Listed in alphabetic order.
MEET OUR STAFF: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Chairperson Lenore Bayuk, MN ARNP, received her Bachelors degree in Nursing from the University of Rhode Island in 1969 and her Masters in Nursing from the University of Washington in 1974. She is an Advanced Nurse Specialist in Psychosocial Nursing and has had a private practice in counseling and psychotherapy since 1982. Prior to private practice, Lenore helped develop and was a member of an interdisciplinary consult team at the Veterans Administration Hospital Medical Center in Seattle. She later was involved in the establishment of the Pain Management Clinic at Swedish Hospital Medical Center, being a co-head nurse of the inpatient pain management patient care unit and a nursing consultant throughout the medical center. Prior to graduate school, she managed an inpatient psychiatric patient care unit in Rhode Island and had 2 years of teaching undergraduate psychiatric nursing at the University of Rhode Island.
Lenore has lived on San Juan Island since 1989. She is married and has a 19 year old daughter in college. She is a founding member of Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor and has been active in many community events.
Lenore is committed to providing this community with a high standard of healthcare at all levels. She was elected Commissioner and joined the Board in 2004. She is currently the Chairperson for the Board. She welcomes conversation from the community.
“In this time of expansion and the possibility of a Community Access Hospital, we as a community have many needs to attend to in terms of our healthcare. It is my hope that we can all work together to create an island appropriate healthcare center that serves our island community in the best possible way.”
Commissioner Randi Dooley-Parks, RN, MPA, is a newly elected Commissioner of our District. She is a Registered Nurse with a long history of health care experience. She is the Director of Nursing for the Islands Convalescent Center here in Friday Harbor.
Commissioner J. Michael Edwards, DDS, MD, FACS, is a unique asset to the EMS District. He has earned doctorates in both dentistry and medicine with honors and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He recently retired after a long career as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon.
He has served us and other island EMS agencies as an educational source in the emergent treatment of dental and maxillofacial injuries as well as being a student of our Wilderness EMT course.
Michael also is on the Board of the Inter Island Healthcare Foundation.
Commissioner Robert Low was the Town of Friday Harbor Fire Chief for 8 years, President of the Firefighters Association 2 years, and President of San Juan Chiefs Association 2 years. He currently serves as the County Fire Marshal.
Bob has been living on San Juan Island off and on for 45 years and has been married to his wife Barbara for 33 years. They have 3 children and 2 foster children. He is also a new EMT with EMS.
Commissioner Keri Talbott, B.A. has lived on the island over twenty four years, but did attend college at the University of Puget Sound before transferring to Eastern Washington University. Keri received a B.A. in Government and Business and played golf on a scholarship for the women's golf team. Currently she's a mother of three children and a licensed foster parent. She manages a charitable organization called Children's Account Needs, also known as "C.A.N" and participates on the board of Island Rec's Children's Festival.
Keri has worked for the Town of Friday Harbor in the finance office for over five years and loves her job. She has tons of interaction with the public and works with a great crew. She volunteers with the Town Fire Department along with her husband; and when they aren't volunteering or working - they love to golf and read. Keri says, "It is very exciting to be working with our EMS crew and Hospital staff. It's a wonderful opportunity and I look forward to the challenge of learning."