t’s been a busy year for PeaceHealth
Ketchikan Medical Center, and I
want to start my message to you
with a heartfelt thank-you for
the overwhelming support from
the community for the city’s
hospital expansion project. To
receive a
. percent approval
of all votes cast shows that the
community understands the
importance of a strong, viable
medical center for Ketchikan and
other Southeast communities now
and well into the future. We hope
to break ground this spring for
the new building, with a tentative
completion date of December
. Once completed, we will
have new operating suites that
accommodate modern technology
with a focus on patient comfort and privacy,
clinical o ce space to house our many providers,
and a much-needed parking garage.
On a personal note, now that I have accepted
the position of chief administrative o cer in
January, my wife Nancy and I are very happy to
now be permanent members of the community.
In my previous role as chief nancial o cer,
I traveled a lot between various PeaceHealth
locations, so we are delighted to be able to put
down roots, especially in a town as remarkable
as Ketchikan.
In the months to come, I will strive to share
with the community what I know about the
progress of the building project
as it happens. Be sure to watch for
our ads in the
Ketchikan Daily
News
or friend us on Facebook
for up-to-date information.
As I write this, there are a
number of logistical details
in process related to the new
building. First, we continue to
work with the City and Akeela
to arrive at a plan for the future
of KAR House. is is a valuable
service to our community, and
we will do all we can to support
its relocation. Second, we are
in the midst of the certi cate of
need process. I encourage you to
watch for information about the
community’s role in that process.
As always, you can reach me
directly with comments or concerns about
PeaceHealth Ketchikan at
- -
, ext.
.
Also, I promised Nancy that I would mention that
she wants to start a bridge club, so you can call
that number if you’re interested in bridge as well.
Yours in good health,
Ken Tonjes
New p e d i a t r i c i a n
Jennifer
Christy, DO
, has recently joined
the PeaceHealth Medical Group Pediatric
Clinic in Ketchikan. Before her move to
Ketchikan, Dr. Christy served as chief
resident and hospitalist with University
Pediatricians at Children’s Hospital of
Michigan in Detroit, where she put her
skills to use by providing patient care and
teaching future doctors.
She received her doctor of osteopathic
medicine degree from Michigan State
University College of Osteopathic Medicine
in
and completed her pediatric
residency at the Children’s Hospital of
Michigan. She is amember of the American
Academy of Pediatrics, the American
College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, and
the American Osteopathic Association.
Dr. Christy lived in Anchorage as a child
and always hoped to return to Alaska one
day. She looks forward to experiencing a
warmer region of Alaska and is already
enjoying her time outdoors hiking trails
around the area. She is pleased to be
I
Welcome, new providers
serving children and families in Ketchikan
and looks forward to becoming part of the
community.
New psychiatrist
PeaceHealth
Medical Group Psychiatry Clinic is
pleased to welcome its new full-time
psychiatrist,
Luciano Lizzi, MD, JD
. With
an extensive background in critical care
medicine as well as psychology, Dr. Lizzi
has more than years’ experience caring
for patients.
Dr. Lizzi graduated from the University
of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and
completed his residency in obstetrics
and gynecology at Pennsylvania Hospital
in Philadelphia. He received Clinical
Scholar designation from the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation and obtained his law
degree through Penn’s Law School in
.
In
he pursued psychiatric training at
the University of Pennsylvania Medical
Center.
A psychiatrist since
, Dr. Lizzi is
well-recognized in his eld and has the
experience and desire to care for the whole
person. He is a tireless patient advocate,
working to promote the highest-quality
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Dr. Lizzi looks forward to caring for
individuals in Ketchikan as well as those
on Prince of Wales Island during his
regular visits to the PHMG clinic in Craig.
New hospitalist
PeaceHealth
Ketchikan Medical Center is
pleased to welcome hospitalist
Matthew
Fitzpatrick, MD
, to its medical team. As
a hospitalist, Dr. Fitzpatrick will see
patients who have been admitted to the
hospital and use his specialized expertise
to care for patients with more complicated
conditions. Acting as the “captain of the
ship,” he will organize the communication
among different doctors, nurses, and
other therapists, and provide prompt
follow-up on any necessary tests.
Dr. Fitzpatrick most recently served as
inpatient hospitalist with HealthPartners
in Bloomington, Minn., which provides
specialty hospital care. He received his
doctor of medicine degree from the
University of Minnesota Medical School
and completed his internal medicine/
pediatrics residency there as well. Dr.
Fitzpatrick attended the University of
Notre Dame for his bachelor’s and master’s
degrees and also studied at Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health, where
he received amaster of public health degree.
Dr. Fitzpatrick has a vast range of
medical and life experiences, including:
teaching and serving as research assistant
at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
Public Health; co-founding the Future
Doctors Program at the University of
Minnesota; co-founding a palliative care
program in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon;
participating in United Palestinian Appeal
in Washington, D.C., and in the Union of
Palestinian Medical Relief Committees
in Jerusalem; volunteering with Citizen
E ect; and mentoring students with the
Student National Medical Association
Mentor Program.
Luciano Lizzi, MD,
JD, Psychiatry
Jennifer Christy,
DO, Pediatrics
Matthew Fitzpatrick,
MD, Hospitalist
Good
things
ahead
Ken Tonjes, Chief Administrative Officer
2
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S P R I N G 2 0 1 4
N E W S , V I E W S & T I P S
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