"It's really about history and understanding your place in it— passing it on to the future and paying it forward. So this is how I'm paying it forward."

Legacy is important to people in Stevens County. It is legacy that drives Ron Rehn to discover the complexities surrounding rural health care and inspired him to create a legacy gift to support rural health care needs into the future.

The Dominican Sisters created a path to serving all in Stevens County in 1940. As the needs expanded, the Sisters added new facilities and services. They founded innovative programs and pushed for health equity in rural communities, especially committed to serving those in poverty. In 1993, the Dominican Sisters sold their hospitals#8212;Mount Carmel in Colville, St Joseph's in Chewelah and Holy Family Hospital in Spokane and Dominicare in Chewelah#8212;to the Sisters of Providence for $1. That is a Mission Ron continues today as chief administrative officer for Providence Stevens County Ministries.

"The special part about Providence for me is the fact that the Dominican Sisters gave their treasure to Providence to ensure the Mission they brought to Stevens County lived on. Just as they entrusted the Sisters of Providence to continue their legacy, I want to help ensure that legacy continues well into the future to support our Mission for decades to come."

An expert in rural health care, Ron has spent the past 45 years working to solve the complex puzzle of balancing community needs and providing state-of-the-art care. One of the challenges is recruiting physicians to practice in rural areas. Ron has spent decades working to increase recruitment through research and training programs. He has identified reasons for the rural healthcare worker shortage and helped mitigate them through outreach programs, such as a rural track residency program with the University of Washington. Looking back at his childhood, Ron understands some of the rural inequities through his own lived experiences growing up on a farm near Ritzville.

"School counselors would say you're from a little town, you don't need to go on to a university. Your career and educational expectations should automatically be lower because you're in a rural area," he said.

When Ron moved to Colville after earning an associate degree, he was looking for a job. That job quickly turned into a calling and the beginning of his life's work. His career began as a lab technician at Mount Carmel Hospital. During that time, his colleagues saved his life after an aspirin allergy led to a medical emergency on his oldest son's birthday.

"My wife was pregnant and I wasn't breathing. She brought me to Mount Carmel Hospital and people I knew rallied around me and got me back. That's why I'm still here."

That day was just one of the times a personal experience reminded him of the importance of his career in rural health care. Ron and his wife, Jamie, built a life in Stevens County. They took turns furthering their education while building careers in health care and education. Ron went on to earn a bachelor of arts and master of public administration from Eastern Washington University. He then earned a doctorate in health administration, studying the rural doctor shortage for his dissertation. Jamie earned a bachelor's degree, teaching certificate and master's degree. She taught elementary school in Colville for decades, building relationships with hundreds of families over the years. She and Ron share the values of servant leadership, supporting the community and giving back to those in need.

"Some of my wife's former students are now caregivers at Providence. I'm proud to see they have grown from shy children to dedicated caregivers, committed to taking care of those who once cared for them," Ron said.

Those full-circle moments are not uncommon in health care. Ron has seen the highs and lows of the human experience as an invested caregiver and community member.

"I have been with people through both happy times and sad times, through births and deaths and tragedies," Ron said. "I live here. This is my community and this is our health care system."

As Ron grew with Providence, he saw how philanthropy furthered the Providence Mission. Growth continued and philanthropy helped fund a multi-million dollar renovation of Mount Carmel Hospital. The construction expanded the hospital by 70,000 square feet, bringing advanced technology and expanded services to town while focusing on patient comfort and privacy.

"In rural hospitals, the majority of patients are outpatient. That includes lab services, x-ray, and rehabilitation facilities, so it's really a community service," Ron said. "To have the community recognize that, make the donation and expand the hospital is the number one example of philanthropic efforts to expand rural health care efforts."

Ron's mom passed away after being a patient several times at Mount Carmel Hospital and left part of her individual retirement account (IRA) to Ron. In 2019, Ron and Jamie took the steps to create a legacy with a beneficiary designation gift in their estate plan. Their gift will allow future generations access to compassionate care at Mount Carmel Hospital in their time of need. As people of Providence, Ron and Jamie felt compelled to support the community where they raised their family, grew their careers and made close friendships.

"I'm a community member, a patient and a leader looking at the legacy that the Sisters left. I have my mother's gift and her experience as a patient here, and that makes me feel like I can be part of this story," Ron said. "I can leave a gift to continue the Mission in our area, just like the Dominican Sisters when they gave their treasure to Providence."

Ron continues to lead Providence hospitals and Dominicare in Stevens County. Under Ron's vision and management, Mount Carmel Hospital continues to be recognized as a top 100 critical access hospital, has been nationally recognized as a center of excellence and is a top choice for physician residents to receive on-site training and experience.

Ron and Jamie recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary and a legacy of love and support to their local community. In their free time, you will find them enjoying time with their kids and grandkids, at home or in their cabin along the river.