Meet the Addiction Medicine Fellowship Team

Program Director

Language: English

Hometown: Anchorage, AK

Medical School: University of Washington

Residency: Swedish Cherry Hill

Fellowships: Addiction Medicine at Swedish Cherry Hill

Clinical Interests: substance use disorders in pregnancy, motivational interviewing, dermatology

What brought you to Addiction Medicine: I had a transformative experience in residency working with a Doula who focused on care of pregnant people in recovery, who helped open my eyes to the harm or benefit a provider can create with their word choice and interaction style during an encounter. Learning from her nonjudgemental, curious, and skillful interpersonal approach allowed me to be a better medical provider across domains, but especially with people dealing with a stigmatized medical condition.

About you:  I grew up in Alaska (enjoying the great outdoors!), and moved to Seattle WA for college (as well as camping, sailing, skiing, and all manner of other adventures). Initially intending a career in academic research, I was surprised to find myself falling in love with family medicine and the challenges at the intersection of social determinants of health and medical care. I was privileged to rotate through many settings in training, and the most impactful by far was caring for pregnant people in early recovery from substance use. I am grateful to have been able to train in Addiction Medicine, and then use these skills as a newly recruited faculty member at East Pierce Family Medicine. With the support of the EPFM Residency team, we grew to host an Addiction Medicine fellowship and opened the START (Substance Treatment and Recovery Training) Unit at Good Samaritan Hospital – and the rest is history!

Hobbies and interests: Cycling, birdwatching, nature journaling, cooking (and eating!) all different kinds of food, camping, gardening, and my two feisty tuxedo cats.

Physician Faculty

Language: English

Hometown: Toledo, OH

Medical School: Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

Fellowships: East Pierce Addiction Medicine Fellowship

Clinical Interests: Pregnancy and Addiction

What brought you to Addiction Medicine: Coming from a personal and family history of substance use disorder I felt that I should be able to relate to my pregnant patients with substance use but instead found barriers to building rapport. In researching information to improve patient relations I came across the East Pierce Addiction Medicine Fellowship website- I was impressed with the emphasis on pregnancy. After speaking with the Program Director Dr. Plawman I knew East Pierce Addiction Medicine was the place for me! Besides the obvious connection with pregnancy, the more subtle attributes included the willingness to support my goals with creative solutions and transparency within the clinical leadership. I enjoyed working with Dr. Plawman and the East Pierce community so much that I have stayed on as faculty.

About you: I grew up in Toledo OH and left when I turned 18 for a great adventure with my best friend to move to Olympia WA and attend Evergreen State College. Initially interested in social justice and natural remedies I found myself in a plant botany course and loved it. After interviewing an herbalist at Bastyr I was inspired to pursue medicine. I was accepted back in Ohio for medical school and ended up in Portland ME for a traditional osteopathic rotating internship, ultimately landing in Baltimore for my OB/GYN residency. I landed a great job at a federally qualified health center where I took care of a diverse patient mix-for the first time experiencing what it was like to work with a large population of substance using individuals. Working with substance using pregnant people is the perfect mix of advocacy and medicine-bringing me back to my social justice roots. Training physicians to provide compassionate, non-judgmental care is an honor.  I am so grateful to be doing this important work for our community and I am so glad to be back in the PNW!

Hobbies and interests: Crafting (fiber arts), cooking (really more eating!), kayaking, hiking, reading cozy mysteries, listening to records, hanging with my cats.

Physician Faculty

Language: English, basic Spanish

Hometown: Shorewood, Wisconsin

Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Cook County Health FMR

Fellowships: East Pierce Addiction Medicine

Clinical Interests: Addiction medicine in primary care, behavioral health, MSK/osteopathic medicine

What brought you to Addiction Medicine: During my transition from research to medicine, I spent time volunteering with a mobile health clinic serving people experiencing homelessness in Chicago. I frequently found myself in conversation with people whose lives were impacted by substance use, stigma, and trouble receiving care. I knew then and there that I wanted to be a doctor for people struggling with substance use.

About you: Wisconsin is my first home. I grew up there and attended the other UW in Madison. My plan after college was to enter graduate school for neuroscience. Spending time as a lab technician showed that while I love science, working with people is where my heart is. This change of direction took me to Chicago for a year with AmeriCorps. During residency I advocated for expanded training in substance use disorders, participated in research looking at healthcare utilization prior to opioid overdose deaths, and committed to understanding and addressing social determinants of health to best serve my patients. I chose East Pierce Addiction Medicine for fellowship because this team is an amazing group of people with tons of experience, especially for pregnant women with substance use disorders. I am thrilled to be a part of the team and happy to call Washington my second home.

Hobbies and interests: Gardening, soccer, board games, sci-fi, time with family, Wisconsin sports

Physician Faculty

I work in Addiction Medicine because I am inspired by the hard work and dedication of our patients. Also, to be able to participate in someone’s journey into recovery is very fulfilling. It is a privilege to witness personal transformation and growth. I work specifically at East Pierce’s START Clinic to help manage both Obstetrics and Chemical Dependency. The women that come to our clinic are extremely brave and courageous. It takes a tremendous amount of strength to carry a baby while trying to get treatment. Their stories are what gives me the energy and motivation to be an Addiction Medicine physician.

Language: English

Hometown: Tacoma, WA

Medical School: University of Washington

Residency: Tacoma Family Medicine

Clinical Interests: Reproductive health, addiction medicine within primary care, adolescent medicine

What brought you to Addiction Medicine: During college, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Tacoma needle exchange as part of a public health internship. I became aware of the enormous health disparities faced by people who use drugs. This experience stuck with me, and throughout medical school and residency, I continued to see how stigma around substance use and systemic barriers impacted the patients I cared for. I am passionate about reducing these barriers and providing compassionate, evidence-based substance use treatment within the primary care setting.

About you: I grew up in Tacoma and stayed close to home for college at the University of Puget Sound. I then spent two years teaching science in rural Idaho before returning to Washington for medical school and residency. I am excited to stay close to family for fellowship here at EPFM!

Hobbies and interests: I enjoy gardening, reading fiction, and getting outside with my family to explore the PNW- we have two energetic dogs who keep us active!

Language: English

Hometown: Kent, Washington

Medical School: University of California, Los Angeles

Residency: Thomas Jefferson University

Post-Residency Training: National Health Service Corps Scholar (Baltimore, MD), Aerospace Medicine (US Air Force School of Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB), Masters in Public Health

Clinical Interests: Addiction Medicine, Maternal Health, Trauma-Informed Care, Underserved Medicine, Health Equity, Simulation Training

What brought you to Addiction Medicine: Addiction Medicine is deeply meaningful to me because I have witnessed how compassionate, whole-person care can transform the lives of individuals struggling with substance use disorders. As an OB/GYN, I have the privilege of caring for pregnant patients during a time of profound vulnerability and opportunity. I have seen firsthand how nonjudgemental, inclusive, and respectful care can lead to meaningful change for patients navigating both addition and the healthcare system. I am incredibly grateful to continue growing in this field as an Addiction Medicine Fellow, expanding my scope of practice to better support a community in need.

About you: My passion lies in building genuine relationships with those I care for and providing individualized, evidence-based care. As a former National Health Service Corps Scholar, a commitment to serving underserved communities has always been at the core of my practice. For over a decade, I have had the privilege of educating the next generation of Family Medicine physicians, and I am excited to continue this as a Fellow. During my military service as a Flight Surgeon in the Air National Guard, I incorporated Trauma-Informed Care into my practice, and I am grateful for the opportunity to further deepen my application of this approach.

Hobbies and interests: Spending time outdoors, Flamenco history and dance, fiber arts and spending quality time with my family.

Language: English

Hometown: Bellevue

Medical School: Pacific Lutheran University BSN

Clinical Interests: RN in OB for 31 years, high-risk OB

What brought you to Addiction Medicine: I wanted to help erase the stigma of substance use disorder.  

About you: I have a wonderful husband, Bill: a daughter Hannah, who is a counselor; and a son, DJ, who works in human resources. I also have a soon to be daughter-in-law Olivia, who is a math teacher. I am happiest serving others. 

Hobbies and interests: Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, anything Birds, anything Disney, Legos.   

Program Coordinator

Language: English

Hometown:  Puyallup WA

What brought you to Addiction Medicine: I have been in healthcare for 20+ years, the last five working for East Pierce Family Medicine/East Pierce Addiction Medicine Clinics. Working here allows me to combine my passion for healthcare with a personal understanding of the challenges individuals and families face with substance use. Having dealt with a family member’s addiction, I understand firsthand the importance of compassionate care and support. My hope is that our team can aim to decrease the stigma surrounding addiction and provide empathetic care to those in need, helping them on their journey towards recovery and wellness.

About you: I was born in Oklahoma and raised in a military family. I’ve called many places home but after living in different corners of the world, I finally settled in Puyallup. Here, I’ve put down roots and embraced Puyallup as my own. I have a wonderful Husband and 3 amazing children that are all almost grown. We also have 2 dogs and 3 cats.

Hobbies and interests: I enjoy being outdoors and love that we have Mt Rainier in our backyard. You will find me there most weekends hiking and enjoying breathtaking views. I also enjoy antique shopping, crafting and exploring all this state has to offer. My dream is to visit as many national parks as I can, I have checked many off my list but still have plenty to go.