Our favorite stories of 2023

As the year comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the inspiring stories happening every day in our communities. Here are some of our favorites from the past 12 months.

• ‘Living miracle’ beats stage 4 cervical cancer. After a seizure, Rachel Turner learned she had a rare and aggressive type of cervical cancer that had spread to her brain. MultiCare Regional Cancer Center helped treat her cancer, and she’s now in complete remission.
• Greater Lakes in-school therapy empowers students to take charge of mental health care. Greater Lakes Mental Healthcare, part of the MultiCare Behavioral Health Network, offers an in-school therapy program in Pierce County schools — an especially valuable resource after the pandemic, which increased mental and behavioral health challenges for youth.
• A need fulfilled: MultiCare partners with NECC to open much-needed behavioral health clinic in Spokane. MultiCare Behavioral Health Northeast Spokane opened in October to offer outpatient behavioral health services to all age groups. The clinic is in a prime location to serve Shaw Middle School students across the street and users of The Northeast Community Center, a hub for community resources like doctors, dentists, child care and more.
• 40 years of progress: Two long-time employees reflect on MultiCare’s research journey. Deaths from cancer are declining. Medical research has led to improvements in treatments, diagnostics and screening, which leads to earlier cancer detection and better quality of life after diagnosis. MultiCare began its research efforts in 1983 and celebrates 40 years this year.
• Q&A: The women behind Capital Women’s Integrated Primary Care. This summer, MultiCare Capital Women’s Integrated Primary Care opened, expanding access to health care for women in Thurston County. Read our Q&A with the first providers to be a part of the new clinic: L. Abigail Tan, MD; Brittany Little, ARNP; and Kerry Gamble, ARNP.
• Addressing health inequities in communities of color. Whether it’s at a primary care clinic or an outreach event, MultiCare is dedicated to reducing health disparities within communities of color. These inequities are rooted in systemic racism and bias in the health care system.
• MultiCare nurse practitioners elevate patient care. MultiCare acquired Yakima Memorial Hospital and its associated clinics in January. Get to know three MultiCare nurse practitioners in the Yakima region: Shereen Stocker, ARNP; Rigoberto Zepeda-Gonzalez, DNP, ARNP; and Chelsea Miller, DNP, ARNP.
• EWU dental clinic improves education and access. Students at the Eastern Washington University (EWU) Dental Hygiene Clinic are helping fill gaps in Washington state’s dentistry field. Participants in the program — the only true Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene in the state — typically have full-time employment lined up before graduating.
• ‘Moments of joy’ — the motivation behind Spectrum Center’s service to LGBTQ+ communities. Access to gender-affirming support is limited in the Spokane area — and gender-affirming care saves lives. Spectrum Center is on a mission to provide these critical connections to hundreds of LGBTQIA2S+ individuals across the region by providing support, creating community, and improving health and wellness.
• High school students start their futures at Healthcare Careers Academy. Healthcare Careers Academy at Mount Tahoma High School, which MultiCare helped create, is a four-year pathway program to prepare students for careers in health care. Watch our video about the program to see how it’s changing the future of health care education.