Leadership

Joyce Newmyer
President
Pacific Northwest Region

Joyce Newmyer is the president of Adventist Health Portland Medical Center and Adventist Health's Pacific Northwest Region, which also includes Tillmook Regional Medical Center in Ore., and Castle Medical Center in Hawaii. In this role Joyce chairs the governing board for each hospital and also oversees the operations of 43 medical clinics, two home care agencies and two retirement centers in the Northwest.

Newmyer holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Fresno and a Master of Science in Health Services Administration from St. Francis University.

Cindy Nutter
Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer
Adventist Health Portland

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

Don Welch is the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Adventist Health Portland Medical Center and is the Chief Financial Officer for the Northwest Region of Adventist Health.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
Adventist Health Portland

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.