Two PeaceHealth St. Joseph veterans reflect on decades of service
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
Washington
Joni Dixon (left) and Terry Carter (right). Photo courtesy of PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center.
At PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, Wash., a commitment to the community has kept Terry Carter, director of nursing, and Joni Dixon, director of patient safety, dedicated to the hospital for 45 and 35 years, respectively.
Over the course of their careers, both leaders have witnessed transformative changes in healthcare, from growth of the hospital’s services to advances in technology and patient care.
“I’ve gone from using glass thermometers to electric thermometers to scanning thermometers,” Carter said. “Gallbladder removal used to be seven to ten days at the hospital but can now be done as outpatient.”
Throughout the years, Carter has held a variety of roles, beginning as a staff nurse before advancing into leadership positions. Dixon, whose background is in laboratory science and medical technology, also served in multiple roles across the organization before becoming a hospital leader in patient safety.
Despite the many changes they have seen, including serving as front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, both women credit the hospital’s mission of serving the community with compassion, understanding and respect for inspiring them to stay.