Meet Jerry

Jerry moved to Port Angeles with his wife in 2015 after his retirement. Jerry’s wife, Dr. Nancy Ahlstrom Stephanz, worked as a hospitalist at OMC before retiring in 2022. They both had robust careers as nephrologists in Utah prior to moving to Clallam County. Jerry was the department chair and board member of his multi-specialty clinic in Utah, and was the medical director of multiple dialysis units in both urban and rural settings. He served on the advisory board for the Medicare contractor for Utah, and has considerable experience with governmental payment issues for hospitals.

Jerry believes in giving back to our community and using his expertise to make our community a better place, where everyone can thrive. For the past 9 years, Jerry has conducted a weekly homelessness medical clinic through Olympic Peninsula Community Clinic (OPCC), where he has seen firsthand the effects of substance use and how the local homeless population now consists of older people and elders who are struggling. Through this work, Jerry has worked closely with first responders, including the Port Angeles Fire Department’s Community Paramedicine Program, the ReDiscovery Program, and Serenity House, along with local healthcare organizations.

Jerry has built important relationships with doctors, nurses, and staff at OMC, and will continue these relationships if elected. Jerry believes that hearing input from the people who work at OMC, as well as hearing from the users of OMC’s services, is an important quality to have as a Commissioner.

Jerry has also served for the past 8 years on the Clallam County Board of Health, including serving as Chair and Vice Chair. Jerry served in this capacity during the Covid-19 pandemic, and has worked closely with public health and Clallam County regarding public health initiatives. Here, Jerry has also worked to encourage the Board of Health to have more communication with OMC, particularly because of OMC’s role in providing substantial public health related services to our community.

Additionally, Jerry was proud to be the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year in 2022, due to his work with OPCC. Jerry also serves as the Treasurer for St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. In his free time, Jerry enjoys working on cars, hiking, fishing, and spending time with his family.

Through Jerry’s work as a doctor, a medical director, and volunteer, he knows how important it is to have hospital commissioners who not only ask questions, but know what kinds of questions to ask. And Jerry truly believes that Hospital Commissioner is a non-partisan position, because the health and longevity of OMC is vital to Clallam County’s success. If elected, Jerry will continue to ask questions, make informed decisions, build relationships with staff and constituents, and work towards a truly open and transparent OMC. Jerry pledges to make sure to be responsive and answer emails.