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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 30, 2015)
Wednesday, December 30, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 7 Sisters woman making a difference in American Samoa By Jim Cornelius News Editor Kathy Deggendorfer is really good at making connec- tions. As an artist, philanthro- pist, and businesswoman, she knows a lot of people in many different walks of life. When she sees a need, she often has a pretty good idea of who might be able to meet it. And she’s good at persuading them to step up. Recently, she brought that talent to bear to help out in American Samoa. Frank and Kathy Deggendorfer trav- eled there last year to assist a Casey Eye Institute medical mission to American Samoa, helping to meet critical oph- thalmological needs in the American territory. This year, she returned with a somewhat broader focus. “While I was there, it became apparent that there were gaps in the way some things were done,” she told The Nugget. “I kind of identi- fied three areas.” The first area was bringing the ophthalmology program at Lyndon B. Johnson Hos- pital up to speed. That meant helping to get training for staff and decent equipment for their work. “They say, ‘We don’t want Mercedes; we just want a decent, working Chevrolet,’” Deggendorfer said. Part of her work on her trip earlier this month was to inventory and catalog equip- ment — what works and what needs fixing or replacing. That includes the most basic needs — like working hydraulic chairs and stools to put a patient in the right posi- tion for an eye exam. “It’s easily fixable stuff, but they’re so beaten down that they don’t even think they can ask for that,” Deggendor- fer said. She said the hospital also needs to have ophthalmo- logic assistants trained up on equipment so they can use it effectively, and having doc- tors on staff so that they are not as dependant on medical missions. “They need to have great, trained physicians… so OHSU (Oregon Health Sciences Uni- versity) has kind of taken that program under their wing,” Deggendorfer said. Deggendorfer brought along a member of the OHSU Foundation to talk to folks and get an on-the-ground assess- ment of needs. She noted that Casey Eye Institute at OHSU is sending specialists to help Dr. Siatu’u handle a complex workload. “It’s not just run-of- the-mill vision problems,” Deggendorfer explained. “There’s rampant diabetes, and diabetes wreaks havoc. Very, very tricky cases.” In another arena, Deggen- dorer brought along Matt Schinderman of the OSU Cascades sustainability pro- gram to look into alternatives to help American Samoa with its solid-waste disposal prob- lems. The communal culture includes a lot of parties and feasting — with food served and carried in Styrofoam clam- shells. That creates a lot of Sty- rofoam waste. Schinderman worked with locals to explore possible alternatives and to look at the possibility of burn- ing waste to generate power. Deggendorfer believes that there is a possibility to create photo by Jerry baldock Dr. Ben Siatu’u with Akenese and Kathy Deggendorfer on the day Dr. Siatu’u received his diploma from Casey Eye Institute and OHSU. a mutually beneficial relation- also tapped on the trip to are relations of Oregon Ducks ship between OSU Cascades American Samoa. Heisman Trophy-winning and American Samoa that “They have a museum that quarterback Marcus Mariota, would allow the school to use has never been curated,” she now playing in the NFL for programs there as educational explained. the Titans. Pictures were taken pilot projects, while at the “I was scoping that out. — which Deggendorfer was same time engineering solu- What we’re hoping to do is able to get to Mariota through tions to very real challenges. get someone from the Univer- yet another connection: Hall There are also possibilities sity of Oregon museum school of Fame quarterback and foot- for projects addressing fish- over there and help get that ball announcer Dan Fouts of eries and plastic waste in the museum up to speed.” Sisters. oceans. Sometimes connections Connections are what Deggendorfer noted that can be just plain fun. Deggen- it’s all about — and Kathy The Roundhouse Foundation, dorfer recounted seeing a car Deggendorfer is hoping that of which she is a trustee, pro- pull up into a parking lot next her work and the work of vided OSU Cascades with a to her with an Oregon “O” others who have made the grant for assessment of project sticker and a Tennessee Titans trip will burnish a strong one possibilities. flag on it. She had a pretty between her home state and As an artist, Deggendorfer good idea what that meant. American Samoa. has developed contacts with She tapped on the window and “This could be a really the University of Oregon’s introduced herself. long-term, really great con- museum program. That was Turns out the occupants nection,” she said. Offering Aveda ™ Skin & Body Care! Complete waxing services available. hair | massage | nails facials | makeup 541-549-1784 161-C N. Elm St. Happy Holidays! NOW OPEN IN SISTERS! 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