Kate Cousineau, PA-C
Stevenson, White Salmon
Kate Cousineau comes to us with a unique background as both a social worker and a certified physician assistant (PA-C). Kate believes it is best if she and her patients work together to create a health care plan that is personalized and sustainable to fit a person’s unique lifestyle. She strives to help patients better understand their health and connects them with local community resources when necessary. Kate encourages patients to play an active role in their health by asking questions, communicating with her, and collaborating to reach goals.
As a social worker, Kate spent many years working with clients struggling with addiction and behavioral health issues. She decided to pursue family practice to help patients with addiction and behavioral health issues obtain easier access to quality care, and she prides herself on practicing integrative medicine. She is passionate about helping patients achieve and sustain recovery.
Kate comes to us from Pennsylvania, but for the last two years Kate has been working in migrant health at Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic. She truly enjoyed her work in Family Practice in this setting, and is happy to move to the Gorge where she can also continue this important work. Kate also speaks Spanish and appreciates learning from patients with diverse backgrounds.
She is a white water kayaker and moved to the Gorge to reunite with kayaking friends and family, and to enjoy the amazing rivers here. She also loves mountain biking, running, 5 Rhythms Meditation, and living a sustainable lifestyle.
EDUCATION
Master’s of Medical Science, Physician Assistant, Lock Haven University, 2015
Masters of Social Work, MSW, Widener University, 2010
Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, BSW, Temple University, 2005
CERTIFICATIONS
NCCPA- Certified Physician Assistant
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Addiction, Suboxone, Behavioral Health, Holistic Health
Deana Dahl, FNP–BC
White Salmon
Deana Dahl, FNP–BC
Deana Dahl has been with NorthShore Medical Group since 1999, she currently works in the White Salmon Clinic and does Home Visits. She enjoys working with patients and their families. Through preventative and holistic medicine she is able to improve the lives of many in our community.
Deana feels blessed to live and work in such a beautiful area. She enjoys many outdoor activities that the Gorge has to offer from hiking and biking in the summer to skiing in the winter; she does them all with her husband David (also a beekeeper) and their daughter and son.
EDUCATION Master’s of Science in Nursing, Washington State University, Vancouver – 1999 Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Montana Sate University – 1986
CERTIFICATIONS Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner – ANCC
Christopher Faison, MD
Skyline Hospital, White Salmon
Dr. Faison
For Dr. Christopher Faison, being a family doctor is about being part of a community, about working one-on-one with families journeying through different phases of life. He appreciates a job that balances hands and head, and allows him to be present for both special and difficult moments. He has a particular interest in pediatrics, reproductive health, sports medicine, and palliative care.
Chris grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and spent most of his life in the Southeast and Appalachia, including North Carolina and Virginia. He and his wife Tracy fell in love with the Pacific Northwest during a cross country road trip in a wood paneled station wagon, their hermaphroditic dog Joey in tow.
Chris has been lucky enough to live and work in some pretty unique places, from Germany to Kenya. These are experiences he continues to draw upon as we decide locally and nationally what type of health care systems are practical and in keeping with our values.
Since moving to the NW, the Gorge has been and continues to be a special place for both him and his family. They escaped to the area often during medical training, were married here, and are thrilled to be planting roots here. To Chris, the place is a living story, a beautifully illustrated reminder of a much bigger and longer timescale and our place in it. He looks forward to having his arm twisted into many long hikes as well as to learning some of the many new pastimes the area has to offer.
Alicia Giménez, MD
White Salmon
Alicia Giménez, MD
Traditional Western medicine tends to concentrate on specific diseases, where the physician is in charge of directing care. Dr. Giménez sees herself instead as an advisor or health coach in people’s lives. She tries to meet patients wherever they are on the road to good health. Then together, they identify and try to remove any obstacles in the way. In some ways, this approach is more difficult as it requires a lot of involvement on both parts. Ultimately though, she believes it is not only more rewarding, but more successful in the long run as she and the patient can tailor a unique, individual health plan. From infancy, through adolescence, onto the “golden years”, she sees this approach as essential to achieving a healthy, balanced life. Her goal is to empower each person to direct their own health and care.
Dr. Giménez was raised on a small family farm in Eastern Washington. She attended University of Washington in Seattle for both her undergraduate degree and medical school, and then moved to Spokane, WA for residency. She has lived in White Salmon since 1996; her favorite activity is spending time with her husband Dr. Allen LaBerge and their two children. She also enjoys most outdoor sports, gardening, sewing and knitting.
EDUCATION
Residency in Family Medicine, Family Medicine Spokane Residency Program – 1996
Doctor of Medicine, University of Washington – 1993
CERTIFICATIONS
Board Certified Family Medicine – American Board of Family Medicine
CCLA-Spanish Certified
ORGANIZATIONS
American Academy of Family Physicians
Washington State Medical Association
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Obesity treatment and prevention, Nutrition, Adolescent Medicine
Allen LaBerge, MD
Skyline Hospital, White Salmon
Allen LaBerge, MD
Allen considers it an honor to have the opportunity to be a physician and work with people from all walks of life. He grew up in Cathlamet, Washington and feels fortunate to be able to work and raise his family in White Salmon.
The wide range of outdoor activities available in the Mid Columbia Gorge drew Allen and his wife, Dr. Alicia Giménez, to the area. Dr. LaBerge enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, golfing, wood working, hiking, skiing, and remaining physically active. Together they enjoy watching ball games, attending the theater and cooking fabulous meals.
EDUCATION
Residency in Family Medicine, Family Medicine Spokane Residency Program – 1996
Doctor of Medicine, University of Washington – 1993
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, University of Washington – 1988
CERTIFICATIONS
Board Certified Family Medicine – American Board of Family Medicine
Aviation Medical Examiner
ORGANIZATIONS
American Academy of Family Physicians
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Adult Medicine, Pediatric Medicine, Endoscopy
Jennifer Olson, PA-C
White Salmon
Jennifer Olson, PA-C
Jennifer loves the variety of patients and the many challenges of family medicine. She has truly enjoyed getting to know the people in this community and contributing to their health care.
Jennifer and her husband, John, enjoy many outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking and snowboarding. They also enjoy traveling and exploring new places whenever possible.
EDUCATION
Master’s of Science, Pacific University – 2005
Theology Studies, Multnomah Bible College – 2000
Bachelor of Science, Oregon State University – 1998
CERTIFICATIONS
Board Certified Physician Assistant, NCCPA
Kathy Pickering, PA-C
Stevenson, White Salmon
Kathy has over 20 years of clinical experience as a primary care provider in a variety of settings. She has a personal passion for women’s health and pediatrics. She spent almost 10 years offering primary care services and teaching primary and emergency care skills in remote villages in arctic Alaska prior to moving to the Gorge in 2006. She enjoys educating patients about health issues, working with kids, outdoor activities, crafting with friends.
EDUCATION
PA Certification, Stanford University Primary Care Associate Program – 1992
BA, Sonoma State University
CERTIFICATIONS: Board Certified Physician Assistant, NCCPA
Christopher Samuels, MD
Providence Hood River Hospital, Skyline Hospital, White Salmon
Christopher Samuels, MD
Dr. Samuels believes that rural family medicine is all about the members of a community taking care of one another. For health care providers, that means serving people you depend on and respect. For patients, it means receiving care from people you know and trust. An intimate setting, such as we have at NorthShore Medical Group and Skyline Hospital allows us to deliver personalized, life long, high quality, up-to-date care. Dr. Samuels look forward to caring for people of all ages, but is especially interested in taking care of geriatric patients.
Dr. Samuels, his wife, Sarah, and their two children spend their time together working around their home, reading, hiking, camping, skiing and biking.
EDUCATION
Residency in Family Medicine, La Crosse – Mayo Family Medicine Residency – 2002
Doctor of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center – 1999
CERTIFICATIONS
Board Certified Family Medicine – American Board of Family Medicine
ORGANIZATIONS
American Academy of Family Physicians
Chardonnay Vance, MD PhD
Providence Hood River Hospital, Skyline Hospital, Stevenson, White Salmon
A long and winding career path has led Dr. Chardonnay Vance to the practice of medicine, and she is delighted to be working with NorthShore in the Gorge. She and her family have felt so welcomed both in Stevenson and White Salmon.
She began her career working as a midwife, then as a biochemist, and now as a physician, and she feels her career path brings lots of different perspectives to her practice of family medicine. As a provider, Dr. Vance strives primarily to be a good listener. She wants her patients to be heard. Her main goal is to help patients make decisions regarding their physical and emotional health and help them achieve both short-term and long-term goals. Dr. Vance sees herself as a resource for her patients with regards to current medical evidence and recommendations: all in the spirit of helping patients make decisions and take actions that are best for their health.
Dr. Vance is excited to offer obstetrical services at NorthShore – with deliveries at Providence in Hood River. She has a long history of assisting with births, working with both midwives and physicians. She has worked from El Paso, Texas to St. Petersburg, Russia, over the past 20 years. She is always honored and delighted to be a part of the process of pregnancy, birth, and the post-partum period. Her goal is to help patients and their families bring children into the world as healthfully, peacefully, and gracefully as possible. Dr. Vance is excited to connect with patients and other providers alike!
Dr. Vance and her husband and three-year old daughter, and she were lucky to find a semi-developed property up Snowden that they are fixing up and making their own, and they are happy to share the land with bobcats, birds, and bears. They are also soliciting advice and suggestions for tending to the land (which fruits to consider planting, how to keep mice and deer at bay, good snowplow recommendations…).
Dr. Vance looks forward to getting to know you all and serving the lovely Gorge Community for a long time to come!
EDUCATION
Residency at Montana Family Medicine Residency, Billings Montana
Doctor of Medicine, at Wake Forest University , Winston-Salem North Carolina
PhD in Comparative Biochemistry at UC Berkeley
MS in Biophysics at U of Minnesota
BS in Life and Physical Sciences at U of Minnesota
Lay Midwifery Training at Maternidad La Luz, El Paso Texas
Doula Training with Gail Tully of Spinning Babies, Minneapolis Minnesota
CERTIFICATIONS
Board Certified in Family Medicine
Current in ALSO, NRP, STABLE, PFCCS , ATLS, ACLS/BLS, PALS
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Full-Spectrum Family Medicine, Women’s Health, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Mental Health, Chronic Disease Management, Preventative Care , Palliative Care, End of Life Care
Liette Witherrite, MD
Stevenson, White Salmon
Dr Liette Witherite
Dr. Liette Witherrite loves providing a full spectrum approach to health care. Avoiding the labels that are often used in some areas of medicine, family medicine allows her to focus on her patients as people. Dr. Witherrite’s specific interests in geriatrics, pediatrics, adolescent medicine and women’s health allows her to care for her patients at each stage of their lives. She embraces working with evidence based and integrative medicine, as well as nutrition and medical acupuncture.
In her free time, Dr. Witherrite enjoys spending time with her husband, Dr. Troy Witherrite, and their two daughters, Lila and Sage. Being an active participant in our community, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, skiing, gardening, weight lifting, yoga, and is an avid reader. She has a special interest in literacy and volunteers with reading programs at the local public school and administers the Reach Out and Read Program at NorthShore Medical Group.
EDUCATION
Faculty Development Fellowship, University of Arizona, 2006
Residency in Family Medicine, Banner Good Samaritan Family Medicine Residency Program – 2005
Doctor of Medicine, Northwestern University, The Feinberg Medical School – 2002
CERTIFICATIONS
Board Certified Family Medicine – American Board of Family Medicine
ORGANIZATIONS
Washington Academy of Family Physicians
Washington State Medical Association