Fostering Equitable Healthcare Solutions in the Northwest
Committed to advancing the future of healthcare, the Northwest Osteopathic Foundation serves as the fundraising catalyst for programs aimed at enhancing access to comprehensive, patient-centered medical care in underserved communities. With a dedicated focus on championing holistic practices and promoting universal healthcare access, we aspire to uplift underserved communities while fostering a network of partnerships and nurturing empathetic leaders across the Pacific Northwest.
What is Osteopathic Medicine?
Osteopathic medicine is a comprehensive approach to healthcare that focuses on treating the whole person, not just the symptoms of a disease. Osteopathic physicians (DOs) undergo rigorous medical training that includes traditional medical practices as well as specialized osteopathic techniques. These techniques emphasize the body’s ability to heal itself and the importance of the musculoskeletal system in overall health.
DOs are trained to look at the patient as a whole and consider all aspects of their health – physical, mental, and emotional – when diagnosing and treating medical conditions. Osteopathic medicine prioritizes preventative care, patient education, and a holistic approach to medical treatment, aiming to not only treat illness but also promote overall well-being and quality of life.
History of Osteopathic Medicine
Honoring a Pioneer & Founding Board Chair of the Northwest Osteopathic Foundation
Dr. J. Scott Heatherington, DO
Leader. Mentor. Osteopathic Trailblazer.
Dr. J. Scott Heatherington, DO, was one of the most influential osteopathic physicians in Oregon’s history. Known for his unmatched leadership, skill as a teacher, and quick-witted humor, Dr. Heatherington’s legacy continues to shape the future of osteopathic medicine across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Born in Woodson, Kansas, and raised as a preacher’s son, Scott developed an early love for music, mischief, and making people laugh, a trait that never left him. His journey to osteopathic medicine began at York College, where a roommate’s family inspired him to consider a career in healing. He enrolled at A.T. Still College in 1941, quickly proving his resilience in the face of wartime pressures and an accelerated curriculum.
Read More:
Following his internship in Detroit, Dr. Heatherington planted roots in Oregon, opening a practice in Medford before relocating to Gladstone. In addition to delivering babies and performing surgeries, he made countless house calls and served his community in every way imaginable—from Rotary Club president to church trustee.
Dr. Heatherington’s contributions to the osteopathic profession are immeasurable. He served as President of the American Osteopathic Association (1969–1970), helped establish the Department of Osteopathic Medicine at Eastmoreland General Hospital, and later became the founding Board Chair of the Northwest Osteopathic Medical Foundation. His work writing the foundation’s original bylaws and hiring its first executive helped ensure long-term support for osteopathic students—a mission that lives on today.
Among his many honors, Dr. Heatherington received the GP of the Year Award in 1974, a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and the A.T. Still Medallion of Honor in 1998. Today, the OMT department at COMP-Northwest proudly bears his name, a tribute to his lifelong passion for hands-on healing and student mentorship.
Dr. Heatherington passed away in December 2000 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He is remembered as a gifted physician, a generous teacher, and a joyful spirit whose legacy continues to inspire.
“Scott had a way of making you feel like you belonged—from his patients to his peers to the students he mentored. His laugh and leadership were unforgettable.”
Mission, Vision, Values
Our Mission Statement
Northwest Osteopathic Foundation is dedicated to improving access to quality, whole-person healthcare in underserved communities by empowering the next generation of compassionate osteopathic physicians to ensure equitable healthcare for all.
Our Vision
We envision a world where everyone has access to culturally competent, compassionate, whole-person healthcare.
Our Values
Passion – We love what we do and are committed to moving osteopathic medicine forward.
Collaboration
We’re better together! We team up with others to strengthen osteopathic healthcare.
Excellence
We bring the best programs and partnerships to elevate care in the Northwest. Impact – We focus on smart strategies with clear goals to create real, lasting change.
Flexibility
Challenges happen—we adjust, adapt, and keep things moving forward.
Agility
The industry changes fast, and so do we, making sure we stay ahead and on mission.
Mindfulness
We believe in whole-person healthcare that cares for the mind, body, and spirit.
Education
We keep our community—donors, doctors, students, and supporters—engaged and informed.
Strategic Plan Overview
The Northwest Osteopathic Foundation (NWOF) empowers the next generation of osteopathic physicians to meet the critical demand for healthcare providers in rural and underserved communities across the Pacific Northwest. As America faces a growing physician shortage and uneven distribution of healthcare resources, NWOF supports future doctors through scholarships, education, and strategic partnerships. Our work doesn’t just improve healthcare access, it drives economic growth. Each new physician contributes over $3 million annually to the local economy and creates approximately 17 jobs, delivering powerful community-level impact.
Strategic Pillars
1. Leadership
Strengthen board governance through engagement, diversity, and training. Cultivate leadership within volunteers serving on community committees. Foster collaboration with regional osteopathic associations and medical schools.
2. Operations
Ensure financial transparency and regulatory compliance. Implement structured grantmaking with outcome tracking. Build scalable systems for organizational growth.
3. Programs
Scholarships: Support medical students committed to serve in the Pacific Northwest.
Grants: Invest in mission-aligned organizations advancing our shared goals.
Promote careers in osteopathic medicine for long-term impact in shortage areas.
4. Marketing & Communications
Tell our story: highlight the value of osteopathic medicine and NWOF’s mission. Use digital communication to engage across social media, web, and email.
Create compelling content that resonates with donors, students, and partners.
5. Fund Development
Offer multiple giving channels: individual gifts, corporate sponsorships, peer-to-peer fundraising, and planned giving. Use digital platforms (e.g., Giving Days, recurring donations) to grow support. Build a strong culture of philanthropy rooted in our mission and values.
Join Us
Together, we can close the healthcare gap and create lasting change. Your support helps bring life-saving care, and economic vitality, to the communities that need it most.
Our Goals
Support Future Physicians
Break down barriers for osteopathic medical students, providing them with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.
Strengthen Partnerships
Build deeper connections with Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Osteopathic Associations, and policymakers to drive meaningful change.
Expand Access to Care
Ensure that everyone can receive high-quality, holistic, and timely osteopathic healthcare, no matter their circumstances.
NWOF Recognized by Charity Navigator
Northwest Osteopathic Foundation has been awarded a prestigious 3-star rating by Charity Navigator, underscoring our commitment to financial health, accountability, and governance practices. This recognition reaffirms our organization’s dedication to transparency and effective philanthropic impact.
Board of Directors
Officers
Juliet Bliss, D.O., President
Juliet Bliss, DO, is a board-certified family medicine physician who also offers obstetrics. She works for Franciscan Medical Group. She is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, and enjoys partnering with diverse populations to provide equitable and exceptional care to all. Dr. Bliss practices compassionate, full-spectrum primary care, treating newborn infants to elders and everyone in between. Her approach is holistic and osteopathic, encompassing the mind, body, and spirit. She uses osteopathic (hands-on) techniques to treat many conditions, including headaches, sprains, sinus and upper respiratory infections, joint pain, and chronic body pain. She feels that getting to know everyone in the family is important for the best partnership in care, and she especially loves working with new parents.
Read More:
Medical Education
- Residency: The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education/National Family Medicine Network, Auburn, WA
- Medical School: A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Mesa, AZ
Board Certification
- Family Medicine/OMT (Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment)
Thomas Kincheloe, D.O., President-Elect
Dr. Kincheloe earned a medical degree from Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences. He completed an internship at Stony Brook University at Southampton Hospital and residency training at Michigan State University. As a board-certified physician in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine, Dr. Kincheloe specializes in treating Neuromusculoskeletal injuries with hands-on treatments, also known as Osteopathic Manipulation, utilizing biomechanics, cranial techniques, and fascial techniques. He also has a medical interest in Regenerative Medicine, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Ringside Medicine, and Performing Arts Medicine. Dr. Kincheloe enjoys spending his spare time with his family, playing board games, and training in martial arts (Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu).
Read More:
Fields
- Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
- Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine
- Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
- Medical Education
Areas of Expertise
- Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)
- Chronic Pain
- Interrater Reliability
- Common Compensatory Pattern and Fascial Planes
- Fascial Distortion Model
Methodological Expertise
- Case studies
- Systematic reviews
Current Projects
- Investigation in Sink’s Common Compensatory Pattern with Frequency, Variability, and Inter-rater Reliability
- Use of Artificial Intelligence in Undergraduate Medical Education
Lisa Newton-Klucevek, D.O., Treasurer/Secretary
Dr. Newton is a Family Medicine Physician providing direct primary care for Premise Health in Portland, Oregon. She has over 23 years of experience and is board certified in Family Medicine/OMT. She is affiliated with Legacy Health System. Dr. Newton graduated from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her undergraduate education at The University of Michigan. Though she hails from Michigan, Dr. Newton loves living in the Pacific Northwest and exploring all of the wonderful activities the area has to offer. In her free time you will find her walking her dog in the woods, volunteering, or spending time with family and friends.
Read More:
Specialty
- Family Medicine
Jennifer Ribar, D.O., Immediate Past President
Dr. Ribar is a graduate of Pacific Northwest University. As an osteopathic neuromusculoskeletal medicine specialist in her hometown of Fairbanks, Alaska, she exclusively practices OMM both in her clinic and in the local hospital. Dr. Ribar sees everything from newborns to 90+ year old's, acute and chronic conditions. She has been involved with the Northwest Osteopathic Foundation since medical school in Yakima, Washington, and is a former scholarship recipient. As President of NWOF she is excited to help transform how NWOF interacts with the osteopathic community of the Pacific Northwest at all levels of training and patient care.
Read More:
Interests
Dr. Ribar’s hobbies include outdoor activities, cooking and baking, reading, and binge-watching baking shows. Living in Alaska allows her to spend time doing anything outside – boating, fishing, hiking – the options are endless and “right at my fingertips”
Medical Education
- Dr. Ribar earned her medical degree from the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences.
- Internship at Sparrow Osteopathic in Lansing, MI, and ONMM residency at Michigan State University
Board Certification
- Board-certified through the American Osteopathic Association.
Additional Certifications
Board Members
Jessica DiNizio, D.O.
Dr. Jessica DiNizio is a board-certified family medicine physician and osteopathic physician educator with a strong commitment to osteopathic philosophy, medical education, and mentoring future physicians. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and has spent her career serving both rural communities and academic medicine.
She is currently an Assistant Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she teaches and supports the next generation of osteopathic physicians.
Read More:
Dr. DiNizio earned her bachelor’s degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, and her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, NY in 2006. She completed her Family Medicine residency in 2009 at Frankford Hospital (now Jefferson–Northeast) in Philadelphia and has been board certified in Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment since 2009.
From 2009 to 2017, she practiced family medicine in rural Arizona, where she also served as a Clinical Rotation Preceptor for Midwestern University–Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. In 2017, she joined Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine as an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine. In 2020, she became Family Medicine Program Director, supporting ACGME accreditation efforts, and also served as adjunct clinical faculty for PNWU and Washington State University.
In 2021, Dr. DiNizio pursued additional training in Osteopathic Neuromuscular Medicine at Northeast Regional Medical Center/AT Still University in Kirksville, Missouri. She returned to PNWU in 2022 as an Assistant Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice and has been board certified in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine since December 2023.
She is deeply committed to osteopathic philosophy, lifelong learning, and mentoring future physicians. Outside of medicine, she enjoys traveling with her best friend of 32 years and spending time with her husband and their three dogs.
Nancy Kragt, D.O.
Read More:
Specialties
- Emergency Medicine
- General Emergency Medicine
Richard Koss, D.O.
Read More:
Driven by his dedication to holistic care, Dr. Koss returned to Kirksville to specialize in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), which remains his central practice focus today. Throughout his career, Dr. Koss has held influential teaching and leadership positions. He served as an Assistant Professor at A.T. Still University and as Vice Chair of the OMM Department at the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center. His accolades include Educator of the Year in 1997 and recognition as one of “Seattle’s Best Doctors” in 2002. Since 1999, Dr. Koss has dedicated himself to his Maple Valley practice, focusing exclusively on osteopathic manipulative treatments and sharing his knowledge
Certifications and Expertise
- Board Certified in Family Practice and OMM
- Certified in Medical Acupuncture
- Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM)
John Mozena, D.P.M.
Diplomate, American Board of Podiatric Surgery Fellow, American Society of Podiatric Surgeons Fellow, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Fellow, American College of Ambulatory Foot Surgeons. John Mozena, D.P.M. has staff privileges at Legacy Hospitals, Providence Milwaukee Hospital, Providence Hospital, Willamette Falls Hospital, and Portland Adventist Hospital
Read More:
Medical Education
Surgical Residency:
- Hillside Hospital, San Diego, 1983-1984
- Residency Director, Medical Center Hospital, 1985-1991
- Director of Podiatric Surgery, Medical Center Hospital, 1989-1991
- Consultant for Nike shoe company, Tahnu division, 1987
- Team Doctor, Central Catholic High School Football, 1987-1990
- United States Patent: Planter Surface Baseball Cleat Design, 1982
Features on Television and in Print
- Who’s Who in the World, America, West, Executives and Professionals, Science and Engineering.
- Health & Living, August 1996; “Summer Heel Pain & Pediatrics” and various other segments
- AM Northwest, January 1994, April 1994, June 1995, November 2000
- “Good Evening Show”, Channel 2 News
- March 1994, ESPN, “Cold Pizza”, 2006
- Channel News 2, “Orthosorb” Pins, June 1993
- “Endoscopic Heel Surgery,”, September 1994
- Featured in Oregonian newspaper article, “Great toe implants.”
- Consulting Editor, Podiatry Today, national publication, 2000-current
- Consulting Editor Podiatry Management Magazine, national publication 1994-1997
- Adjunct Faculty, Heath Professional Section, Portland Community College
- 1999 Clinician of the Year, Eastmoreland Hospital
- 2000-2001 National Satellite Media Tour on Onychomycosis
- 2003 National Spokesperson, Dermik Lab “Best Foot Forward” Marathon Program
- 2005-2006 Legislative Chairman, Oregon Podiatric Medical Association, O.P.M.A.
- 2000-2014 Clinical Associate Professor of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery: Western University of Health Sciences 2010-Present.
Katina Rue, DO, FAAFP, FACOFP
Dr. Katina Rue is a rural and underserved osteopathic family physician, medical educator, and passionate physician advocate. She is the first Latina and the first osteopathic physician to serve as past president of the Washington State Medical Association and is a former Family Medicine Residency Program Director.
She is deeply committed to leadership development, mentorship, community engagement, and advancing care for underserved populations.
Read More:
Dr. Rue joyfully teaches medical students from all three medical schools in Washington State and serves as a mentor to many students and residents. In addition to serving on local, state, regional, and national boards and committees, she is widely recognized for her dedication to physician advocacy and healthcare leadership.
Candid about the challenges of imposter syndrome, Dr. Rue strives to inspire future healthcare leaders to let their voices be heard and confidently take a seat at the table.
Outside of medicine, she is a farm wrangler with her husband, Aureliano, at their Yakima-area farm and a proud dance mom to their daughter, Valeria.
Kevin Wilson, D.O.
Doug Woerner, D.O.
As a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Woerner’s approach to care is a holistic one. He partners with patients to care for their whole person – mind, body, and spirit, with an emphasis on healthy living through diet and exercise. Dr. Woerner grew up in the Laurel area and has been caring for patients of all ages at Laurel Family Medicine for nearly sixteen years. He is pleased to partner with the excellent team at Laurel Family Medicine, and also the vast network of specialists in the SCL system. Dr. Woerner loves outdoor sports, especially hunting and fishing.
Read More:
Medical Education
- Abrazo Central Campus
- Residency, Family Medicine, 2008
- Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Medical School, 2005
Board Certification
- Family Medicine
- American Board of Family Medicine, 2009
Staff
Jacqueline Forsythe, Executive Director
Join us in advancing healthcare, fostering community well-being, & empowering a future where quality, osteopathic care is accessible to all.
