Robert Sayson, MD
Robert Sayson, affectionately known as ‘Dr. Bob’, founded Good News Community Health Center in 2006. Dr. Bob’s medical work has led him all around the world: from the mountains of Pakistan to rural villages in Africa to the jungles of the Philippines. His passion is to use his medical gifts to bring healing to the most vulnerable. While serving at Compassion Connect’s medical day clinic event in the Rockwood neighborhood, Bob was struck by the crowd of people seeking access to simple medical care from which they were otherwise cut off. Recognizing the need for quality medical care in his own backyard, Dr. Bob founded Good News Community Health Center. Bob Sayson was trained and certified in Internal Medicine.
Rodica Malos, DNP
Rodica Malos is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and graduated from Oregon Health and Science University. She has been a primary care provider in our community for 18 years. She has an interest in metabolic syndrome and memory care. She is the founder of Tabor Crest Memory Care I & II in Portland, Oregon and Author of Find Your Peace.
Sarah Danford, FNP
Sarah Danford, BSN, MSN-FNP is a Family Nurse Practitioner at Good News Community Health Center. Ms. Danford joined Good News in 2018 after moving to Portland with her husband and daughter. Ms. Danford has significant experience working with disadvantaged communities in several countries including Ethiopia, Malaysia, Mexico and El Salvador. She previously worked as a diabetic nutrition educator serving Hispanic immigrant farm workers and in Philadelphia as a nurse practitioner. Ms. Danford serves in a leadership role with her church congregation, Theophilus. She specializes in Diabetes management and feels honored to walk alongside the patients of Good News on their health journeys. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and going on hikes.
Suzanne Emery, FNP
Suzanne C. Emery has a Masters in Leadership of Nursing and is a Family Nurse Practitioner. She is certified as a facilitator of the FASCETS Neurobehavioral Model and is a FASCETS Program Director. Suzanne lived in Costa Rica for 20 years serving families and children at risk. She worked as resident nurse at a children’s home and then as supervisor of health for a large child care organization for 15 years helping care for children and families. She is bilingual English/Spanish. Apart from her work as an FNP at the Good News Community Health Center for the past 1 1/2 years, she is a full-time missionary with the United World Mission. Suzanne is the founder and lead facilitator for a project started in 2013 – “Created to be Free: hope for families affected by alcohol.” She leads workshops, provides consulting services, and facilitates family support groups, all in the area of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, using a brain-based approach. She is a single mother of two wonderful young men; the younger has FASD. She is originally from the Portland area and is now residing here.
Teresa Hare, Patient Resource Manager
Teresa has been a part of our team longer than any other employee of Good News. She started volunteering in 2010 and became a part of our staff in 2012. She is our patient resource manager by title, but in reality, she does a little bit of everything. You might find her at the front desk, answering calls, supporting our providers, helping patients sign obtain access to various resources or running our team meetings. When she’s not working hard at the clinic you can find her kayaking or camping with her husband or gardening in her yard.
Kathy Pemberton, Patient Services
Kathy has been with the clinic since 2008 as a volunteer. She recently joined our staff, full time, as the Front Office Receptionist. She loves to see God at work in the lives of our patients. Kathy is originally from Southern California and graduated from Multnomah University in Portland, and she has been a member of the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP). Currently Kathy serves on the Good Shepherd Community Church media team and is a member of the Portland Singing Christmas Tree.
Rachelle Rupp, RN
Rachelle Rupp is our registered nurse. You can find her skillfully drawing a patients blood for testing, helping our clinic run smoothly by updating safety policies and EHR procedures or happily sharing self-care/advice with patients on the phone. Like many of our staff members she came to Good News as a volunteer; but our patients and staff ended up appreciating her support so much that she is now working for us part-time. Rachelle started her healthcare career in the U.S. Air Force during Desert Storm, as a Medical Laboratory Technician and graduated from OHSU in 2018 with her BSN. Her strong work ethic and attention to detail is only surpassed by her desire to support and improve the quality of life for each of our patients.
Maxine Lawrence, Executive Director
Maxine Lawrence is our New Executive Director as of October 2020. She is a direct answer to prayer. She came to us from Salvation Army where she has been the Family Services Director for the last 6 years. Her experience in leadership and as a pastoral counselor has already blessed us mightily and we look forward to her continued leadership and vision.