Leadership
Thomas Russell
President and Chief Executive Officer
Adventist Medical Center
Tom Russell is president and CEO of Adventist Medical Center and oversees the high performing network of Adventist Health services throughout the Portland metro area. His leadership continues to transform and improve the delivery of healthcare for local residents.
Tom strongly believes that service, quality and access are driven by mission. That commitment to mission is evidenced at the 302 bed Adventist Medical Center which is now in the top 5% of hospitals in the nation for patient safety. His commitment to patient centered care is also reflected through the broader Adventist Health Network which includes 38 primary care, and specialty care clinics, multiple physical therapy, as well as imaging and lab centers stretching from Hillsboro to Welches and from Vancouver to Oregon City.
His unwavering commitment to building a healthy community transcends the 2,000 employees and nearly 500 physicians who choose to treat and admit their patients to Adventist Health facilities. His vision for continued quality excellence is recognized by local, state and national organizations.
Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a Bachelor of Arts in theology from Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, and an MBA from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, TN. He received the 2012 American Hospital Association’s Grassroots Champion Award. The recognition signifies the impact he has had on advocacy in representing the needs of patients to state legislators and government officials. He is currently a member of the Health Policy Committee for the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems and a member of the governing board of Health Share of Oregon. He is an advocate for patient centered healthcare on numerous corporate and community committees and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Steve Kinzer
Chief Executive Officer
Adventist Health / Medical Group
Steve Kinzer is CEO for Adventist Health/Medical Group, a division of Adventist Medical Center in Portland, Ore. He oversees the management of a multispecialty medical group consisting of more than 35 clinics and more than 125 providers. Additional roles in contractual management arrangements with five local multi-specialty clinics affiliated with Adventist Medical Center.
Prior to joining Adventist Health/Medical Group in 1998, Kinzer was the administrative director for perioperative services at Virginia Mason Medical Center, supervising hospital-based and outpatient physician clinics in surgery and medicine. Previously, he laid the foundation for his career with Adventist Medical Center, originally joining the center in 1980, by developing the Home Health Agency program. Additional assignments during his initial tenure with the center included critical care unit educator, orthopedic unit supervisor, and director of critical care, operating room and PACU.
Kinzer holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Walla Walla College in College Place, Wash., and a Master of Science in nursing administration from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich. He is a member of the Medical Group Management Association and the American Medical Group Association.
Ron Benfield
Chief Operating Officer
Adventist Medical Center
Ron Benfield is chief operating officer at Adventist Medical Center and brings more than 30 years of health care leadership experience. In this role, Benfield is responsible for the strategic management and oversight of all of the health system's day-to-day operations, including those of its east Portland hospital, Adventist Medical Center.
He is an active member of professional and civic organizations, including American College of Healthcare Executives, Healthcare Financial Management Association and Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition in Silver Spring, Md. He serves on the board of Adventist Health International.
Benfield completed his undergraduate degree in business administration at Pacific Union College in Angwin, Calif. He went on to earn his M.B.A in finance from California State University, San Bernardino, and completed Ohio State University's executive program in healthcare management.
Benfield and his wife Joyce, a registered nurse, have two adult daughters. In his spare time, Benfield enjoys playing the cello, running, biking, and traveling both domestically and abroad.
Mark Perry
Vice President, Finance
Adventist Medical Center
Mark Perry is the vice president of finance at Adventist Medical Center in Portland, Ore. He oversees the management of finance, patient business, materials, medical information, information systems, compliance, HIPAA and properties. He serves as a member of the Adventist Health CFO Executive Committee.
Prior to joining Adventist Medical Center in 1991, Perry held various financial management positions throughout the Adventist Health System, including stints at Hinsdale, Ill., and Shawnee Mission, Kan. He also served as vice president for finance at Hialeah Hospital in Hialeah, Fla.
Perry holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Walla Walla College in College Place, Wash., and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore. He is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
Ellen Tryon
Chief Nursing Officer
Adventist Medical Center
Ellen Tryon is the chief nursing officer for Adventist Medical Center. She accepted the role in March of 2012 after working as Interim CNO since March of 2009. In her work as Interim CNO, Ellen’s influence has made a significant positive impact on this organization.
Prior to assuming the role of Interim CNO, Ellen has fulfilled a number of permanent and interim roles as VP for operations, VP for patient care and CEO for Adventist Health hospitals ranging from Maine to Hawaii. She began her career at Adventist Medical Center in the ortho/neuro unit.
Tryon received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Walla Walla College in Walla Walla, Washington. She later earned an MBA in Healthcare Administration from Alameda University in Boise, Idaho.
David Russell
Vice President, Business Development
Adventist Medical Center
David Russell is vice president of business development for Adventist Medical Center. In this capacity, he is charged with identifying and developing new business opportunities to enhance the services offered on campus and to extend Adventist Medical Center's services more fully into the community.
Prior to assuming the role of vice president, Russell was the director of contracting and network development for Adventist Medical Center and Healthcare Resources Northwest. Previously, he served in a similar capacity for United Health Network (UHN), where he managed all contracting functions with the health plans and UHN panel of network providers; he also oversaw network development functions, medical management, and performance improvement services for UHN.
Russell holds a master's in health care administration from Loma Linda University School of Health in Loma Linda, Calif. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Pamela P. Heiser
Vice President
Adventist Medical Center
Pamela P. Heiser is a vice president at Adventist Medical Center in Portland, Ore. Since accepting her current role in 1998, Heiser has been responsible for a wide range of services, including diagnostic imaging and radiology oncology, laboratory, home health care, rehabilitation and physical therapy, wellness, hyperbaric medicine, and hospitality services. She originally joined Adventist Medical Center in 1996 as a senior clinic administrator for the primary care clinic system's hospitalist practice. Through collaborative efforts with medical directors and management staff, she worked to improve care to the diabetic population.
Prior to joining Adventist Medical Center, Heiser served as vice president of patient care services at a 225-bed community hospital in Southern California, as well as CEO of a 50-bed hospital in the same region. She began her career with Adventist Health/West in April 1984 as a director of nursing services.
Heiser received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Southern Missionary College in Collegedale, Tenn., and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich.
