Meet the Board

Board of Commissioners
("District Board")

The Board of commissioners is comprised of 5 commissioners elected by District residents to a 6-year term. The District is divided into three subdistricts, each represented by one commissioner. The remaining two commissioners serve as at-large members of the Board. Terms of the subdistrict commissioners are staggered. 

What is a public hospital district?
Learn more about Valley Medical Center 

Board of Commissioners (BOC) Meetings
The Board of Commissioners (BOC) or "District Board" meets on the first Monday of each month at 5:30 PM in The Board Room at Valley Medical Center, unless changed by public notice. Meetings move to Tuesday when the first Monday of the month is a federal holiday. BOC meetings are open to public comment at 5:30 PM.

Read BOC agendas and meeting minutes

View video of BOC meetings

Paul Joos, MD
President of the Board
Commissioner Position No. 1 

Dr. Joos is a current member of VMCs Board of Commissioners, elected in 2011, and serves as Board President.

A noted eye surgeon, Dr. Joos has practiced in Renton for more than 30 years, and also maintains an office in the Covington/Kent area. After medical school he had the opportunity to work and train at Gorgas Hospital in the Panama Canal Zone.

Dr. Joos has taken part in eye surgery missions to less fortunate overseas countries, and often donates free eye care and surgery to community members in need through the Lion’s Club vision program and Knights Templar.

A graduate of Renton High School and Pacific Lutheran University, Dr. Joos received his medical degree from Creighton University Medical School, in Omaha, Nebraska. He has been married for 36 years; his wife is a registered nurse and works alongside him in his practice. They have two adult children.

Carolyn Parnell
Commissioner Position No. 2

Ms. Parnell is a current member of VMCs Board of Commissioners, elected in 1997 to represent sub-district number 2.

A former paraeducator in the Title 1/LAP Program Ms. Parnell has been an active civic and community leader for more than 30 years. She has served on the West Hill Community Council, Renton Area Youth and Family Services, Citizens Advisory Committee, Renton School–linked Health Clinic, Renton School District's Citizens Advisory Committee for Instruction, and parent advisor for West Hill Family Enrichment Service Center.

Ms. Parnell holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from DeVry University and a Master’s Degrees in Business Administration and Human Resource Management from Keller Graduate School of Management. Ms. Parnell is a published author and has lived in Renton for 33 years. She is married and has five children and six grandchildren.

 
Anthony Hemstad
Vice President of the Board
Commissioner Position No. 3

Mr. Hemstad is a current member of VMCs Board of Commissioners, elected in 2007. He brings to the Valley Board a wealth of public policy experience, having worked in government and consulting positions at the local, state, national and international levels.

Formerly, Mr. Hemstad was a policy analyst for three US Senators in Washington, D.C. and later spent over 12 years in Europe establishing an international consultancy that worked extensively on health care issues.

After returning to the United States in 2002, Mr. Hemstad served as City Manager for the City of Maple Valley before joining the World Trade Center in Tacoma where he currently works as Executive Director.

Mr. Hemstad earned advanced degrees from the University of Chicago, the University of London and the University of Puget Sound.

He is active in many local organizations including Rotary, Communities that Care and the Boy Scouts of America.

Aaron Heide, MD
Commissioner Position No. 4

Dr. Heide is a current member of VMCs Board of Commissioners, elected in 2009. He is a board-certified neurologist and board-certified vascular neurologist who has practiced in south King County for the past 13 years.

While earning his medical degree at the University of Washington, Dr. Heide was an integral part of the UW research program in Multiple Sclerosis. He went on to receive his neurological training at Tufts University in Boston, followed by a stroke fellowship at Lahey Medical Center, in Burlington, Massachusetts where he focused on acute chronic management of stroke.

In Washington state, Dr. Heide is credited with developing a regional stroke network and a multi-specialty outpatient center where patients with any neurological symptom or disease can be seen urgently.

Dr. Heide earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry followed by a medical degree from the University of Washington. He lives in Kent with his wife and two daughters.

  
Sue Bowman
Secretary of the Board
Commissioner Position No. 5

Ms. Bowman is a current member of VMCs Board of Commissioners, elected in 2007. Formerly a Program Administrator at Western State Hospital for 27 years, Ms. Bowman’s healthcare experience spans from participating in The Joint Commission accreditation surveys to developing policies and procedures for program development for the mentally ill.

Currently, Ms. Bowman is the Northwest Administrator for “Opera by Children” an educational outreach program of the Utah Festival Opera Company promoting children’s creativity through music in elementary classrooms. Additionally, Ms. Bowman serves as Public Affairs and Media Director for the Renton LDS Church.

A graduate of Washington State University, Ms. Bowman lives in Renton, is widowed, and has three adult children, one of whom is a nurse, and six grandchildren.

Board of Trustees
("Valley Board")

The Board of Trustees may include all current Public Hospital District #1 commissioners as well as five trustees who reside within the District Service Area, at least three of whom also reside within the boundaries of the District. In addition, two current or former trustees of the UW Medicine Board or a Board of another component entity within UW Medicine and the CEO of UW Medicine or his designee also serve on The Board of Trustees.

Learn more about UW Medicine 
Apply to become a trustee

Board of Trustee (BOT) Meetings
The Valley Board meets the third Monday of the month at 2:30 pm in the Board Room at Valley Medical Center. Meetings are open to the public.

Read BOT agendas and meeting minutes


Lisa Jensen
Chair

Ms. Jensen brings significant experience to the Valley Board as an existing hospital trustee and public official. Appointed by King County in 2008, Ms. Jensen is a current trustee on the Harborview Medical Center Board. She is also a member of the Newcastle City Council, elected in 2007.

Ms. Jensen is principal of Jensen Companies, Inc., in south King County that provides technical training and Website and Internet marketing support to a variety of businesses. Ms. Jensen also spent 13 years with a software development firm, managing multi-million dollar budgets and helping healthcare providers connect financial, clinical and operational information.

Ms. Jensen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business from the University of Washington. She serves as the Chair of the Valley Board.

Peter Evans
Vice Chair

Mr. Evans is an experienced trustee with specialized experience in a community hospital setting. He has served as trustee on both the Northwest Hospital & Medical Center Board, and the Health Resources Northwest Board since 1991.

A retired finance executive, Mr. Evans served as Vice President and Partner for the Seattle-Northwest Securities Corporation. Over the course of his career Mr. Evans held positions at Boeing Aerospace, Marshall & Meyer Securities and Smith Barney.

Mr. Evans holds both a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Masters degree in Public Health from the University of Washington. He serves as Vice Chair of the Valley Board.

Sue Bowman 

Ms. Bowman is a current member of VMCs Board of Commissioners, elected in 2007. Formerly a Program Administrator at Western State Hospital for 27 years, Ms. Bowman’s healthcare experience spans from participating in The Joint Commission accreditation surveys to developing policies and procedures for program development for the mentally ill.

Currently, Ms. Bowman is the Northwest Administrator for “Opera by Children” an educational outreach program of the Utah Festival Opera Company promoting children’s creativity through music in elementary classrooms. Additionally, Ms. Bowman serves as Public Affairs and Media Director for the Renton LDS Church.

A graduate of Washington State University, Ms. Bowman lives in Renton, is widowed, and has three adult children, one of whom is a nurse, and six grandchildren.

Bernie Dochnahl

Appointed by King County in 2006, Ms. Dochnahl currently serves as trustee on the Harborview Medical Center Board. She also serves as Board Chair for Mutual of Enumclaw Property and Casualty Company, and Legislative Chair for the Renton Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Dochnahl’s career has included executive roles at Puget Sound Energy, Chair of the Health Service Commission, Washington State’s health care reform efforts under Governor Mike Lowry, Executive Director for Global Partnership (an international non-profit), small business ownership, and as a medical device start-up company executive.

Previous roles include board member for the State of Washington High Risk Pool, Center for Women and Democracy, and founding board member for the Renton Community Foundation. Her first hospital board member role was at Valley Medical Center in the early 1990s.

A University of Washington graduate, Ms. Dochnahl holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Accounting.

Beverly Fletcher

Ms. Fletcher brings to the Board of Trustees extensive experience in corporate strategic planning, marketing and business development. Now retired, she previously held director-level positions at the Weyerhaeuser Company (13 years), and the Dow Chemical Company (12 years).

Currently Ms. Fletcher is President of Volunteers International Community Development of Africa - U.S. Partners, leading an international group committed to providing sustainable business approaches in East Africa. Her past civic involvement has included roles with the Seattle Aquarium Society, Child Protective Services of King County, the Weyerhaeuser Foundation Advisory Board, World Outreach Ministries of Federal Way, and the Global Volunteer Network.

Ms. Fletcher earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from Ohio State University and she has completed extensive continuing education courses in business planning and strategy, product and market development and accounting at the University of Washington, and the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business.

 
Don Jacobson

Mr. Jacobson recently retired from Valley Medical Center’s Board of Commissioners where he served for 18 years, including three terms as board President.

During his time as a VMC Commissioner Mr. Jacobson’s background of over 25 years in the construction trade was integral to both the hospital’s growth, and improved labor relations. Mr. Jacobson served as Business Manager for the Plasterers Union of Western Washington (11 years), and was Chairman of the Board and Financial Secretary for the Labor Temple Association (10 years). Currently, Mr. Jacobson is on the Board of the Renton Chamber of Commerce which he chaired in 2009.

Past civic and service activities include Jaycees, United Way Board, Trustee of Health and Pension Trusts for the Plasterer's Union, Renton Library Board, Renton School Board (14 years), and Renton Technical College Board (10 years). Don and his wife Pearl have lived in Renton for more than 50 years. They have two children and four grandchildren. In 1994 Don was named Renton's Citizen of the Year.

Paul Joos, MD

Dr. Joos is a current member of VMCs Board of Commissioners, elected in 2011, and serves as Board President.

A noted eye surgeon, Dr. Joos has practiced in Renton for more than 30 years, and also maintains an office in the Covington/Kent area. After medical school he had the opportunity to work and train at Gorgas Hospital in the Panama Canal Zone.

Dr. Joos has taken part in eye surgery missions to less fortunate overseas countries, and often donates free eye care and surgery to community members in need through the Lion’s Club vision program and Knights Templar.

A graduate of Renton High School and Pacific Lutheran University, Dr. Joos received his medical degree from Creighton University Medical School, in Omaha, Nebraska. He has been married for 36 years; his wife is a registered nurse and works alongside him in his practice. They have two adult children.

 
Gary Kohlwes, Ed.D

Dr. Kohlwes is a retired public school employee and was Superintendent of Schools in Renton from 1974-1997.

A former Valley Medical Center Commissioner (1995-2007), Dr. Kohlwes currently manages a commercial salmon fishing business in Bristol Bay, Alaska. He also serves as a Director of First Savings Bank Northwest and Washington Pacific Insurance SPC and as Trustee and Executive Director of First Financial Northwest Foundation.

Dr. Kohlwes is a founding board member and was the initial President of the Renton Community Foundation. Previous Board memberships include the Renton Chamber of Commerce, Renton Rotary and Seattle Country Day School.

Dr. Kohlwes received a Bachelor of Education and Masters in School Psychology from Western Washington University, and a Doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Washington.

 
Carolyn Parnell

Ms. Parnell is a current member of VMCs Board of Commissioners, elected in 1997 to represent sub-district number 2.

A former paraeducator in the Title 1/LAP Program Ms. Parnell has been an active civic and community leader for more than 30 years. She has served on the West Hill Community Council, Renton Area Youth and Family Services, Citizens Advisory Committee, Renton School–linked Health Clinic, Renton School District's Citizens Advisory Committee for Instruction, and parent advisor for West Hill Family Enrichment Service Center.

Ms. Parnell holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from DeVry University and a Master’s Degrees in Business Administration and Human Resource Management from Keller Graduate School of Management. Ms. Parnell is a published author and has lived in Renton for 33 years. She is married and has five children and six grandchildren.

 
Julia Patterson

Ms. Patterson is a member of the King County Board of Health and serves in leadership positions on a number of boards in the region including Sound Transit, the South County Area Transportation Board, and the Highline YMCA Board.

Raised on a small farm in south King County, Ms. Patterson attended Washington State University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Society & Justice, and the University of Washington, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Today she lives in SeaTac with her husband of 25 years. She has three adult children and two grandchildren.

Johnese Spisso, RN, MPA

Ms. Spisso is the Chief Health System Officer for UW Medicine Health System, the Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Washington, and clinical faculty in Biobehavioral Sciences and Management at the University Of Washington School Of Nursing.

Ms. Spisso has over 25 years experience in health care leadership positions. She has worked at UW Medicine for the past 16 years. During her 15 years at Harborview Medical Center she was promoted from Chief Nursing Officer to Chief Operating Officer, and served as the interim Executive Director prior to being promoted to her current position in 2007. Previously Ms. Spisso worked for the University of California Davis Medical Center (12 years) and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2 years).

Ms. Spisso currently serves on the Governing board of the University HealthCare Consortium, the National Association of Public Hospitals, the American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board, the American Heart Association, Villa Academy, First Choice Health Plan Board, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. She also serves as Chair of the King County Health Care Coalition.

Ms. Spisso has a Bachelors Degree in Health Sciences from Chapman College and a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration from the University of San Francisco.