From my childhood, I have been drawn to caring for all creatures: people, animals and our natural world. My parents welcomed guests from many backgrounds, filled our home with dogs and cats and taught us to love the wilderness. I learned that caring can be expressed in many ways — practically, by preparing meals, picking up litter or silently observing wildlife; and spiritually, by listening, discerning, grieving and celebrating.
I joined the Fred Hutch Spiritual Health team in 2024. I see inpatients at UW Medical Center – Montlake and outpatients at Fred Hutch Cancer Center – Peninsula.
I had my own experience with cancer when I was only 16. I did not have to go through chemotherapy or radiation, but I had a large skin graft on my back that affected my physical self-worth. Because my self-perception was deeply impacted, I have an empathetic connection with other cancer patients who may also feel significant loss.
I love connecting with people, learning their stories and helping them recognize their own unique dignity, creativity and meaning. I have also treasured tender visits when I am privileged to share a patient’s fears and grieve alongside them.
Outside of work, I love to read just about anything: novels, biographies, history, nonfiction. I love going to the theatre, but my happy place is outside the city, hiking with my husband through the Olympics, visiting the seashore or simply picnicking by a stream. My four adult children and their families live nearby, and we all try to gather together at holidays and birthdays. Best days for me: classic Northwest rainy — book in hand, mug of tea nearby, cat on lap.
Patient Care Philosophy
I attend each visit with a compassionate presence, attentive listening and discernment to create a safe space for storytelling, reflection, processing and grieving. I want to communicate that patients are loved, seen, heard and validated, no matter what. I want to support them while they are navigating challenges and discerning their own journeys.
My joy is in creating a relationship of trust and connection with each patient, honoring with respect their sense of personal spirituality — inside or outside a faith tradition — and helping them strengthen and lean into that aspect of their humanity.
Education and Training
- BA: University of Washington
- MDiv: Fuller Theological Seminary
- 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education, Harborview Medical Center
- Spiritual Direction Certification: Renewal Ministries Northwest, Seattle/Anglican Diocese of New York
More Information
- Ordained Minister, Presbyterian Church USA
- Spiritual Care Provider, Harborview Medical Center
- Member, Association of Professional Chaplains
Fred Hutch Spiritual Health
Your nurse, social worker or another care team member can connect you with us or you can reach us directly.