Page 10
The INDEPENDENT, December 18, 2003
Laura Nichols retirement is well earned
Laura Nichols
After ten years of living and
practicing in Vernonia, Physi-
cian Assistant Laura Nichols is
retiring…at least that’s what
she says.
Laura came to the U.S. as a
nurse from war-torn England
after World War II, and had
several careers while raising
her family. She has shied away
from nothing, from taking over
a practice of 3,000 patients sin-
gle-handedly in Utah to coordi-
nating medical relief efforts
from ground zero in the Ver-
nonia flood of ‘96.
“Appointed as Laura’s med-
ical supervisor in 1999, fresh
out of my residency,” said Mark
Livingston,M.D., “I quickly real-
ized I was dealing with a leg-
end in the Physician Assistant
profession.” Oregon law re-
quires a PA to be in close con-
tact with a physician, who must
review charts on a regular ba-
sis. Livingston described those
times as a learning experience.
“We collaborate, but most often
Laura is the teacher and I am
the pupil.”
Among the lessons Nichols
teaches is that technology has
an impersonal side, and it is of-
ten not a complete solution.
She also asks, “Have you actu-
ally listened to your patients?”
Early in her career, Medical
Assistant Jeanette Doherty
worked with pulmonologists,
cardiologists, oncologists, in-
ternal medicine and family
practice doctors. “…and none
of them can measure up to
Laura Nichols, P.A.-C.,” said
Doherty. “Laura has taken the
word ‘compassion’ to a new
level…healing in a way that ad-
dresses the patient’s whole be-
ing. People tell how Laura’s
positive influence helped them
stop smoking, or change their
lifestyle to prevent or heal a
health problem. Some patients
tell me she literally saved their
lives, when no one else could
properly diagnose their health
problem.”
“Laura has a passion about
life,” Clinic Manager Cathy
Rozenik said, “She has a won-
derful sense of humor, yet she
can lay the law down to pa-
tients who don’t follow her ad-
vice, and [make] you feel like a
child caught with your hand in
the cookie jar.”
“I hope that Laura enjoys her
well-earned retirement, writes
the book she has talked of, and
paints many pictures of the
Oregon Coast that she loves,”
said office assistant Marla
Rethwill.
Office Assistant Sue Blair,
said “Laura was on call when-
ever she was needed and nev-
er turned a patient away, re-
gardless of the hour or the cir-
cumstance.”
We will miss this dedicated
caregiver, and wish her the
very best in retirement. She de-
serves it!
T ERRY’S G YM
A COMPLETE CO-ED GYM FACILITY
VERNONIA, OR • 503-429-0501
Health Notes
By Audeen Wagner
Holiday Schedule
Providence-Vernonia has announced
schedule changes for clinic hours during
the Christmas and New Years holidays, as
follows:
December 24: 8:00 to 3:00
December 25, 26: Closed.
December 31: 8:00 to 3:00
January 1: Closed.
January 2: Regular hours (8:00 to 5:00).
Mammovan: The schedule for 2004 Mobile Mammography
Screening at Vernonia has been received. The Van will be in Ver-
nonia once a month, always on a Wednesday. The next scheduled
visit will be February 25, 2004. (The Mammovan does not come
to Vernonia in January.) Call the Clinic office at 503-429-9191 to
schedule an appointment.
Goodbyes
Goodbye to Laura. So Long to Mark Livingston, M.D.
Laura Nichols, P.A. at Providence-Vernonia Clinic, is retiring on
December 19. She has been a dedicated practitioner in Vernonia
for about ten years, and has been a very positive influence on the
health of our community. We wish her the best. (Please see state-
ments from a few of her associates at the Clinic.)
Dr. Livingston is also leaving the Vernonia clinic, as of Decem-
ber 31; as reported in the last issue of The Independent, Dr. Liv-
ingston will be expanding his practice in St. Helens. He still feels
somewhat “rooted” in Vernonia, with family connections and by his
love for rural medicine. By the way, the initials of his clinic in St.
Helens (The Livingston Clinic) say it all: “Tender Loving Care.”
We’ll miss you, Dr. Livingston.
A note from Clinic Manager Cathy Rozinek:
Although we have special holiday hours, the Providence Clinic
will remain open, continuing to bring healthcare to patients. Craig
Stevens, M.D., who is replacing Dr. Livingston, will be seeing pa-
tients in Vernonia starting the first Monday in January. Family
Nurse Practitioner Amy Leatherwood will start on January 2.
Judy Hargis, P.A.-C will complete the staff, who will be seeing
patients on the exact same schedule as before. Medical Assis-
tants Jeanette Doherty and Dawn Anderson will continue to sup-
port these caregivers.
God Bless, and Best Wishes for a healthy, happy
holiday season to all.
Wishing you all the
Joys of the Season…
H appy H olidays
Whether it’s a thinner waistline
or a healthier lifestyle…
We Can Help!
sugarfree – low carb – diabetic friendly
Hours: Mon-Sat 10-6
51606 Columbia River Hwy.
Scappoose (503) 543-2227
We look for ward t o
serving you in t he fut ure.
DENNIS ELECTRIC
503-429-8930
P. O. Box 412, Vernonia, OR 97064 • CCB #19808