Learn about our Vashon Health Care District team
A native of the Pacific Northwest, I moved to Vashon in 2012. I am grateful to have found a warm, welcoming community of fellow Vashon residents of diverse ages, interests, and backgrounds.
I became familiar with the Health Care District by serving on the Strategic Planning Taskforce, working with the Washington congressional delegation in support of health care on Vashon.
As commissioner, my goal is to protect the services we have and work collaboratively to explore enhancing what is available, particularly in the areas of urgent care and behavioral health. I am mindful of the property tax burden on Vashon residents and look forward to working with existing community partners where feasible.
I’ve spent much of my career immersed in public policy and deeply believe thoughtful local government can have a positive impact on people’s lives. I am honored to serve on the Vashon Health Care District Board of Commissioners as we work toward enhancing health care on the island.
In my thirty years on Vashon, I have raised two children, provided end-of-life care to my father, and worked both as nursing case manager for low-income women and children on Vashon (through Public Health-Seattle and King County) and as the District Nurse for the Vashon Island School District. These experiences have given me the opportunity to make many connections and to see first-hand the shortcomings of our medical delivery system.
The goal of the Public Health District is to support cost-effective and uniquely tailored solutions for improving health care on Vashon. To accomplish this goal, the board should collaborate with our community partners and local experts. We need to create community buy-in on solutions with frequent outreach using a variety of methods.
We must also consider how the health district contributes to the overall tax impact on our residents and strive for a balance that supports healthcare access while minimizing the burden on vulnerable individuals and families.
I moved to Vashon with my parents as a teen in 1993 and have been an off and on resident until moving back permanently in 2018. I am a wife and a parent of two kids – Vashon is where my family and community are rooted. Through my children’s schools, my work, and my involvement in local organizations, I see firsthand how much people rely on accessible, local health care – and how deeply families feel it when access is limited. Living on Vashon has shaped my belief that health care works best when it is relationship-based, community-centered, and responsive to the realities of people’s lives.
I bring a background in public health, education, youth advocacy, and activism. Much of my work has focused on health education, social-emotional learning, and prevention-based programming for youth and families. I am especially interested in upstream prevention strategies – addressing the root causes of inequity before they become health crises. In a system that often operates more like a marketplace than a true health care system, I believe strong public health infrastructure and community-based care are essential to reducing barriers and improving long-term outcomes.
My interest in serving the Vashon Health Care District is grounded in a commitment to primary care, prevention, and health equity. I am passionate about strengthening access to primary care, supporting youth and families to reduce the impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), strengthening marginalized groups that are often excluded from access, and promoting behavioral health and addiction services. I believe that investing upstream, especially in youth, prevention, and basic access, creates healthier families and a more resilient Vashon community.
Dr. Chavez brings a wealth of experience to the board. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Davis, and her Doctor of Psychology degree from The Wright Institute in Berkeley, California. Her 20 years of professional experience includes running a private practice as a sole proprietor, providing neuropsychological assessment and treatment planning for individuals at assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, as well as supervising Master’s and Doctoral-level psychology students. Currently, she provides psychological and cognitive assessment for active-duty military and veterans to determine disability and other conditions.
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.
My rather eclectic work history includes law enforcement and security, food manufacturing, distribution, sales, brand development, project management, political campaign strategy and messaging, nonprofit leadership, retail operations, and local governance. Having worked on one health-related project or another on Vashon for close to fifteen years, returning to serve a District I helped create is the honor and challenge of a lifetime.
I thrive on connecting with people, ideas, opportunities, and solutions, and welcome your suggestions, questions, concerns, or critiques. Outside of public life, I enjoy golfing, playing drums (badly), cooking (surprisingly not badly), devouring a good novel, pampering pets, and exploring new and familiar urban and natural haunts.
When I landed on Vashon, it wasn’t a visit – it was to move here. Many calendar years later, this is where I still call home. Its magic is in the local individuals and organizations that work on strengthening the community. I have felt its support, and I also seek ways to participate.
I serve the Health Care District to strengthen local access to essential medical and mental health services. I offer the district a strong foundation in accounting, administrative organization, and detail-oriented problem-solving. My first ‘real’ job was with Kaiser Permanente, in finance administration.
Health Care is tricky, though, especially on an island. I know firsthand the relief of accessing care locally rather than commuting, making our local health network deeply important to me.
Outside of public service, I am a poet, a cook specializing in Indian cuisine, and a dedicated animal lover. My household has scaled down from a bustling 87-animal farm to a peaceful sanctuary of two sheep, two dogs, and two cats.
I’m the Communications Coordinator for the District, a role I’ve held since late 2024. I’ve been a performer most of my life and currently teach dance and voice on the island. That world led me naturally into production and promotion, and eventually into digital marketing and broader communications work. I enjoy the creativity of messaging and outreach, and being part of bringing needed services to the island is work I find genuinely worthwhile.
I discovered Vashon about 16 years ago and knew I was in the right place. I’m glad to be doing this work with the District and the many organizations on this island that are making a real difference.
