2023 Women in Medicine | Faculty
Planning Committee Members’ Disclosure Statement
Drs. Saima Ahmad, Dawn Dewitt, Michelle Drobny, Laura Fralich, Erin Medina, Radha Nanagopal, and Irene Zoesch; Kelsey Pruitt, PA-C; Elizabeth Kosanke and Shelly Bonforti all report no potential conflicts of interest or affiliations with any corporate organizations.
Jill Yashinsky-Wortman, MA, CPCC, ACC
Owner, Momentum Coaching & Consulting LLC
Four years ago, Jill experienced a life-changing loss. She left her fifteen-year career and followed her dream of coaching. Today, she empowers women to live their passions by helping them silence their inner critics, overcome fear, and live confidently. She is a Co-Active and International Coaching Federation certified coach and trained Playing Big facilitator. Jill has worked with leaders in industries across the globe, empowering them to own their most authentic, powerful selves. Outside of coaching, she loves being a mom, tending to her hobby farm, reading and traveling.
Disclosure Statement: Jill Yashinsky-Wortman reports no potential conflicts of interest or affiliation with any corporate organizations.
Sherri Lynch, PhD
Co-Founder, Women Lead
Director of Community Corporate and External Relations
School of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University
With a career spanning 25 years, Sherri has worked in a variety of industries from pharmaceutical to retail. In the higher ed industry for the past 8 years, Sherri works to provide corporations with access to leadership education, ranging from professional development to graduate level. Sherri co-founded the Women Lead Conference series at Gonzaga, which strives to educate and empower women toward personal and career advancement. Sherri co-designed and teaches in the Certificate in Women’s Leadership Program at Gonzaga. Sherri holds a PhD in Leadership Studies, and continues to focus her research interests in women’s leadership and the ways women build community.
Disclosure Statement: Dr. Lynch reports no potential conflicts of interest or affiliation with any corporate organizations.
Jen Westra, ACC
Coach/Owner, Life on Purpose Coaching
After spending most of her career working in the non-profit sector, but always feeling like there was something missing, Jen became a coach in order to help people create lives of possibility and purpose. She is an ICF-certified coach who trained with Accomplishment Coaching and holds a master’s degree in Women’s Studies from Rutgers University.
Disclosure Statement: Jen Westra reports no potential conflicts of interest or affiliation with any corporate organizations.
Rebecca Burson, DO
Co-owner of Alpenglow Mental Wellness, LLC and Dr. Burson Coaching and Consulting
Dr. Rebecca “Beck” Burson founded Alpenglow Mental Wellness, LLC, with her husband Dr. Sean Burson as a place where “science, soul, and story." As a board-certified psychiatrist, she loves working with neurons and narratives. She has a background as a mountaineering guide, serving in the U.S. Air Force, executing research on the topics of sleep and biomarkers, and is offering coaching and consulting to broaden her reach. She also is pursuing a graduate degree from Gonzaga in their ORGL program as she finds joy in helping change organizational systems for the better through meaningful storytelling. After 22 years away from her hometown in Spokane, she is grateful to be moved back to the PNW.
Disclosure Statement: Dr. Burson reports no potential conflicts of interest or affiliation with any corporate organizations.
Sarah Carlson, CLU, CHFC, CFP
Founder, Private Wealth Advisor
Fulcrum Financial Group
Sarah Carlson, CLU, CHFC, CFP is a thought leader, writer, and financial planner, and also helps nice people work toward the goal of living their very best lives. Although many people think money can’t “buy” happiness, Sarah knows from experience that it certainly can help. With wealth often comes anxiety, however, especially for those who don’t know the ins and outs of financial planning, investments, and money management. A financial planner
and wealth management specialist for 30 years, Sarah founded Fulcrum Financial Group, to help people navigate the many complexities that money can bring to life.
A graduate of Yale University and a Certified Financial Planner™, Chartered Life Underwriter®, and Chartered Financial Consultant®, Sarah is passionate about education, viewing it as a lifelong process. Many of her clients came to her during times of transition such as divorce, widowhood, and retirement, wanting to make the most of their resources. Sarah sees herself as a “change agent,” helping people prepare for and weather the tumult that life presents, and to work toward their objectives through financial planning.
Disclosure Statement: Sarah Carlson reports no potential conflicts of interest or affiliation with any corporate organizations.
Katina Rue, DO, FAAFP, FACOFP
President, Washington State Medical Association
Program Director, Trios Health Family Medicine Residency Program
Katina Rue, DO, FAAFP, FACOFP is the first Latina and first Osteopathic president of the Washington State Medical Association. She leads the family medicine residency program at Trios Health in Kennewick, WA, in addition to serving on many state and regional boards and foundations. She is passionate about leadership, mentorship, community, and patient care. And even though occasionally plagued by “imposter syndrome,” she strives to inspire future leaders to step into healthcare leadership, to let their voices be heard, and to confidently take a seat at the table. In her spare time, she is a farm wrangler along with her husband, Aureliano, at their farm in Yakima and dance mom to their 10-year-old daughter, Valeria.
Disclosure Statement: Dr. Rue reports no potential conflicts of interest or affiliation with any corporate organizations.
David Ward, MD
Senior Medical Director, Primary Care Specialties
Washington Permanente Medical Group
David Ward, MD is a dedicated father first and second a leader with a purpose to inspire optimal health. Raised by a strong single mother and working for powerful female executives he seeks to learn from.
Disclosure Statement: Dr. Ward reports no potential conflicts of interest or affiliation with any corporate organizations.
Radha Nandagopal, MD
Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Continuing Education, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University
Pediatric Endocrinologist, Providence Medical Group
Radha Nandagopal, MD is a Spokane native, graduate of UWSOM and practicing pediatric endocrinologist. She is currently the Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Continuing Education at the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and is an associate professor teaching in the clinical skills and other aspects of the MD educational program. She loves to crochet, weave, garden, and bake - usually with her three kids, two dogs, and one spouse.
Disclosure Statement: Dr. Nandagopal reports no potential conflicts of interest or affiliation with any corporate organizations.
Lonika Sood MBBS, MHPE, FACP, FHM
Associate Professor of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences
Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University
Lonika Sood, MBBS, MHPE, FACP, FHM is the clinical education director for Internal Medicine and Acting Associate dean for Graduate Medical Education at the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. She is a hospitalist physician. She completed medical school from the University of Delhi, India. Her topics of interest include organizational leadership, medical education and social networking.
Disclosure Statement: Dr. Sood reports no potential conflicts of interest or affiliation with any corporate organizations.
Tamara Brining, PA-C, MMSc
Physician Associate
Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and Emergency Medicine
"Spokanite" born and raised. Yale Physician Associate School of Medicine graduate with over 13 years of Emergency Department experience and 7 years as Assistant Medical Director/Lead PA-C. Recent transition to full-time Providence Sports Medicine Surgery practice. Ongoing preceptor for PA and NP students in her ED and Orthopaedic practices. Lover of running, biking, secondhand shopping, as well as spending time with her husband and two small wild children.
Disclosure Statement: Tamara Brining reports no potential conflicts of interest or affiliation with any corporate organizations.
Stephany Montgomery, MSN, RN, CNML
Director of Critical Care Services & Interim Director of Emergency Services
MultiCare Valley Hospital
Stephany Montgomery, MSN, RN, CNML has worked in healthcare for over 30 years. She is currently the Director of Critical Care and Interim Director of Emergency Services at MultiCare Valley Hospital. With LEADER: I Own It as her leadership style, her teams have won multiple awards: AACN Beacon Award-Silver, Life Center Northwest Organ Tissue Donation Awards, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (No One Dies Alone Project, Extreme Ownership Leadership Training, Code Blue Collaboration Project), MultiCare President’s Award: Evelyn Torkelson Excellence in Customer Experience, MultiCare Research Day-Honorable Mention in Quality Improvement (Saving Lives through EVP & Education), Poster Presentation at AACN’s 2023 Clinical Nurse Leader Summit (The Emerging Nurse Leader: A Novel Approach to Leadership Training During Crises through Extreme Ownership, Shared Governance, and a Caring and Healing Environment for Everyone). Stephany believes that leadership is the most important factor in a team’s success.
Disclosure Statement: Stephany Montgomery reports no potential conflicts of interest or affiliation with any corporate organizations.
Carolyn M. Cunningham, PhD
Gonzaga University
Carolyn M. Cunningham, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Communication and Leadership Studies program at Gonzaga University where she researches and teaches about the intersections of communication, gender, and leadership.
Disclosure Statement: Dr. Cunningham reports no potential conflicts of interest or affiliation with any corporate organizations.
Robin Pickering, PhD
Professor, Health Sciences
Whitworth University
Dr. Robin Pickering is the host of the podcast, “A Closer Look” which explores various topics related to optimizing women’s health through evidence-based education and empowerment. She is a Professor of Health Sciences at Whitworth University specializing in Community Health and issues related to women’s health and wellbeing. She is the former Director of the Women and Gender Studies program. Dr. Pickering owns a consulting business aimed at optimizing workplace gender equity, wellbeing, and DEI through strategic planning and systems change. She has authored many articles and book chapters related to behavior change, women’s health issues, social justice, health risk behaviors, and sexuality education. She recently authored the book, “A Modern Approach to the Birds and the Bees” which encourages a comprehensive approach to sexuality education to promote health. She has served on many community boards related to promoting health and equity. She has been featured in local, national, and international media. Dr. Pickering received her PhD in Education with an emphasis on Health and Psychology, a Master of Science degree in Exercise Science and Pedagogy, and a bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion and Wellness.
Disclosure Statement: Dr. Pickering reports no potential conflicts of interest or affiliation with any corporate organizations.