Catherine Spomer, FNP
Dr. Joyce Koh
You will join a gastroenterology service line that already has infrastructure in place and colleagues prepared to collaborate. The team includes an experienced locum gastroenterologist, a newly hired GI-focused nurse practitioner, and dedicated support staff who understand the unique demands of a busy procedural practice. This is not a situation where you will build everything from scratch; the foundation exists, and your role is to elevate the program to its full potential.
The practice culture at Good Shepherd emphasizes collaboration over competition. Physicians across specialties work together, share coverage responsibilities fairly, and maintain genuine respect for each other's time and expertise. The medical staff has been described as friendly and approachable, creating an environment where you can focus on patient care rather than navigating difficult interpersonal dynamics.
Joyce Koh, MD currently provides gastroenterology services at Good Shepherd as a long term locum physician. Dr. Koh brings exceptional academic credentials and clinical experience to the practice. She completed her medical degree at Penn State University College of Medicine, followed by internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at Johns Hopkins. Her undergraduate work at Harvard University, where she graduated magna cum laude, reflects the intellectual caliber she brings to patient care. Dr. Koh is board certified in both Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine and speaks French, Spanish, English, and Korean.
Dr. Koh does not perform ERCP, which represents the primary gap your arrival will fill. Her presence ensures continuity of general gastroenterology services while creating an opportunity for you to establish yourself as the interventional leader of the program.
Catherine Spomer, FNP joined Good Shepherd Gastroenterology in January 2026 after relocating from the Tri-Cities area. She previously practiced at Lourdes Gastroenterology in Pasco, Washington, giving her familiarity with the regional patient population and referral patterns. Catherine specializes in gastroenterology and manages patients with acid reflux, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, digestive diseases, chronic heartburn, and colon cancer screening follow-up.
Catherine's presence extends your capacity by handling routine follow-up visits, medication management, and pre-procedure evaluations. This allows you to focus your time on complex consultations and procedural work where your specialized training adds the most value.
The gastroenterology practice includes a dedicated practice manager who handles scheduling, staffing, and operational logistics. You will not need to spend your evenings managing administrative tasks or mediating staff conflicts. The practice manager serves as your operational partner, ensuring the clinic runs efficiently so you can concentrate on clinical care.
Good Shepherd's medical staff functions as an integrated team rather than isolated silos. Primary care physicians refer patients directly to gastroenterology and maintain ongoing communication about shared patients. Specialists across departments, including general surgery, oncology, and internal medicine, collaborate on complex cases requiring multidisciplinary input.
The team you will join understands the demands of gastroenterology practice and has systems in place to support your success. From credentialed APPs who extend your reach to CRNAs who handle sedation to a practice manager who keeps operations running smoothly, you will have the infrastructure needed to build a thriving practice without burning out in the process.