Founded in 1994, the
Tri-Cities Cancer Center
is a leader in radiation
oncology in southeastern
Washington and
northeastern Oregon.
A partnership of
Lourdes Health Network,
Kadlec Regional Medical
Center, Trios Health and the
Tri-Cities Community, the
Cancer Center's mission is
to provide and coordinate
the highest quality,
compassionate care for the
communities we serve.
2014 Governing Board:
ˇ Rick Millikin, Chair
ˇ Susan Kreid, Vice Chair
ˇ P. Donna Vance,
Secretary & Treasurer
ˇ Phil Gallagher
ˇ Basir Haque, MD
ˇ Sue Mandell, MD
ˇ Glen Marshall
ˇ Jeff Petersen
ˇ John Serle
ˇ Rand Wortman
Administration Staff:
ˇ Chuck DeGooyer
ˇ Michele Caron
ˇ Vicki Dehler
ˇ Elizabeth McLaughlin
ˇ Michael Novakovich
How did you start you career in cancer care and what brought you to the
Tri-Cities Cancer Center?
I graduated from the Radiologic Technology Program at Boise State in 1987. My
fiancé was a Tri-Cities native. We made the move here after graduation and I
landed my first job with Kennewick General Hospital in 1987.
I started in their X-Ray department. Chuck DeGooyer
(Tri-City Cancer Center CEO), was the Director of the
X-Ray department for KGH at the time. He hired me. The
radiation oncology group housed at KGH was actually
contracted through St. Mary's of Walla Walla. KGH
eventually purchased the group. I was cross-trained for
radiation therapy once they made that purchase. I made
the transition to the Tri-Cities Cancer Center when we
opened our doors in 1994.
Twenty years is a long time to work for any one organization. What is it about
your job that has kept you here since we first began treating patients?
It has been our patients more than anything else. Also, working at the Tri-Cities
Cancer Center provides an opportunity for me to give back to the community
Tell me about that, how do you feel you give back by working here?
The community put us here and they worked very, very hard to do so. I honor that
by working here. The Tri-Cities Cancer Center is the gift the community gave to
itself. I like to think we took [the level of care and service offerings] several levels
farther than was ever dreamed of.
What do you consider to be the biggest change over the past twenty years?
Technology and the level of patient treatment. The precision is unbelievable
compared to what we had years ago. The crown jewel has to be our patient resources.
Additionally, patients are much more educated. They research and know what
their options are and what treatment options they are most interested in.
When did you start working as a dosimetrist?
I moved into dosimetry in 2005.
What is involved in being a dosimetrist?
Treatment planning. Sitting down with the doctor and planning what amount
of radiation is going where. The technology we use allows us to very tightly
An interview with Kristi Rhodes
Dosimetrist and Radiation Therapist
Tri-Cities Cancer Center
It's Our People:
Kristi Rhodes
Kristi & Chuck, 1994