Larry Dodds Announces Retirement
Larry Dodds, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Adventist Health, recently announced plans to retire effective May 2011, ending his nearly 40-year career with the health system.
“Larry has been a dedicated and skillful leader in our system for nearly four decades,” says Bob Carmen, president and CEO. “I have personally appreciated his deep commitment to furthering the mission of Adventist Health.”
Dodds began his health-care career in 1971. In 1979, he became the associate administrator at Walla Walla General Hospital and shortly thereafter became the senior vice president at Adventist Medical Center in Portland, Ore. In 1983, Dodds was named president and CEO of AMC. He served in that role for 15 years until relocating to the corporate office to assume the role of senior vice president in 1998, and in 2007 was appointed executive vice president and COO of the health system.
Dodds and his wife intend to relocate to the Northwest.
Adventist Medical Center Names New COO
Ron Benfield has been named chief operating officer of Adventist Medical Center. He will be responsible for oversight of the organization’s day-to-day operations.
Benfield has more than 30 years of health-care leadership experience, including 11 years with Adventist Health System, a sister health care company. Benfield and his wife, Joyce, a registered nurse, relocated to Portland to accept the position at Adventist Health.
Walk of Faith Supports Respite Care in Tillamook
Recently at Tillamook County General Hospital nearly 70 walkers and 13 dogs celebrated Faith in Action’s 10th-annual Walk of Faith. More than $1,000 was raised to continue to provide respite care and support to the frail, elderly and disabled in the community.
Sponsored by TCGH, Faith in Action has been offering respite care for more than 10 years in the community. Respite care — a break from the 24/7 duties of caring for loved ones with health challenges — is offered through two outreaches: in-home services and center-based services.
For more information about the Walk of Faith, visit TCGH’s new Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TillamookHospital.
Walla Walla General Hospital Gives Guyana Hospital Makeover
Several years ago, Walla Walla General Hospital “adopted” an Adventist sister hospital in Guyana, South America. When several employees went on a scouting trip to assess the needs at Davis Memorial Hospital, they discovered the emergency room needed some TLC.
Now, six employees are going back to Guyana to give the hospital’s ER a much-needed makeover. During the week-long mission trip, the ER will get a new coat of paint and new equipment installed, among other things. This project has been a year in the making and has been supported in part by donations from community members and employees. If you would like to donate to the project, call 509-527-8303.
Walkers start out on the 10th-annual Walk of Faith at Tillamook County General Hospital.
Larry Dodds
