to their jobs and the organization.
“GSHCS is financially stable, we can reinvest in people and infrastructure to provide the care you deserve, close to home,” Mathisen told the community before highlighting various projects GSHCS has supported, including the GSHCS Pickleball Complex in Hermiston, the recent acquisition of 61 acres in Boardman for a future healthcare facility, and the Life Flight Network Transport Base right on campus.
Meet-and-Greet
Attendees also had the opportunity to meet several newer GSHCS Physicians and providers at the community meeting.
“It’s really important for me to become acquainted with both the community I will be living and working in and the other new physicians, as I move from the eastern part of the country,” said Board-Certified Physiatrist Dr. Nathan Camp.
Dr. Camp was joined by Board-Certified Pulmonologist, Critical Care and Sleep Specialist Manmohan Singh Biring, MD, Board-Certified Neurologist Mantinderpreet Singh, MD, Board-Certified Gastroenterologist Joyce Koh, MD, Marissa Lachaga, MPAS, PA-C, BSN, RN, Board-Certified Urologist Matthew Ercolani, MD, and Board-Certified Hematologist & Oncologist Cannon Milani, MD.
“I think in any given community, interaction between providers and community members is integral to align our needs,” said Dr. Cannon Milani. “It allows the community to put a face to our name, and it helps us understand the needs of the community.”
The next GSHCS Community Meeting is scheduled for November 2026.
Questions may be directed to https://www.gshealth.org/contact.
