Our People

The people of Providence – whether they are employees, doctors, nurses or volunteers – are committed to their patients and the communities they serve. They exhibit Providence's commitment to the Mission and core values every day, in ways both large and small. Their commitment extends beyond the walls of Providence's hospitals, clinics and other buildings. Many of them work quietly throughout the community, volunteering and caring for those in need. Here are just a few of the many special people of Providence.

Gordon MacDonald, Chaplain, Pastoral Care
Providence Portland Medical Center
Until becoming a lay Catholic chaplain at Providence Portland two years ago, Gordon MacDonald had lived most of his life in Alberta, Canada. Growing up in a medical family – his mother is a nurse and his father and two of his three siblings are physicians – Gordon worked in child welfare in Canada before completing a master's degree in theology. He then moved to Minnesota for a chaplain residency program at the Mayo Clinic. In 1999 he had an experience that's had a big impact on his work and his life. Gordon's father, at age 62, suffered a medical crisis that led to an emergency heart transplant.

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Mary Lou Constante, M.D.
Providence Family Medicine - Gateway
Dr. Mary Lou Constante knows the buzz about "cultural competency" for care providers. With her Hispanic background, she's invited to forums on the topic – and other providers turn to her when a Spanish-speaking person comes to the clinic. Dr. Constante has a very busy caseload of family practice patients who represent a dozen different cultures and languages. So she "walks the talk" when it comes to improving her cultural compency. She and her husband, Arturo, have a 9-year-old daughter, Marisol.

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Anne Parr, Patient Verification Specialist
Central Access Services
Most days, Anne Parr is on the phone with insurance companies and doctors' offices. Her goal is to become more connected with patients and families, so she is enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in human development at Warner Pacific College. For her class in adolescent/teen behavior, students created a music video to help teens cope with divorce. Available on YouTube, the music video also is resonating with divorced parents.

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Natalya Pushina, Sterile Processing
Providence Milwaukie Hospital
Starting over is never easy. In 1995, Natalya Pushina took one of the biggest leaps of faith possible. Along with her husband, Mikhail, and their then 2-year-old daughter Ella, Natalya emigrated from Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet state, to begin a new life in Oregon. Natalya works in sterile processing at Providence Milwaukie Hospital.

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