EvergreenHealth Welcomes Nine New Specialty Care Providers
Kirkland, Wash. – EvergreenHealth recently welcomed several new specialty care providers as part of the community-owned health system's commitment to advancing the health of the community with high-quality care from skilled doctors and providers. Among the recent additions are nine providers across the five specialties of Obstetrics & Gynecology Care, Midwifery Care, Neurology Services, Cardiology, and Orthopedic & Sports Care.
The new specialty care providers are Lauren Swords, MD, FACOG, and Shirley Penkar, MD, FACOG, at EvergreenHealth Obstetrics & Gynecology Care; Kristin Covey, DNP, CNM, ARNP, at EvergreenHealth Midwifery Care; Shokouh Pardakhtim, ARNP, DNP, James Gutierrez, MD, Madeline Noland, PhD, and Rachael Schutz, MD, joining EvergreenHealth neurology services, part of the Eastside Neuroscience Institute; Kimberlee Tess, MPAS, PA-C, at EvergreenHealth Cardiology; and Nicholas Suydam, PA-C, at EvergreenHealth Orthopedic & Sports Care.
"On behalf of EvergreenHealth doctors, staff and volunteers, I'm proud to warmly welcome each of these physicians and specialty providers to our health system," said Mark Freeborn, MD, Chief Medical Officer of EvergreenHealth Medical Group and Chief Surgeon of EvergreenHealth. "They are joining a group of skilled and compassionate clinicians who continually demonstrate our shared commitment to providing the highest quality care and service. We look forward to expanding our specialty care with their contributions to better serve our growing community."
Lauren Swords, MD, at EvergreenHealth Obstetrics & Gynecology Care provides a full range of obstetrics and gynecology care, reproductive health care and gynecologic surgery. Her goal is to address health disparities among vulnerable populations and encourage collaboration between physicians and patients. Outside of work, Dr. Swords enjoys traveling with her family and sharing her love of Greek mythology with her children.
Shirley Penkar, MD, at EvergreenHealth Obstetrics & Gynecology Care is an obstetrician and gynecologist specializing in minimally invasive surgery. Her goal is to provide high-quality, evidence-based care to all her patients. Originally from Houston, TX, Dr. Penkar is looking forward to exploring her new home in Washington. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog.
Kristin Covey, DNP, CNM, ARNP, at EvergreenHealth Midwifery Care is a board-certified nurse-midwife who has clinical expertise in pregnancy care, gynecologic care, family planning, birth control, fertility and sexual health. Kristin's goal is to provide excellent evidence-based care and educate patients so they can make informed decisions for their personal health goals. She loves the mountains and water of the Pacific Northwest, and enjoys exploring Seattle's parks, hiking, reading and knitting.
Shokouh Pardakhtim, ARNP, DNP, at EvergreenHealth Neurosurgery is a board-certified geriatric nurse practitioner who specializes in neurosurgery and comprehensive management of neurological conditions like essential tremor and Parkinson's disease for geriatric patients. Her goal is to create an environment where patients feel comfortable enough to ask questions concerning their health and well-being, and she believes that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and feel empowered to make informed decisions about their care.
James Gutierrez, MD, at EvergreenHealth Neurology Care is a board-certified neurologist who treats a wide range of neurological conditions and performs a full range of neurological procedures, including electroencephalography, electromyography, Botox for migraine and other conditions, nerve blocks and trigger point injections, and sphenopalatine ganglion blocks. His philosophy of care is that the best medical care is a collaborative effort between patients and providers.
Madeline Noland, MD, at EvergreenHealth Neuropsychological Services is a licensed psychologist who specializes in neuropsychological evaluation and has clinical interests in a wide range of cognitive conditions. Her goal is to work collaboratively with patients and find ways to maximize cognitive function and overall quality of life. Outside of work, Dr. Noland enjoys running, baking, and chasing after her toddler.
Rachael Schutz, MD, at EvergreenHealth General Neurology is a board-certified neurologist who cares for patients both in the hospital as a neurohospitalist and in the clinic, with a subspecialty in vascular neurology. Her goal is to provide patients with effective, evidence-based treatment, while ensuring they understand their options and have an active role in their care. She supports her patients going through unexpected neurologic disease by listening, offering clear communication and a holistic approach that helps them navigate the medical, social and emotional aspects of adapting to illness.
Kimberlee Tess, MPAS, PA-C, at EvergreenHealth Cardiology is a board-certified physician assistant who focuses on advanced heart failure and cardiac transplants. Her goal is to help people manage health conditions and arrythmias through both medical management and lifestyle changes. Kimberlee spends her free time listening to music, reading, watching movies, hanging out with friends, playing with her pets, and volunteering with the Humane Society.
Nicholas Suydam, PA-C, at EvergreenHealth Orthopedic & Sports Care is a dual-credentialed certified physician assistant and athletic trainer who is skilled in preventing, assessing, diagnosing and treating orthopedic conditions. He provides compassionate, patient-oriented care with an emphasis on collaboration and the goal of getting patients back to doing the things they want to do and improving quality of life. He enjoys sports, traveling and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
To learn more about any of these physicians and providers and their specialties, or to make an appointment with an EvergreenHealth provider, visit www.evergreenhealth.com/find-a-doctor.
