Photos By Bruce Forster
Butch Swindells, former United States ambassador to New Zealand, and his wife, Caroline, have recently returned to Oregon. They took a break from their busy schedules to discuss their leadership roles as endorsers of the Providence Together capital campaign. Here’s how their global perspective is helping shape Providence’s response to the most pressing health care challenges in our community.
Why do you support Providence?
Butch Swindells: Our family has a long history of supporting quality health care in Oregon. My father, James G. Swindells, founded the Oregon Hospital Association. When he passed away, Caroline and I wanted to recognize his incredible contribution, so we worked with Providence Portland Medical Foundation to set up the James G. Swindells Fund for Sharing. The initial community donations for this fund came from the very first Providence Festival of Trees that was held in 1983. Our commitment to Providence continues to this day.You are asked to get involved in a lot of community causes.
Why did you agree to become one of the leaders of the Providence Together campaign?
Butch Swindells: This campaign is about helping to create the very best health care institution that will take us into the next century. It is about bringing all of the right elements together – the best and brightest physicians, researchers, nurses and other caregivers, the most advanced technology, and the most effective and efficient facilities. This is how we can help address some of the most pressing health care challenges of our community – heart disease, cancer and neurological disorders – and provide the very best care for medically fragile children.
Over the past 150 years the Sisters of Providence have truly built the premier health care organization in the state, and Providence remains at the forefront today. With the leadership of physicians such as Dr. Albert Starr, Providence has received international acclaim for work in cardiac surgery and the use of robotics. These advancements have inspired transformations in other fields of medicine where we are making strides.