Community Commitment
The doctors, advanced clinicians and caregivers at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center live and work in the same community as you. We want to make Whatcom County a great place to live for all of us.
For over 130 years, we’ve been helping the people of northwest Washington stay healthy, not just when they’re sick.
PeaceHealth in Whatcom County
Fiscal Year 2024: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024
We Reinvest for Community Health
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center is dedicated to caring for the people of Whatcom County. As a nonprofit, we use any extra money to improve community health and support our Mission.
Our Community Health Priorities
We believe that good health, prevention, and community well-being are essential. We work with local partners and make investments to provide our communities with hope, care, home and nourishment.
Hope
Behavioral health focused on health equity
Care
Community health workers focused on enhanced access to primary care & adherence
Home
Housing focused on respite
Nourish
Food insecurity focused on diabetes
Click on an icon above to learn more about each pillar.
Our four pillars of community health help us create a healthy community beyond our hospital and clinics. These pillars remind us of our important duty to care for the most vulnerable and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. To make everyone healthier, we need to focus on those who have been most underserved and marginalized.
Our Focus Areas in Whatcom County
We are dedicated to improving health and well-being for:
- Elders and youth
- Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities
- Families and people facing poverty, housing and food insecurity
- People who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+)
- People whose primary language is not English
Health priorities
Driven by a belief that good health, prevention and community well-being are fundamental, PeaceHealth works with multiple local partners and makes direct investments to provide our communities HOME, CARE, HOME and NOURISH.
Hope
Behavior Health focused on Health Equity
Nourish
Food Insecurity focused on Diabetes
Care
Community Health Workers focused on Enhanced Access to Primary Care & Adherence
Home
Housing Focused on Respite
Whatcom County Community Health Needs Assessment
Every three years, tax-exempt hospitals like PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center conduct community health needs assessments to identify current health trends in the local community and plans to improve the health and well-being of the community.
Our Community Health Needs Assessments guide our investments. Conducted every three years in partnership with local communities, these tools assist us in identifying and addressing community needs and gaps in resources. This allows PeaceHealth to maximize our impact and target our investments where they will make the most lasting change.
We partner with Healthy Whatcom (www.healthywhatcom.org) to survey the community every three years. Healthy Whatcom coordinates the survey in conjunction with local nonprofits and community health agencies. Together, members assess key health indicators, set priorities and plan actions.
Healthy Whatcom identified three priority areas for child and family well-being:
- Investing in child and youth mental health to build resilience.
- Creating a strong foundation through early learning and childcare.
- Increasing stability by providing housing for families and children.
These priorities address well-documented community needs and require collective action. The final plans will focus on racial equity and measurable health improvements.
This assessment also highlights where equity and access improvements are most needed to enhance overall health.
Our vision at PeaceHealth is that our communities and everyone within them lives their best lives. This means targeting efforts to aid in health justice, equity, access, care and community impact. We are committed to strong community-built plans that measure progress and evaluate our impact towards those results.
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Community Health Improvement Plan
Meet Our Leadership Team
- Charles Prosper, MSPT, MBA, Chief Hospital Executive
- Elliot Kuida, MPH, Chief Operating Officer
- Lorna Gober, MD, Chief Medical Officer
- Roseanna Bell, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer
- Krista Touros, Chief Financial Officer
- Amber Asbjornsen, Chief Philanthropy Officer
- Denise Walker, MBA, Vice President Operations, PHMG
- James Bochsler, MD, Vice President/Medical Director, PHMG
- Rachel Lucy, PhD, MA, Director of Community Health
- Amy Drury, Senior Director of Marketing and Communication
- Kevin Park, Director of Mission Services
- Jennifer McAuley, Director Human Resources
Pictured (L to R): Elliot Kuida, Krista Touros, Lorna Gober, MD, Roseanna Bell, Amy Drury, Amber Asbjornsen, Rachel Lucy, Kevin Park, Chuck Prosper
Not pictured: Jennifer McAuley, Denise Walker, Jim Bochsler, MD
Latest Updates
PeaceHealth President and CEO Liz Dunne to Retire After a Decade of Transformative Leadership
After 10 years of distinguished service, PeaceHealth President and Chief Executive Officer, Liz Dunne, announced her upcoming retirement. Sarah Ness, current executive vice president and chief administrative officer, has been named her successor, effective Jan. 3, 2026.
PeaceHealth Peace Island nationally recognized for excellence in patient experience
The Emergency Department at PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center has been recognized with a 2024 Human Experience Pinnacle of Excellence Award® by Press Ganey, the national leader in healthcare consumer and workforce engagement.