COPA Staff
Mary Brown, M.D., FAAP
Dr. Mary Brown is COPA’s longest-tenured physician and is one of the clinic’s original founders. Early in her career, she served as a medical officer in Vietnam. Today, she not only cares for Central Oregon’s most vulnerable citizens, but her influence extends to children throughout the country as one of 10 representatives on the American Academy of Pediatrics board. In addition to her practice in Bend, Dr. Brown spends much of her time in Washington D.C, Chicago and the 13 states and 2 providences she covers, helping to craft pediatric health care policy for the entire U.S. When she’s not traveling the country advocating for kids’ health, Dr. Brown enjoys spending time with her four children and three grandchildren on her alfalfa ranch in Riley. She can also be found bird-watching on her family’s ranch near the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Oregon. Among her favorite activities are sewing and knitting, as well as enjoying outdoor pursuits such as hiking and fly fishing.
John Chunn, M.D., FAAP
Helping parents raise their kids effectively is the focus of Dr. Chunn’s practice at COPA. He joined Dr. Brown more than three decades ago as one of COPA’s original founders. Dr. Chunn is the region’s leading infectious diseases specialist. For years, he served as a renowned NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) specialist and is a former Chief of Pediatrics at St. Charles Health Care System. Today, Dr. Chunn is one of several pediatricians at COPA who also serve patients at the hospital. Outside of his practice at COPA, Dr. Chunn -- a father of seven-- is an “extreme” outdoor enthusiast and a bit of an adrenaline junkie. He enjoys all types of snow skiing plus bicycling, running, weight lifting, mountain climbing and playing rugby.
Stacy Berube, M.D., FAAP
Dr. Berube has cared for children at COPA for nearly 30 years. In addition, he currently serves as Medical Director of the clinic. Dr. Berube enjoys maintaining long-term relationships with his patients and their families. Finding solutions to problems, no matter how long it takes, is one of his chief aims at COPA. Dr Berube is dedicated to being responsive to patients and their families. He is aware that each family’s time is valuable. Therefore, he both returns telephone calls promptly and makes a concerted effort to be on time for appointments in the clinic. As Medical Director, Dr. Berube is committed to continually bringing the latest medical information, services and education to all of the clinic’s providers in order to ensure the highest level of medical care for the COPA patients. Outside of his clinic time, Dr. Berube has varied interests including reading, bicycling, hiking, weight training, martial arts and surf fishing on the Oregon coast.
Valerie Bailie, M.D., FAAP
Promoting an environment where patients and their families can ask questions and feel heard is an important part of Dr. Bailie’s practice at COPA. She has been caring for kids and partnering with families in Central Oregon for more than 25 years, and often handles the clinic’s most complex medical cases. Dr. Bailie is also a NICU (neonatal intensive-care unit) specialist. Dr. Bailie’s impact on Central Oregon kids can be found outside of the COPA community. She was instrumental in developing the KIDS Center in Central Oregon (a safe haven for sexually-abused children) and previously served on the board for Volunteers in Medicine. Quilting is Dr. Bailie’s favorite hobby. She also enjoys reading, hiking and camping.
Dale Svendsen, M.D., FAAP
Dr. Svendsen is committed to helping Central Oregon’s families raise children that are healthy, happy, assured individuals. He is a key figure in coordinating Pediatric Oncology care in Central Oregon, working closely with Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital and St. Charles Cancer Care Center to take care of our community’s children with cancer. Dr. Svendsen is a strong advocate of preventive medicine to keep kids safe, such as car seats and immunizations. Dr. Svendsen understands that clear communication is vital, and strives to explain diagnoses and treatment plans in a meticulous, step-by-step process. Prior to becoming a part of the Central Oregon Pediatric Associates team in 1990, he practiced in the Alaskan wilderness. When not caring for kids, Dr. Svendsen can be found fly-fishing in our many rivers or in his kitchen cooking. Among his favorites is preparing international cuisine and he is always interested in new recipes.
Brenda Hedges, M.D., FAAP
In her practice at COPA, Dr. Hedges emphasizes preventative measure for keeping kids healthy such as healthy eating, staying active and practicing good safety at home. Dr. Hedges also enjoys teaching kids about how their body works, what’s going on when they are sick and what steps they can take to feel better. Dr. Hedges is one of several COPA pediatricians who work on-call at the hospital. Playing with her own two children is Dr. Hedges’ favorite activity. She also enjoys outdoor activities such as bicycling, hiking, cross-country skiing and camping.
Kim Wollmuth, M.D., FAAP
You can like your doctor, but you should LOVE your pediatrician, insists Dr. Wollmuth. That’s the advice she gives to families searching for a medical provider for their children. Listening and partnering with families to formulate a health care plan for their children is the focus of Dr. Wollmuth's practice at COPA. She also enjoys the routine side of pediatrics: the simple cold, ear infection or intestinal bug. Dr. Wollmuth is a member of the Primary Care group with the Physician Hospital Alignment of Central Oregon, a group which is developing strategies for improving patient care throughout the region. She also heads up COPA’s free monthly parenting classes, and works on-call at the hospital. Outside of COPA, Dr. Wollmuth savors the opportunity to wear her “mom hat.” She participates in carpools, attends soccer games and swim lessons, and is happily involved in the activities of her three children.
Caroline Gutmann, M.D., FAAP
Dr. Gutmann is known for maintaining positive relationships with her patients and their families. Providing easy-to-comprehend explanations, developing good rapport with children and careful listening are her goals during a patient visit. Gutmann is mother to son Reed, who “makes me laugh everyday.” She is also passionate about traveling, skiing, biking, backpacking, and running with her dog.
Erin Garza, M.D., FAAP
Dr. Garza believes it is truly hard to have a bad day while working as a pediatrician at COPA. Certainly there are sad times, but the daily smiles, laughter and stories make each day special, she says. Dr. Garza has trained and worked at both large metropolitan hospitals and in small rural communities. This experience gives her perspective on both the latest medical technology and ground-breaking treatments as well as time-tested home methods that have aided patients and their families for eons. Dr. Garza, who is currently raising her own family, experiences with her children what many families who come to COPA are also experiencing. She works at the clinic just three days a week, but stays busy home-schooling her three children.
Linda Steiner, M.D., FAAP
Dr. Linda Steiner is Central Oregon Pediatric Associates (COPA) “same-day” pediatrician at our East Bend clinic. After recognizing the need of parents to see a Pediatrician immediatly - rather than wait in a general/adult emergency room or immediate care center, she stepped up to meet this need. Dr. Steiner maintains an open schedule so more urgent case or patients with emergency needs can be seen without an appointment. She recommends to call first thing at 8:00 in the morning to get on her schedule at a convienient time for you. When not treating children in the clinic you can find Dr. Steiner training for and racing in triathlons.
Jennifer Lachman, M.D., FAAP
Dr. Lachman is known for both her patience and her approachability. Dr. Lachman has long been fascinated by how a child grows and develops, and, in fact became a pediatrician because she considers this one of the most incredible things in the World. Her daily goals are to foster the well-being of children and to help families in navigating the many challenges that they face in raising a child in today’s World. Relationships with patients and their families are at the center of her practice. With three young children at home, Dr. Lachman’s own family keeps her busy whenever she is not at work. In between it all, she still manages to fit in time to enjoy all that this beautiful outdoor area has to offer, with her favorite activities including jogging, biking, skiing and camping.
John Peoples, M.D., FAAP
Listening to families’ needs and partnering with them to develop a plan of care that meets each child’s unique health needs are at the core of Dr. Peoples’ approach to optimizing a child’s health. He believes that your child’s health is built on not only their medical well being, but also on their progress in school, self-esteem, relationships, and intellectual and emotional development. Dr. Peoples recently finished Pediatric Chief Residency/Residency at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. He ardently advocates for health care access for all children, and over the last 15 years, has led health and developmental outreach programs for migrant farm children and foster children. Dr. Peoples is very excited to live in Bend with his wife and dog, where he can pursue his love of the outdoors through running, hiking, backpacking and adventures on the river. He loves music, in particular jazz and blues, and plays the saxophone in his free time.
Natalie Paluch, M.D., FAAP
Dr. Paluch works hard to partner with the families in her practice at COPA. When patients and their families leave COPA after an office visit with Dr. Paluch, she hopes they feel like part of the team caring for their child. Paluch enjoys all aspects of caring for children, and while she not only takes interest in treating simple medical problems, such as ear infections and sore throats, she also savors the challenge of managing more complex medical problems. She emphasizes flexibility and open communication in her practice, and encourages questions and dialogue. Paluch is mother to a 4-year-old boy, which she believes helps her relate to what other young families are experiencing at home. Dr. Paluch can be found playing outdoors with her family when she’s not at COPA. Camping, hiking, skiing, and bicycling are among her favorite outdoor pursuits.
Dana Perryman, M.D., FAAP
Prior to joining COPA in September 2011, Dr. Perryman spent 16 years with Samaritan Health Services’ Mid-Valley Children’s Clinic in Albany, OR. She attended University of Florida Medical School and completed her pediatric internship and residency at University of Arizona. She speaks fluent medical Spanish. Dr. Perryman enjoys connecting with children and their parents, teaching them about health and explaining illness in terms that are easy to understand. As a parent of five children, she has a good sense of what families are going through as they negotiate raising children. She is committed to keeping her appointment schedule on time while making sure questions and concerns are addressed completely. Away from the office, she spends time attending her children’s sports activities and music lessons, going on hikes and is a novice snowboarder and cross country skier.
Nancy Semich, MS, PNP
Nancy Semich has been COPA’s pediatric nurse practitioner since 1988, long enough to have her original patients return with their children. Her primary goal is to work closely with COPA’s pediatricians to provide the best quality health care for the children in our community. She strives to make all the children and parents feel comfortable with each visit to the clinic and feels rewarded when she receives their smiles. Her favorite pastimes are quilting, camping, kayaking, and spending time with her family, friends, and horses. Nancy continues to practice medicine because she feels that children are our future, they see the wonders in life and they keep her smiling.
Cris Ricker, MS, PA-C
Cris Ricker is one of three Physician Assistants at COPA. Working with parents to better understand their kids’ health is a top concern for Ricker. She focuses on making difference in the lives of families by communicating effectively with parents, who have a tough job, she says. Being a parent, myself, gives me a greater understanding of the challenges many families face everyday. When patients and families leave COPA after an office visit with Ricker, her priority is that they feel well cared for and that their concerns were heard. Being active outside of COPA helps Ricker keep up with her three boys. She is an avid cross-country skier, mountain biker, and enjoys hiking and playing tennis. She can often be seen on the sidelines at baseball, football and soccer games, cheering on her very active boys.
Joeth Ryan, MS, PA-C
A rewarding moment in Joeth Ryan’s day is when she can explain a medical condition in a way that a child and his or her family are armed with a greater understanding and clearer picture of their health. Ryan is one of three Physician Assistants at COPA. “I love working with children! They surprise, delight and educate me everyday.” She emphasizes listening and taking time to look “at the whole picture and person” -- not just the illness -- when working with her patients. In her 17 years as a PA, Joeth has worked in a variety of settings, including family medicine, urgent care, inpatient medicine, child abuse and pediatrics. She happily returned to her pediatric roots in 2000, shortly after her first child was born. Some of Joeth’s favorite hobbies are painting, tinkering with tools and making jewelry. She also enjoys cross-country skiing, hanging out with her family, volunteering at her childrens’ school and walking with friends.
Carissa Honeycutt, MS, PA-C
Before arriving at COPA in 2010, Carissa Honeycutt grew up in Asheville, North Carolina and made her way to the west coast for PA school. While pursuing her dream career as a PA, Honeycutt was able to travel extensively and serve a variety of communities all over Oregon and the rest of the world, including Hawaii. These experiences have given her a unique, multi-cultural perspective to pediatrics, which she brings to her interactions with patients and families at COPA. Honeycutt is well-versed in medical Spanish and was fortunate enough to have Spanish immersion in Costa Rica and Ecuador. One of the highlights of her training in Ecuador (which sparked her love for pediatrics) was her work in the Public Heath System. Honeycutt has the best role models through her COPA family and looks forward to continuing the COPA legacy in Central Oregon. For those single parents who need support, new parents who need a break, or experienced parents needing a helping hand, Carissa Honeycutt wants to be part of your support system and ensure that your child is getting the absolute best to be healthy. Besides travelling the world, hiking and photography are among Honeycutt’s favorite activities in Central Oregon.
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