Commissioners & Superintendent

Don Wolczko

I moved to Vashon in 1982, enthralled by its natural beauty; I raised my family here and have been repeatedly reminded of the correctness of my decision, seeing not on that beauty, but also the community in which I was immersed.

I am a veterinarian, having been a long-time practice owner, who has seen a lot of change in the HUMAN medical practice landscape over the past 40 years. Independent practices are gone, and group primary care practices — with the current inadequate reimbursement rates — are not sustainable without public help.

A civic-minded group of Islanders worked to educate and motivate the populace to institute a Public Hospital District, and I was asked to sit on its commission in order to help sustain accessible on-Island primary care.

Eric Pryne

I moved to Vashon in 2013 after a 40-year journalism career, mostly with the Seattle Times. On Vashon, I hosted an island-centric public affairs/interview show on Voice of Vashon (KVSH-FM) for five years, and served on the Vashon Food Bank board for three. I live on Maury with my wife, Carla, and several thousand honeybees.

I learned the importance of having health care available on the island a few months after moving here when I needed treatment ASAP for a very painful (but not life-threatening) acute condition. I’d never been to the Sunrise Ridge clinic before, but when I stumbled in the door they diagnosed and treated me efficiently and compassionately. It sure beat waiting in a ferry line to get to a doctor on the mainland.

That’s partly why I supported creation of the Public Hospital District and ran for commissioner. I’m honored to represent my neighbors, and glad to have played a role in maintaining and improving primary care on Vashon.

Alan Aman

After a 30 plus year career in healthcare leadership working with non-profit systems in Washington, New Mexico and northern California, I returned to Puget Sound four years ago. Cycling on Vashon Island over the years gave me a keen sense of its uniqueness and my wife and I are fortunate to live just off Point Robinson Road. We named our property “Pied Beauty” after the poem of the same name by G. M. Hopkins and continue to deepen our appreciation for the varieties of life on this island.

My community service has included board membership and volunteer work in United Way, community college, business council, child welfare, workforce organizations, and many years as a King County Guardian ad Litem.

The Vashon healthcare situation poses the problems of affordability, health disparities, access, quality in the context of our small size. I am grateful for the broad community support for the VHCD and its tax base allowing creation of an ongoing and sustainable primary care clinic. Comprehensive primary care, including behavioral health, is the centerpiece of a healthy community and I intend to use my service on the commission to achieve our mission.

Wendy Noble

I moved to Vashon in 2014 from Wisconsin to be closer to my adult children, and to spend the next chapter of my life in the beautiful Pacific Northwest after living in seven other states. I have worked in healthcare my entire adult life- as an RN, an educator and an ARNP in large Midwest hospital systems, in the Alaska Native health system and a remote Navajo Health Center. My experiences of caring for patients in a variety of settings inform my work as a Commissioner. Since moving to Vashon I worked at Vashon Community Care and served on its Foundation Board, became involved in the Medical Reserve Corps, and helped promote end of life and advance directives planning.

The health of a community reflects both the availability of conventional medical care, and a broad variety of grassroots activities. Vashon has a long history of residents forming organizations to meet the health needs of the island. The Health Care District has new opportunities to partner with those organizations and others to address health disparities, broaden access to healthcare and support new initiatives. I look forward to being part of this collaboration.

Tom Langland

I am a life-long resident of this Island, a place I care about very much. My first job was at Vashon Pharmacy at age 15. After Vashon High and the UW School of Pharmacy, I married Mary and we began our family of 4 children on the Island in 1977. I continued as a staff pharmacist at Vashon Pharmacy and eventually became co-owner of the business until retirement in 2017. We are pleased to have all four of our children “back home” on Vashon where they are now raising their own families.

I have seen a lot of provider organizations come and go on Vashon, but I feel that we have always been fortunate to attract and retain generous and well-qualified practitioners in our local clinics. I suppose the quality of Vashon life generally allows us to attract highly capable doctors & nurses.

My main interest in the Health Care District is to facilitate some long-term stability for primary care services for my neighbors. The healthcare model in our country does not favor sustainable reimbursement for this care, and on Vashon, it appears that local subsidy is our best bet for retaining these services without future threat of interruption.

Tim Johnson

I have been a resident of Vashon island since 2009. My previous background was in frozen foods operations and brand management, but on Vashon I found a new calling in the nonprofit and public service sector.

I have chaired the Vashon Maury Island Community Council, served on the board of Vashon Be Prepared, been a member of the Vashon Maury Health Collaborative, and served on the executive committee for the campaign to create this very Health District.

Professionally, I have had the immense honor and pleasure of being the business manager for Granny’s Attic for the past eleven years.

I’m a people person, and if we haven’t met, we should fix that immediately!

Meet Our Commissioners

DON WOLCZKO

ERIC PRYNE

ALAN AMAN

WENDY NOBLE

TOM LANGLAND

Meet Our Superintendent

Tim Johnson

Vashon Health Care District

© 2022 Vashon Health Care District - Vashon Island Washington

Don Wolczko

Eric Pryne

Alan Aman