Jerry Stephanz, MD
for OMC Hospital Commissioner

Gerald (Jerry) Stephanz is a retired doctor who dedicated his career to caring for his patients. As a licensed medical doctor, Jerry knows firsthand how important it is to have hospital commissioners who have a background in medicine and understand the complexities of working as a doctor at a hospital. Jerry is a nephrologist (kidney doctor). Besides caring for patients with kidney issues, he served as the director of multiple dialysis units, many in rural areas. Jerry has worked at both large hospitals in urban areas, and at rural hospitals, like OMC, where the hospital was integral to the success and health of the community.

Jerry not only worked as a doctor, but has also served on the boards of local and national physician organizations, and will bring this diversity of experience to the OMC Hospital Commission. In his retirement, for the last 9 years Jerry volunteered with Olympic Peninsula Community Clinic (OPCC - formerly the VIMO Clinic), conducting a weekly homeless shelter medical clinic, providing care to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. He helped develop the ReDiscovery program and serves as the clinic medical director and as a board member. Through his service at OPCC/ReDiscovery, Jerry has interacted with OMC, and knows firsthand the importance of having a hospital interested in building partnerships with all local healthcare organizations.

Currently, there are no medical doctors serving as Hospital Commissioners of Olympic Medical Center. This is a voice and perspective that is desperately needed, particularly as OMC goes through its current challenges. Jerry prefers that OMC remain independent. Out of the possible merger/partnership options presented, Jerry favors an affiliation with the University of Washington.