Your day begins with the morning light spilling through the windows of the Celilo Cancer Center, a warm, purpose-built space designed for connection and calm. You’ll walk through a facility where patients are greeted by name, where nurses and pharmacists have often worked together for decades, and where your care decisions ripple across a community that truly values having local access to oncology. This is not high-volume factory medicine — this is relationship medicine, supported by an infrastructure that allows you to practice thoughtfully, efficiently, and without burnout.
Each day offers the intellectual breadth of a comprehensive oncology practice without the overwhelming pressure seen in large metropolitan programs. You’ll treat a full range of solid and hematologic malignancies, guided by evidence-based protocols and supported by a team deeply committed to patient dignity and hope. While the program’s analytical case volume averages around 250 cases annually, you’ll find the work intentionally balanced — with roughly 12–15 patient visits per day, giving you the time to listen, educate, and coordinate care with precision.
Celilo’s clinical model integrates Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Infusion, Pharmacy, and Nurse Navigation within one cohesive unit. The synergy between departments is intentional — the medical oncologist, pharmacists, and infusion nurses work side-by-side, communicating directly rather than through layers of bureaucracy. This creates a clinical flow where patient plans are implemented quickly, treatment toxicities are managed in real-time, and continuity never falters.
Radiation Oncology is led by Winnifred Wong, MD (Medical Director) and Keith Stelzer, MD (semi-retired founder), who provide continuity and mentorship, ensuring that your patients receive a seamless transition between disciplines. Together, you’ll participate in twice-monthly multidisciplinary tumor boards, offering CME credit through the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. These sessions bring together surgeons, pathologists, urologists, and radiologists to discuss cases with academic-level rigor in a community-based setting — a perfect balance of collaboration and autonomy.
Your work is enhanced by Epic EMR, shared directly with OHSU, allowing integrated documentation, consults, and data exchange between systems. This connectivity ensures that even in a rural region, you’re part of a sophisticated network of specialists. Tele-oncology, pathology review, and remote radiation planning capabilities further strengthen your ability to deliver advanced care locally. The pharmacy upstairs compounds all chemotherapy on-site, creating a fluid collaboration between physician, pharmacist, and nurse that eliminates bottlenecks and minimizes treatment delays.
Your patients will come from an 11,000-square-mile catchment area encompassing both Oregon and Washington. Many travel an hour or more for their care, seeking not just treatment but trust. The population you’ll serve is diverse — retirees, agricultural workers, and multigenerational families who’ve lived in the Gorge for decades. You’ll often see patients referred from local family physicians who personally know your work. That connection between hospital and community means your practice is not just about medicine; it’s about stewardship.
The organization’s model is unapologetically patient-centered. Your focus will be on comprehensive, personalized care — ensuring that each patient’s journey is guided with clarity and compassion. A balanced clinical load allows for meticulous treatment planning, close follow-up, and space to provide emotional and educational support for patients and families. Because this position fills a long-standing vacancy, your presence will restore stability, rebuild continuity, and help regain COC accreditation, which was temporarily paused during the program’s transition to locum coverage.
The practice operates on a Monday–Friday schedule, offering predictable hours and no required after-hours call. When call does occur, it’s shared across a supportive network of regional providers, and acute cases are efficiently triaged by experienced nurses and advanced practitioners (you’re not getting any patient calls). Locum coverage remains available to preserve balance and continuity during vacations or extended leave, allowing you to recharge without burdening your team.
Here, oncology care extends beyond clinical outcomes — it’s about rebuilding confidence in local medicine, creating moments of comfort for patients in crisis, and knowing that your leadership in each treatment plan contributes to the health and hope of an entire region.