To the editor:

I wish to follow up on Sue Keblusek’s heartfelt letter about her stay at Whidbey General Hospital. Her impressions of the concern, graciousness, and skill set of Chief Nursing Officer Linda Gipson piqued her interest over the future of our hospital.

I’ve written hundreds of pages on my website about WGH and how we can restore its reputation, get patients to return, provide them a proper work environment, and improve the quality of care. Dr. Gipson has a stupendous list of achievements over a glittering 40-year career. She has four degrees in health care and health care administration, and she’s held almost every conceivable position of responsibility at a dozen of the country’s finest hospitals. Google “CNO Gipson CEO” and be dazzled by a life fully lived and dedicated to her patients. In contrast, the current CEO hasn’t any health or administrative education, and his only medical experience is with WGH.

I urge all South Enders to call your commissioner, Grethe Cammermeyer, and beg her to fully consider Dr. Gipson when the CEO’s contract is up in September. Ms. Keblusek’s wish is to “make a great place even better.” Let’s help make it come true.

Rob Born

Freeland