Leadership

Kyle King

President

Kyle has been involved in healthcare leadership for nearly 15 years. Joining Adventist Health 2011, he has worked in a number of leadership roles. Most recently, he has overseen operations and market development at Adventist Health Portland.

In this role he has been responsible for program growth and development with our OHSU partners as well as service-line development and COVID-19 efforts. He has been highly successful in building physician relationships and service lines to improve the financial viability of the partnership. King received his education in healthcare administration from Walla Walla University and Portland State University.

Cindy Nutter

Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer

Cindy Nutter is the chief nursing officer/patient care executive for Adventist Medical Center. Since assuming this role in January 2014, she is responsible for patient care services provided in all patient care units, surgery, cardiac cath lab, pharmacy and pulmonary medicine, as well as the support provided by clinical information systems and quality services.

Prior to assuming the role of CNO, Nutter served at Adventist Medical Center as the administrative director of all inpatient services including the intensive care and cardiovascular units, telemetry, medical-surgical, orthopedic and the Family Birth Place units. Over the previous 25 years, Nutter served as a nursing instructor in a bachelor’s degree program, managed a primary care clinic, served as a school nurse and provided direct patient care to burn and trauma, cardiac surgery, and general critical care patients.

Nutter received her Master of Science in nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, and completed her undergrad work at Washington State University. She and her husband enjoy outdoor activities, from scuba diving to hiking, as well as spending time with their children and grandchildren

Don Welch

Vice President and CFO

Don Welch is the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Adventist Health Portland. Prior to assuming his role with Adventist Health, Welch was the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer with Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. At Florida Hospital, Welch focused on engagement, quality, financial performance and growth. Welch also served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Central Texas Medical Center where he focused on improving finances and improving access.

Welch holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Crummer Graduate School of Business in Winter Park, FL.

Wesley Rippey, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Wesley E. Rippey is the chief medical officer for Adventist Medical Center and is a licensed medical doctor certified by the American Board of Surgery. He received his Bachelor of Science and MD degrees from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1976 as well as completing his surgery residency in 1981.

Here at Adventist Health, Dr. Rippey has been in private practice surgery (general surgery, peripheral-vascular surgery) since July 1981. As well as being a part of Adventist Healthstaff, he has been a board member of Adventist Health and Adventist Medical Center, a board chair of Healthcare Resources NW, board member of PELC and PLOC, board chair for AMC Foundation and chair of PAG. He has been Adventist Medical Center’s chief medical officer since 2008.

Dr. Rippey and his wife, Penny, live in Damascus, Oregon, where they grow hay and Douglas fir. They have two daughters; one is an registered nurse, and the other is in China for her Masters in International Studies at John Hopkins University.

Dr. Terry Lyndon Johnsson

Vice President for Mission Integration

Dr. Terry Johnsson is the Vice President for Mission Integration for Adventist Health Portland. A Portland native, he has a unique story that took him to Washington D.C. for a number of years, serving in the U.S. Air Force Presidential Honor Guard at the White House for three U.S. Presidents. After serving in the Air Force, Dr. Johnsson went on to earn two undergraduate degrees, a Masters degree, and a Doctorate from the prestigious Wesley Theological Seminary of Washington D.C., during which time he also became a board certified chaplain.

In 2014, Dr. Johnsson joined Adventist Health Portland as the Director of Spiritual Care before being promoted to Vice President of Mission Integration. During his time here, he started a non-profit high school mentoring program called Student Healthcare Leaders with the goal to expose high school students to the healthcare world, as well as Adventist Health Portland’s First Friday program. Dr. Johnsson is currently working with his staff chaplains to grow the grief support and Clinical Pastoral Education programs.