Hillsboro

Certified Nurse MIdwife Monica Arce joined Virginia Garcia in March 2008. Monica grew up in Peru until she was 18 years old, and then moved to New Orleans.  She completed a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Music and then moved to Portland in 1994.  She returned to school ten years later to pursue a nursing and midwifery degree driven by her interests in women’s health, health disparities and her fascination with the transformative power of pregnancy and birth.

Virginia Garcia has been a place where Monica can get back in touch with her Hispanic heritage and use her first language on a daily basis.  When she is not seeing patients in clinic or delivering babies at Tuality, you may find her playing music with her husband and children, running, hiking, swimming, camping and generally spending as much of her free time as possible with her 15 year old daughter and her eight year old son.

Medical Training:  Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, OR; MS in Nurse Midwifery (2007)

Board Certification:  American Midwife Certification Board (2007)

Languages:  English and Spanish

Dr. Teresa Bair has recently returned to her home state of Oregon to join Virginia Garcia for her three-year family medicine residency.  She did her general medical training in Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Oregon, California, Louisiana, and Costa Rica.  Dr. Bair provides primary family medicine, including Osteopathic manual treatments, pediatric, and obstetric care.  She is particularly passionate about health education, women’s and reproductive health, manual medicine, and patient advocacy.  In addition to her work at Virginia Garcia, she provides care at various clinic and hospital sites in the greater Portland area, largely through the Legacy Health system. Dr. Bair is committed to listening to her patients, helping them access needed resources, and providing education and support to help patients reach their highest level of health and wellbeing.

In addition to providing full-spectrum family medicine, Teresa enjoys spending time in the forest, doing volunteer construction work, sipping tea in front of her fireplace, loving on her family and friends, dancing, traveling, gardening, and playing the ukulele.

Medical Training: University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, ME (2014) Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education (2014) Family Medicine

Languages: English and Spanish

Family Physician Kristin Burgher joined Virginia Garcia in January 2011. She was drawn to Virginia Garcia out of a commitment to providing all patients access to quality care.

She enjoys providing families a full spectrum of care, from prenatal care through adulthood. She loves working with patients to achieve their health goals and promote healthy lifestyle changes. When she is not in the clinic she loves spending time with her family.

Medical Training: Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC (MD) – 2007

Residency: Providence Milwaukie Family Medicine Residency, Milwaukie, OR – 2010

Board Certification:  American Board of Family Medicine (2010)

Languages: English, Spanish, French, Haitian Creole

Doctor Geoffrey Carden joined Virginia Garcia in 2012. Some of Dr. Carden’s special interests are traveling and exploring Oregon and beyond with his wife and children.

Medically, Dr Carden has a long standing interest in Women’s Health, International Medicine, and Addiction Medicine. He is also the program director for our Family Medicine Residency here in Hillsboro.

Medical Training: ETSU College of Medicine

Board Certification: Family Medicine

Languages: English and Spanish

Doctor Eva Galvez joined Virginia Garcia in January 2011. She is married and has two children, a boy and a girl.

Dr. Galvez enjoys spending time with her family, going for walks, reading and cooking.  Born and raised in Hood River, Oregon and while completing undergraduate degree at OSU, she learned about Virginia Garcia Clinic. It was then that she decided that upon completing medical training, her goal would be to work for VG clinic. A few years after completion of medical training in Seattle, moved to Oregon with intent of working for VG and living closer to her family. What drew me to VG clinic and continues to draw me is VG’s mission to serve medically underserved populations and VG’s long standing commitment to migrant and seasonal farm worker health.

Medical Training:  University of Washington – School of Medicine, Seattle, WA (MD) 2004

Residency: Swedish Family Medicine Cherry Hill – Sea Mar Community Health Center Training Site, Seattle, WA (2004-2007)

Board Certification:  American Board of Family Medicine (2007)

Languages:  English and Spanish

Physician Assistant (PA) Lydia Jackson joined Virginia Garcia in October 2008. In 2013, Lydia accepted a co-faculty position with Pacific University’s PA program. She now works in the clinic while teaching future PAs. Her special interests include soccer, sailing, cross-country skiing and gardening.

Medical Training:  Duke University School of Medicine (2008)

Board Certification:  National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (2008)

Languages:  English and Spanish

Doctor Lyn Jacobs joined Virginia Garcia in August 1998. She came here as a National Health Service Scholar and has stayed here because of her amazing colleagues and truly inspirational patients. Their stories and experiences continue to motivate her to provide the best primary care she can. She has delivered over 1,500 babies, most of them right here in Washington County. Helping families bring new members into this world continues to be a highlight of her medical practice.

Dr. Jacobs’ medical interests vary, she loves working with families and helping people modify their lifestyle and eating habits to prevent chronic diseases such as: diabetes, obesity and hypertension. She and her husband run an organic farm where they raise vegetables, grass fed beef, goats and poultry for eggs. She loves spending time with her husband Juvencio and three kids, Jacob, Diego and Eva Luna. When not with her patients or planting on her farm, her hobbies include: cooking for large crowds, ceramics, hiking, arranging flowers and wreath making.

Medical Training:  University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (1995)

Residency: Family Medicine Residency, Contra Costa County Regional Hospital (1995-98)

Board Certification:  Family Medicine

Language:  English and Spanish

Dr Kapka joined the Virginia Garcia’s Hillsboro Clinic in 2007. She has a wide variety of clinical and public health interests and appreciates Virginia Garcia’s unique combination of interesting and diverse patients, its academically-oriented teaching environment (students and family medicine residents), as well as its public health research collaboration (disparities and implementation science). Clinically, diabetes care and obstetrical care are areas of high interest, including group visits.

As Lead Clinician at the Hillsboro site since 2011, she has a high level of dedication to the mission of Virginia Garcia, and enjoys the opportunity to provide excellent patient-centered clinical care in a supportive environment that increasingly incorporates other disciplines to better meet the needs of patients (behavioral health, clinical pharmacists, and health resiliency specialists). Taking care of whole families over time is particularly rewarding for her.

Dr Kapka enjoys traveling, gardening, hiking, biking, camping, and reading; she especially enjoys doing these activities with her husband Surj and their two children.

Medical Training:  Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, OR (MD) 2001
International Health at Harvard School of Public Health, (MPH) 2000

Residency: Greater Lawrence Family Practice Residency, Lawrence, MA (2002) Family Practice

Board Certification:  American Board of Family Medicine (2004, 2014)

Languages:  English, Spanish

Doctor Kaitlin Karplus joined Virginia Garcia for her family medicine residency in July of 2014. Caitlin’s medical interests include practicing family medicine in a community health setting, women’s health and mental health care.

Raised in the small town of Philomath, Oregon, she met her husband while attending Oregon State University as an undergrad. She enjoys exploring the beautiful northwest outdoors, traveling, baking, reading (fantasy/sci-fi), and checking out shows by local Portland bands.

Medical Training: A.T. Still University, School of Osteopathic Medicine of Arizona, Mesa, AZ (2014) Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education (2014) Family Medicine

Doctor Suniti Kumar joined Virginia Garcia in October 2005 and enjoys working with patients from all different parts of the world.  She is a Board Certified Family Practice physician who went to college, medical school, and residency in Massachusetts.  She then completed a Fellowship in Obstetrics, so she does most of the Cesarean Sections for our patients.  Before joining Virginia Garcia, she worked as a volunteer for Doctors without Borders in Myanmar (Burma) and Niger and also worked in New Mexico, Colorado, and Washington State.  She speaks Spanish and understands basic Thai. Suniti is a single mother of two children she adopted at birth, one from Texas and one from Oregon.  She enjoys playing with her children, reading, cooking, sewing, bike riding, doing yoga, and talking to others about adoption and single parenthood.

Medical Training:

• University of Massachusetts Medical School, 1997
• Austin Medical Education Programs, Obstetrics Fellowship, 2003

Residency: Greater Lawrence Family Practice Residency, 2000

Board Certified: Yes

Languages: English and Spanish

Physician Assistant Ellen Lemon joined Virginia Garcia in April of 2006. Prior to working for Virginia Garcia, Ellen was a volunteer provider for the Essential Health Clinic and an English as a Second Language course instructor at Centro Cultural.

When not working, Ellen enjoys hiking and travel.

Medical Training: Pacific University, 2005 (MS – PA Studies)

Doctor Jennie Leslie joined Virginia Garcia in 2012.  Dr. Leslie’s primary research interests are maternal and child health for HIV positive mothers and Latina birth outcomes.  She loves being able to teach and learn from patients, students and other providers as part of her job.

“I strongly believe that every patient should be treated with respect and dignity.”

Medical Training:  Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA (MD) 2000
MAHEC – University of North Carolina
Asheville ObGyn Residency, Asheville, NC 2004

Board Certification: ACOG (American Board of OBGYN) 2006

Languages:  English and Spanish

Doctor Martin Peters joined Virginia Garcia in July of 2013 as a Family Medicine Resident. He applied to this residency because of a desire to work and serve in a Community Health Center while improving his Spanish language skills. Martin was born and raised in the Portland area and enjoys outdoor pursuits. He is also a beach volleyball fanatic.

Medical Training:  A.T. Still University – School of Osteopathic Medicine, Mesa, AZ (DO) 2013

Residency:  Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education (2013) Family Medicine

Board Certification:  Anticipated Family Medicine Certification date: 01/2016

Languages:  English, Spanish, and German

Doctor Maura O’Leary joined Virginia Garcia in 2007. Dr. O’Leary was born in Portland, Oregon and attended college at Carleton College in Northfield, MN. She returned to Oregon to attend medical school at OHSU. Dr. O’Leary graduated OHSU in 2002 and went on to complete her residency at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez, CA. She and her husband returned to Oregon to reunite with family and raise their family.

Dr. O’Leary joined Virginia Garcia because she is passionate about caring for the underserved. She loves to read, outdoor activities, sewing, sports, and spending time with her three children.

Medical Training:  Oregon Health & Sciences University (2002)

Residency: Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez, CA (2002)

Board Certification:  American Board of Family Medicine

Languages:  English and Spanish

Doctor Michael Schiferl joined Virginia Garcia in October of 2009. Dr. Schiferl’s medical interests include international medicine and medical relief, community health, pediatrics, and obstetrics. Having worked for community health for nearly 10 years, Michael joined Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Clinics to continue his interest and commitment to community health and helping the underserved both locally and overseas. In his free time he enjoys spending time with family and friends, nature, photography, motorcycling and touring, and travel.

Medical Training:

• University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI (2001) Medical Doctorate
• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK (2006) Diploma in Tropical Medicine

Residency: Stanislaus Family Practice Residency, University of California-Davis, Modesto, CA (2004) Family Medicine

Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine (2014)

Language: English and Spanish, Italian and Thai

Doctor Thomas Stason joined Virginia Garcia in October of 2013 as a way to bring Osteopathic Manipulation Medicine education to the Family Practice Residents. He’s glad to be able to offer this service to the patients of Virginia Garcia.  In his private practice he specializes in cranial trauma, headaches and visual issues.

In his spare time, he likes to cook and practice yoga and is anticipating his first child in January of 2015..

Medical Training: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (2004)

Residency:  St. Barnabas Hospital in New York, residency in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine / Osteopathic Manipulation Medicine

Board Certification: American Osteopathic Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (2009)

Language(s): English

Resident physician Dr. Brad Stoker joined Virginia Garcia in July 2013 as part of the inaugural class of Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center’s three-year family medicine residency program.  When not at VGMHC, he is often doing a hospital rotation at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, or Randall Children’s Hospital, all part of the Legacy Health network. Dr. Stoker sees patients for family care, obstetrics and osteopathic manual treatment (OMT).

Dr. Stoker enjoys VGMHC because the staff and providers are so committed to excellent care.  He is interested in the impact of physical activity on health.  Thus, his research interests are focused on diabetes, OMT for pain, and weight management.

Previously he worked for a few years for a Wall Street firm and earned a Master’s of Business Administration.  Dr. Stoker is happy to have traded his suit for a stethoscope—and he still sometimes wears a bow tie to clinic.  Dr. Stoker enjoys running, biking, hiking, spiking (volleyball) and sometimes camping and kayaking.

Medical Training:  A.T. Still University, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA).

Residency: Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education (2015) Family Medicine

Languages:  English and Spanish

Mental health therapist Jennifer Taylor joined Virginia Garcia in June 2012.  Jennifer has a variety of mental health interest including work with domestic and sexual violence survivors, how trauma impacts the brain, difficulties around immigration issues, women’s health concerns and grief work.  The majority of her time outside of work is spent running after her year and a half old son Gibson.  Some of her hobbies include seeing live music, thrifting and nature walks with the family (including the dog).

Jennifer is passionate about the integrated model of delivering mental health services in a primary care setting in which Virginia Garcia is a pioneer.  

Training:  Portland State University – Graduate School of Social Work (2012)

Languages:  English and Spanish

Behavioral Health Consultant Brian Tucker joined Virginia Garcia in 2009. Dr. Tucker specializes in primary care psychology and works at Virginia Garcia through a partnership between Virginia Garcia and Lifeworks Northwest.  In his free time Dr. Tucker enjoys time with his family, playing soccer, running, and exploring Oregon.

Dr. Tucker is committed to the mission of Virginia Garcia and Lifeworks Northwest and helping improve the quality of life of the individuals he has had the privilege to work with.

Training: Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area; School of Professional Psychology

License:  Oregon Board of Psychologist Examiners

Languages:  English

Doctor Elizabeth Uno joined Virginia Garcia in September of 2014.  Elizabeth medical interests include women’s healthcare including pregnancy care, pediatrics and educating patients about a healthy lifestyle. She joined Virginia Garcia because she is passionate about the mission to bring healthcare to the entire community and especially those who need it most. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, salsa and swing dancing, hiking and traveling.

Medical Training: University of Washington School of Medicine, MD (2011)

Residency: Ventura County Family Medicine Residency, Family Medicine (2014)

Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine

Languages:  English and Spanish

Naturopathic Doctor Jacqui Villalobos joined Virginia Garcia in February 2001.  She continues to follow her calling to teach people how to improve their health through diet and lifestyle changes.  Her favorite part of her practice is teaching nutrition.  She is a “foodie” in her personal life as well.  She buys locally grown, organic food and loves experimenting with new recipes. (Not all experiments are successful, just ask her husband.)   Jacqui and her husband live in the oldest house in Yamhill County, built in 1852.  She loves spending time in the garden with her dogs.   In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends and family, singing with Aurora Chorus, painting, reading, and walking outdoors in nature.

Dr. Villalobos is a member of the Yamhill County Medical Reserve Corps, Chairman of Nutrition Exam for Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam (NPLEX), and Council member of North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners.

Medical Training:  National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Portland, OR (2000) Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine

Board Certification:  Licensed by the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine

Languages:  English and Spanish (plus I sing in French, German, Israeli and Romanian.)

Physician Assistant Larissa Whalen-Garfias joined Virginia Garcia in September of 2006. Larissa’s medical interests include working with the underserved and Latino populations. She enjoys outdoor activities, cooking, and spending time with her husband and two children.

Medical Training: Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, OR (Master of Physician Assistant Studies) 2003

Board Certification: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (2004)

Certified Nurse Midwife Linda Wheeler joined Virginia Garcia in 2004. She has a keen interest in women’s health care. Linda particularly enjoys performing well-woman examinations (including Pap smears) during which women can talk about family planning, gynecological issues, and sexual health.  Linda is fascinated by the unique issues each woman brings to her clinic visit and appreciates the opportunity to influence their health. Having lived in Brazil and visited Central America and Africa, Linda joined Virginia Garcia to work with and learn from women of many cultures.

Nurse-midwifery training: University of Mississippi

Certification: American College of Nurse-Midwives

Languages: English and Spanish

Clinical Pharmacist 

Sarah Deines joined Virginia Garcia in July 2009. She grew up in Hillsboro, and after studying and traveling around the country, she was excited to join VGMHC to improve the health of her home town.  Sarah works with VG patients in clinic to help them manage their health through balancing medication therapy with lifestyle choices. She is interested in improving diabetes and blood pressure, as well as providing education to patients about their medication use. Sarah is passionate about sharing her enthusiasm for patient care by training pharmacy students and residents in clinic so that they can better care for other members of our community after graduation.

Medical Training:  Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, Portland, OR (PharmD) 2008. Legacy Health PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program, Portland, OR 2009.

Board Certification:  Board Certification Ambulatory Care Pharmacy (BCACP) 2012

Languages:  English, Spanish

Doctor Megan Sapp joined Virginia Garcia in January 2010. “I joined Virginia Garcia because I am passionate about Public Health and Community Dentistry serving those in need. I love working with our Spanish-speaking population and with our pediatric patients. Working at Virginia Garcia, I really feel that I am making a difference in people’s lives. Virginia Garcia is an important part of our community, providing access and care to the people who need it most.”

Dental Training:  University of North Carolina – School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, NC (DDS 2008)

Languages:  English, Spanish