Your clinical practice at Good Shepherd Medical Center will blend substantial autonomy with excellent physician collaboration. You'll maintain a diverse panel with a particular focus on hematology cases, allowing you to develop expertise in managing conditions like anemias, bleeding disorders, and non-malignant hematologic conditions. Unlike metropolitan settings where specialists might be siloed into narrow scopes, your practice here will offer meaningful variety that keeps your skills sharp across the hematology-oncology spectrum. When the contracted oncologists are working remotely, you'll provide continuity of care for their oncology patients, ensuring treatment plans progress seamlessly.
The practice environment strikes an ideal balance between clinical independence and collaborative support. You'll work alongside the newly contracted oncologists, Dr. Milani and Dr. Abar, who will provide both on-site and remote supervision depending on their schedules. This model offers the perfect blend of autonomy and mentorship that allows for professional growth while ensuring patients receive optimal care.
Your practice will extend beyond the clinic walls into the inpatient setting, where you'll provide valuable oncology and hematology expertise through consultations. This collaborative aspect of your role exemplifies the team-based approach at Good Shepherd, where specialists work seamlessly with hospitalists and emergency physicians to ensure comprehensive patient care. These consultations typically require stepping out of clinic briefly to see patients on the floor, followed by efficient rounding for approximately 30–45 minutes daily.
The hospital's intimate size creates natural collaboration opportunities absent in larger facilities where departments often function in isolation. You'll know your colleagues by name across specialties, fostering the kind of collegial relationships that enhance both professional satisfaction and patient care.
You'll play an integral role in expanding oncology services that currently include a 7-chair infusion center (with Saturday clinic expansion underway) and newly acquired PET-CT capabilities. The practice is actively building a more comprehensive cancer program, including plans for radiation oncology services that will eliminate the need for patients to travel to Tri-Cities for treatment. The general surgeon currently handles much of the cancer surgery, including breast procedures, with higher acuity cases referred to OHSU in Portland.
Your expertise will contribute to the development of robust cancer care pathways that appropriately utilize local resources while maintaining strong relationships with tertiary centers for complex cases. Through participation in tumor boards with OHSU providers, you'll help ensure your patients benefit from multidisciplinary perspectives while receiving the majority of their care close to home.
The clinical environment at Good Shepherd reflects a thoughtful approach to provider wellbeing. Your schedule of four without night, weekend, or call responsibilities ensures sustainable work-life balance. The collaborative culture means you're never truly practicing in isolation, even when physician colleagues are off-site. The expanding cancer center, including the newly acquired PET scanner and plans for additional imaging capabilities, demonstrates the organization's commitment to providing you with the resources needed for excellent patient care.
Unlike high-volume urban practices where productivity pressures can lead to burnout, this setting prioritizes thorough patient care and professional satisfaction. You'll have the time to develop meaningful relationships with patients and contribute substantively to the growth of oncology services in a community with significant unmet needs.