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FRIDAY, FEB. 15, 2013
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30 years at the helm
Rich Roodman stops to visit while walking through Valley General Hospital in June 1983. Archival photo
Rich Roodman still innovating at Valley Med By DEAN A. RADFORD dradford@rentonreporter.com
Nate Wuethrich, 11, leads a trio of performers from the International Lion Dance and Martial Arts Team during a martial arts demonstration at Uwajimaya Sunday for an audience of parents and children of all ages. The team then performed a traditional Lion Dance as part of the Lunar New Year celebration to welcome the Year of the Snake, 4711. Brian Beckley, Renton Reporter MORE PHOTOS online… rentonreporter.com
Thirty years ago, Rich Roodman set foot in Valley General Hospital. He was 34 years old and even then his pay was controversial. Today, Valley General is Valley Medical Center, an expansive center of healing that intends to take medical care for the people of South King County to the next level with its affiliation with UW Medicine. Roodman is 64 and the hospital once known as “Death Valley” is an award-winner with its staff and patients. When he was hired, Roodman was charged with four things: Innovate, evolve, implement and be successful. “Sure, I can do that,” he told Morton Hardwick, then the chair of the hospital commission, during a job interview in fall 1982. Hardwick told Roodman about Valley’s “image problem.” Roodman has kept his promise, although it wasn’t done without controversy, political fallout or trips to the woodshed. A relaxed Roodman spoke with candor, his trademark humor and pride about his 30 years at the helm of [ more roodman page 12 ]
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