I have been a tireless advocate for children and public health throughout my career. As the co-founder of the Kent, Washington based Pediatric Interim Care Centrer (PICC), a one-of-a-kind model program that providses 24-hour interim care for drug affected and medically fragile newborns, I have experienced first hand, on a daily basis, the crying need for essential patient care services for the most vulnerable, not just in South King County, but throughout our state and nation. While significantly impacting and improving infant healthcare in my own community, PICC's influence has reached far beyond. My expertise is frequently called on by other states and countries working to replicate PICC's innovatiove model of safe, cost-effective pediatric interim care. PICC was the first and still is the only interim care nursery bringing drug addicted infants through withdrawal. Over the years, my staff and I have helped thousands of newborns through their very difficult first weeks of life. I have trained thousands of caregivers, medical personnel and others in the recognition and therapeutic handling of drug exposed infants.

From my perspective, none of the important and lifesaving work PICC staff and myself perform could even be possible without the amazing support and contributions from my community. I would like to repay that kindness by serving as a hospital commissioner. PICC's support comes from many sources, but the early and important ones have been Valley Medical Center and UW Medicine. Valley took the lead in providing hospital support for our new non-profit, while UW Medicine's neonatal experts were my mentors in putting PICC's program together. Becoming a Commissoner of the hospital district is one small way I would like to give back to the community that has been so vital to my organization.