Volunteers in Medicine, Clinic of the Cascades (VIM) welcomes two new clinical staff to their team. Whitney Bernhisel, RN, BSN, joins VIM as the new nurse manager. She comes to this integral role at VIM as a former volunteer, and benefited from working alongside our longtime nurse manager, recently retired, Jennifer Fuller, RN. An Oregon local, Whitney worked for the last decade as a nurse for various hospitals and health systems throughout the country, most recently with St. Charles Health System. Whitney said she has loved serving as a volunteer at VIM and looks forward to now serving in this capacity “with the wonderful staff, volunteers, and patients.” She thinks VIM is the most special place and, “feels so lucky to be here!”
Karina Romero, CMA-AAMA, joins VIM as a medical assistant and will also support patients with referrals to our dedicated pro-bono provider network as our patient care coordinator. Karina has been a medical assistant for nearly a decade, previously working in pediatrics and women’s health. Asked about why she joined the team at VIM Karina says, “As the daughter of immigrant parents, I am most excited to expand my role here at VIM as a medical assistant as well as the patient care coordinator; ensuring historically underserved patients are connected to VIM’s vast pro-bono network of providers across Central Oregon.”
About Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades
Now honoring 20 years of caring, Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades provides healthcare to low-income, working adults who live in Central Oregon and have no medical insurance or means to pay for care. Using a community approach, 200+ in-clinic volunteers and 300 local pro-bono medical partners collaborate to provide patients with necessary primary and specialty medical care, prescription medications and mental health care. Our patients are contributing members of our community and have included construction tradespeople, hospitality workers, fast-food employees, ski instructors, artists, small business owners, river guides, landscapers, ranchers, bicycle mechanics, self-employed entrepreneurs, home health care workers, daycare providers, hairdressers, retail clerks, craftspeople, part-time employees, and students, just to name a few. Patient costs of $154 per visit are funded by patient donations along with local and regional individual, corporate and foundation supporters. Because of the dedicated efforts of our volunteers, every $1 raised is leveraged into $3.82 worth of services, generating more than $150 million worth of care since VIM opened in 2004.
