UW Medicine extends its sincere thanks to the entire Orcas Island community for your support since the opening of our clinic in September 2017. It has been a tremendous privilege to provide high-quality primary care to Orcas Island residents, and we are incredibly proud of our outstanding care team. We want to especially recognize their commitment and sacrifices over the last year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been difficult for all of us, but even more so for front-line healthcare workers.

Our partnership with the community has led to many accomplishments, including improvements in patient care and technology, which will serve all Orcas Island residents well into the future. While we support the hospital district’s decision to merge the two primary care clinics on the island, we are sorry that the timing was not right for us to submit a proposal for taking on this additional role. We are committed to a smooth transition of the clinic to Island Hospital and trust that the collaboration between the Orcas Island Hospital District and Island Hospital will continue to provide you with the excellent care you have come to expect.

Again, thank you for the opportunity and privilege to serve the Orcas Island community. We wish you all continued health and safety.

Debra Gussin

Associate Vice President, Primary Care and Population Health, UW Medicinem, Executive Director, UW Neighborhood Clinics

Dr. Matt Jaffy

Associate Medical Director, North Region, UW Medicine

Mark Bresnick

Assistant Director, North Region, UW Medicine