Meet Dr. Winnifred Wong
Winnifred Wong, DO, is the medical director of Celilo Cancer Center and is a passionate advocate for cancer screening, prevention, and education.
Winnifred Wong, DO, is the medical director of Celilo Cancer Center and is a passionate advocate for cancer screening, prevention, and education.
Keith Stelzer, MD is a leading expert in the application of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), the technology used at Celilo Cancer Center that shapes radiation beams more precisely to spare surrounding tissue.
When you join the Celilo Cancer Center, you step into one of the most stable, committed teams in the region. Many of your colleagues have been here well over a decade, serving through transitions, leadership changes, and even the challenges of physician turnover — yet choosing to stay because of the culture they’ve built together. They describe themselves as “family,” and it shows in every corner of the clinic — from the laughter in the infusion suite to the handwritten gratitude notes pinned to the break room wall.
This isn’t a workforce that comes and goes; it’s a team that grows together. The leadership at Adventist Health Columbia Gorge has made retention not just a goal but a value. That focus shapes every aspect of the environment you’ll join: predictable schedules, authentic collaboration, transparent communication, and a leadership philosophy rooted in respect and shared purpose.
The Celilo Cancer Center operates like an extended family. Many of its nurses, navigators, and administrative staff grew up in the surrounding Columbia Gorge communities and now care for friends, neighbors, and even former teachers.
The nursing staff is a blend of experienced oncology RNs and infusion specialists who bring both technical precision and emotional intelligence to patient care. Their average tenure exceeds national benchmarks, and their loyalty reflects a workplace where input is valued and leadership listens. The nurse navigator acts as the connective tissue of the program, ensuring every patient feels known and guided from diagnosis through survivorship — one of the many retention-driven roles designed to reduce burnout across disciplines.
Amanda Cummings, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy and Cancer Services, oversees both the medical and radiation oncology programs with an open-door approach that empowers every employee to contribute ideas. Sierra Kirby, the Practice Administrator, is known for her balance of structure and empathy — she’s the person everyone turns to when something needs to get done, and she ensures the clinic runs like a “well-oiled machine.” Both leaders were instrumental in maintaining morale during transitions and in shaping the environment you’ll now inherit: stable, communicative, and deeply human.
The partnership with Radiation Oncology — led by Winnifred Wong, MD (Medical Director) and Keith Stelzer, MD (semi-retired founder) — is equally collaborative. Both physicians have championed consistency and mentorship, fostering a clinical rhythm where mutual respect and interdisciplinary learning sustain the team long term.
At the administrative level, Dr. Jayant Eldurkar (CMO) and the hospital executives have prioritized physician longevity across service lines. They recognize that sustainable recruitment begins with retention — and have implemented flexible scheduling, predictable compensation structures, and strong clinical autonomy to ensure new providers feel supported for the long run.
What keeps people at Celilo is not just the mission — it’s how leadership lives it every day. The organization invests in its people through professional growth, emotional wellbeing, and practical support systems like onsite childcare, ongoing education opportunities, and recognition of life outside of work. There’s an understanding here that when employees are cared for, patients are too.
Staff members speak openly about what makes them stay:
Retention here isn’t about incentives — it’s about belonging.
Every milestone at Celilo is celebrated collectively. When the cancer center regains its COC accreditation, it will be because this team pulled together to make it happen. When a new oncologist joins, everyone contributes to helping them feel at home — from organizing community tours to introducing them at local events. The staff understands that stability comes from relationships, and they’ve built an environment where everyone has a stake in each other’s success.
At Adventist Health Columbia Gorge, people don’t stay because they have to — they stay because they’re valued, trusted, and connected to something meaningful. You’ll feel that difference from your first day — a sense of continuity that turns colleagues into friends, and a workplace into a home.