This Doctors Day, we invite you to join us in celebrating the extraordinary physicians who make a difference in our lives.
One such physician, Dr. Garde, remembers the moment she knew she wanted to become a doctor. At just eight years old, she sat in an emergency room and overheard a doctor speaking to a young child. The interaction was cold, clinical—lacking the empathy that a frightened child needed in that moment. She knew then that she wanted to do better. That realization set her on a path that would eventually lead her to Island Health.
Growing up in a large family in a small town in southwestern Pennsylvania, Dr. Garde understood the power of community early on. When it came time to put down roots, her family searched for a place that felt like home. A recommendation from her brother-in-law to explore the Pacific Northwest led her to a conversation over coffee at Calico Cupboard in Anacortes that changed everything. By the time she arrived in 2001, she and her family were met with warmth, kindness, and a community that felt like home.
“Before we even got there, our neighbors showed up with air mattresses, stocked the fridge, brought warm brownies, toys for the kids. It was clear—this is where we were supposed to be.”
Over the years, Dr. Garde has formed lasting bonds with the families she serves. From the joy of
delivering thousands of babies to walking alongside patients through their most challenging diagnoses, she cherishes the relationships that make medicine so much more than a profession—it’s a calling. “When I step into a patient’s room, everything else fades away. It’s about that one-on-one connection, making them feel heard, understood, and cared for.”
She recalls one patient who came in for a routine visit, covering a wound on her face with a bandage out of embarrassment. Recognizing something more serious, Dr. Garde made a call to a local dermatologist. By the next morning, the woman had an appointment. “That’s the power of working in a small town,” she reflects. “You can just pick up the phone and make things happen for your patients. That level of care isn’t always possible in a big city.”
Community support is the backbone of this kind of personalized healthcare. Because of donors like you, the Island Health Foundation has been able to provide state-of-the-art equipment—extra ultrasounds, a laparoscopy tower for minimally invasive surgeries, Halo bassinets, book programs for new parents, and more. Your generosity ensures that physicians have the tools they need to provide the best care possible, right here at home.
When you make a gift in honor of a physician this Doctors’ Day, you do more than express gratitude. You remind them that their dedication is seen, valued, and deeply appreciated. “When someone takes the time to donate in my honor and write a note of thanks, it stops me in my tracks. It reminds me why I do what I do,” says Dr. Garde.
Island Health is more than a hospital—it is a pillar of our community. Our doctors are part of the fabric of our town. They see you in the grocery store, at church, at the post office. They coach your kids’ teams, volunteer in schools, and support local organizations. They are committed to keeping healthcare close, ensuring that you and your loved ones receive exceptional, compassionate care without having to travel long distances.
As we celebrate Doctors’ Day, please consider making a gift to Island Health Foundation. Whether large or small, your donation makes a difference. It strengthens our hospital, supports our physicians, and enhances the care available to every member of our community. And if you’d like, include a personal note of thanks—because those words mean the world to the doctors who dedicate their lives to us.