March 2026 Community Update

We have exciting news to share about our hospital and the care we provide to our community. 

 

Foundation Dinner & Auction Breaks Record with over $30,000 in Donations 

We’re pleased to share that our Annual Blue Mountain Healthcare Foundation Dinner & Auction was a record-breaking year! Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, donors and community, we raised over $30,000, the highest amount this event has ever generated. 

 

Each year, funds from this event are used to upgrade patient care facilities across the hospital. This year’s proceeds will go towards the purchase of a new C-arm imaging device for the Blue Mountain Hospital Radiology Department. While the full cost is approximately $160,000, the generosity shown at this year’s event moves us significantly closer to bringing this technology to our hospital. 

 

We’d like to thank everyone who attended and donated. Funds raised at these events help us replace and upgrade equipment so we can continue to provide high-quality care.   

 

$19,000 Grant Supports CNA Program at the Care Center 

The Blue Mountain Healthcare Foundation has been awarded a 2026 Better Nursing Home Care Fund grant from the Oregon Community Foundation in the amount of $19,308. 

 

This funding will support continued growth of our CNA Program at the Care Center, expanding local training opportunities and strengthening workforce development. Recruitment and retention of Certified Nursing Assistants remains one of the most significant challenges facing rural long-term care providers. Grants like this allow us to invest in training without placing additional strain on operational budgets while ensuring residents receive consistent, high-quality care. 

 

BMHD Welcomes Two ICOM Student Doctors 

Our partnership with the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine continues to grow, and BMHD has emerged as a highly sought-after rural training site, with two student doctors selecting our hospital for early 2026 rotations. 

We are pleased to welcome Brittin Hekking, our first medical student from the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine. Britten is currently working with Dr. Margart in both the ER and the hospital, where he’s assisting and learning from our experienced staff. 

This month, we will welcome Emily Harrell, a graduate of the University of Virginia and a former medical scribe. Emily selected BMHD for her clinical rotation to experience rural medicine and spend time in Eastern Oregon. 

Medical student rotations are vital for rural hospitals. We’re proud to help train the next generation of physicians and happy to have Brittin and Emily on our team. When you see Brittin and Emily, give them a warm welcome! 

 

New Physicians 

We are proud to share that our Emergency Department and Hospitalist services are now fully staffed with these new physicians. 

  • We are happy to welcome Dr. Paula Godfrey to our Emergency Department. Dr. Godfrey is a board-certified emergency medicine physician with 20 years of experience, primarily serving rural communities throughout the Northwest. She worked with us previously and enjoyed it so much that she is returning full-time in March 2026. 
  • We are also welcoming Dr. Russ Nichols, a board-certified family medicine physician with emergency room experience. Dr. Nichols has more than 20 years of experience in rural health care and will serve as a casual physician in the Emergency Department. 
  • Dr. Guy Zickgraf, a board-certified family medicine physician with extensive rural ER experience, will also join us full-time in March 2026. 

These outstanding physicians join our full-time ER doctors, Dr. Mumford and Dr. Margart, along with a strong group of casual providers. With these additions, both our Emergency Department and Hospitalist services are fully staffed. 

 

Growing Our Clinic 

We continue to expand access to local primary and specialty care. 

  • Stephanie Green, FNP-BC, an experienced nurse practitioner with more than 20 years in family care and chronic disease management, will join our Clinic full-time in April 2026. 
  • Erin Gosnell, part of our “Train Your Own” workforce development efforts, will complete her training and join the Clinic as a nurse practitioner this summer. 
  • In addition, Dr. Amber Elliott will support BMHD as a casual general surgeon beginning this spring. Dr. Elliott is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons with five years of experience in both acute and elective general surgery. She has strong ties to Eastern Oregon, where she and her family maintain longstanding community connections. Her expertise enhances our ability to provide surgical services locally. 

 

We are grateful for this partnership and the opportunity to continue developing the next generation of caregivers in our community. 

Thank you for your continued support. We are proud to serve this community and provide excellent care close to home. 

Want to share feedback, celebrate an employee or ask a question about Blue Mountain Hospital District? Click on the Contact Us page and scroll to the bottom to leave us a question or comment.