Dr. Brettell
Physician makes switch from family practice to emergency department
Dr. Brettell for the past several years has worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Cascade Neurologic Clinic in Bellingham. She said she is excited to join Skagit Valley Medical Center because of the range of providers at the single location.
Shawna Laursen, MD has chosen to venture into the world of emergency medicine at Skagit Valley Hospital after more than a decade in family medicine and time spent as an associate professor of medicine. Dr. Laursen began in the winter working in the Skagit Valley Hospital Emergency Department as a new physician with Northwest Emergency Physicians.
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“I like to have a community of doctors to work with,” she said. Dr. Brettell said she was also impressed with Skagit Valley Hospital’s partnerships with a range of services such as the Swedish Neuroscience Institute’s TeleStroke Program. The program bolsters Skagit Valley Hospital’s stroke support services in the Emergency Department through 24/7 access to Swedish’s stroke team experts via real-time, telemedicine-based technology. Dr. Brettell said the telemedicine partnership is an example of the same kind of partnerships she likes to create. “It’s nice to see a hospital so forward thinking and aligned with others,” she said. With her experience in MS, Dr. Brettell will be able to dispense at the medical center and hospital one of the newer treatments for MS patients. The infusion drug Tysabri is used to treat aggressive forms of MS and is given monthly by a doctor. The hospital and medical center had to receive certain certification and equipment in order to pave the way for Dr. Brettell to dispense the medication. But being able to offer the drug at the medical center or hospital allows Dr. Brettell to treat some of her patients locally rather than having to refer them to Everett or Seattle. “It’s nice to know we have that drug in our arsenal,” she said. In addition to MS patients, as a general neurologist Dr. Brettell said she treats a variety of ailments, including migraines and epilepsy. Dr. Brettell and James Bowen, MD will offer a presentation on MS on May 20. See page 34 for more information.
12 SKAGIT VALLEY HOSPITAL
Dr. Laursen grew up in Alaska and moved to Seattle to attend University of Washington and received her undergraduate degrees in biology and psychology. She stayed at the University of Washington for her MD. After her residency at Family Medicine of Southwest Washington she joined Fidalgo Medical Associates in Anacortes. She was a clinical instructor at UW and became a clinical assistant professor in 2001. She served as Chief of Medicine and later, Chief of Staff at Island Hospital before starting work at Skagit Valley Hospital’s Emergency Department. Dr. Laursen said she chose to move into emergency medicine
because she was looking for a new challenge and to expand her skills “After 11 years of family medicine it was time for a change,” Dr. Laursen said. “I found family medicine to be very rewarding but also very time consuming. My mid-career shift to emergency medicine has allowed for continued professional growth. With this change, I find that I am as excited about being a doctor now as I was 10 years ago.” Dr. Laursen said she also enjoys the intensity and broad spectrum of patient care needs that emergency medicine requires. Dr. Laursen also hopes to continue with her faculty work. She began teaching residents shortly after serving her own residency and remains a clinical associate professor of family medicine at the University of Washington. “I look forward to continued teaching opportunities in my emergency medicine career,” she said.
Podiatrist partners with patients to reach activity, quality of life goals Podiatrist Cindy Bullock, DPM, AACFAS, joined Northwest Orthopaedic Surgeons in Mount Vernon in February. Dr. Bullock completed her undergraduate studies at University of California at Irvine and postbaccalaureate study in medical biochemistry at University of Kent in Canterbury, England. She completed her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine and served her residency at
University of Utah and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She is a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, the American Podiatric Medical Association and the Washington State Podiatric Medical Association. Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (DPMs) are physicians and surgeons who diagnose and treat disorders of the foot, ankle and lower leg. Conditions commonly addressed can vary from bunions, hammertoes, and heel pain, to arch problems, fractures and