Sean C. Morgan
In the last few months, Sweet Home Family Medicine has added two people to its medical practitioners staff and a new manager.
Physician Assistant Marie Meyers and psychologist Dr. Allegro Johnson joined the staff in late October. Manager Kristin Ashcraft took over Nov. 18.
Meyers, a native of Harrisburg, earned a bachelor’s degree in general science from Oregon State University and a master’s degree in physician assistant studies at Rocky Mountain College.
She is working with providers Alan Blake, MD; Juliette Asuncion, DO; Nathan Mason, MD; Rick Parrish, PA-C; and Tim Hindmarsh, MD, caring for clinic patients.
“I am excited about what a supportive group of physicians and staff I will be working with,” Meyers said. “I’ve met a lot of people who have worked for Samaritan. My sister works for Samaritan as a nurse and my grandmother worked for Samaritan as a secretary – everyone recommends it.”
Meyers said she is happy to be moving back to the area to be near family. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking and snow skiing.
Johnson has joined Sweet Home Family Medicine, to provide psychological and behavioral health counseling services.
Including mental health care in a primary care clinic is an example of the patient-centered medical home model of health care, Ashcraft said. This model of health care integrates physical and mental health care through a team-based, proactive, individualized approach for patients of all ages.
“It’s just the idea that you go to one place for all your care,” Ashcraft said. Some certified medical homes also include alcohol and drug counselors and tobacco cessation assistance. The professionals come up with treatments as a team. They can introduce patients to the other doctors, a “warm” referral, instead of referring them to another location. Often when patients are referred elsewhere, they do not set up an appointment.
Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree from Texas Tech University.
She completed an internship at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, Ill., and a fellowship at Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.
Before joining Samaritan she served in-patients of Kerrville VA Hospital in Kerrville, Texas, conducting individual, couples, group and family therapy with long-term care and hospice patients, and outpatients in geriatric primary care and mental health clinics.
“I became a doctor to help people see things in a new way,” Johnson said. “In my work, I strive to convey respect for and appreciation of a diversity of beliefs.”
When not serving patients, her twin toddlers keep her very busy. In addition to spending time with her family, Johnson enjoys singing and reading. She spent part of her childhood in Eugene and has extended family in Oregon.
“I am very happy to be back home,” she said. “I love the pine trees and the rain.”
Johnson will see patients of Sweet Home Family Medicine by referral, working closely with other health care providers of the clinic.
“I am excited to be part of developing a team approach,” she said.
Ashcraft came to Sweet Home after managing the Mid-Valley Medical Plaza in Lebanon for 12 years.
Samaritan restructured its clinic management, Ashcraft said.”I went from a clinic manager to operations manager.” As a result, she also manages Brownsville Family Medicine and the Centralized Referral and Refill Center.
Ashcraft came to the area from California. She has more than 25 years experience in the medical field, working in different specialties and administration.
She was born and raised in Bakersfield, Calif., and earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University at Bakersfield.
Ashcraft lives in Sweet Home with her husband, Joe, and their two children, Cole, 16, and Evan 8. They were married in California, and after five years, he convinced her to move to Sweet Home.
“It is the best thing I ever did,” Ashcraft said. “It’s beautiful, a great place to raise children.”
With the new position, “I’m three minutes from my house,” she said. “It’s wonderful.”
For more information, call Sweet Home Family Medicine at (541) 451-6250.