“I’ve had six different positions since I began working here in 1979,” says Bell, who earned her nursing degree at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. “I spent 20 years in clinical roles before moving into professional development and then education.”

Bell calls Samaritan a “dynamic and exciting organization” and says that even after 30 years, she never tires of her daily routines and responsibilities. The fact that she’s been able to transition to new areas of the organization has kept her career “fresh,” she says.

And the change just keeps coming for Bell. Just last year, she was named the first-ever Vice President of Academic Affairs. With the growth of medical education within Samaritan Health Services, she’s taken a significant role in the organization’s transition into academia.

“Our academic growth has really moved up on par with our clinical programs,” says Bell. “Our patient care is being enhanced by the educational programs.”

And while Bell has long been involved with students, she says the development of a residency program was a natural fit for Samaritan.

“We have the scope and volume to be an excellent place to train physicians,” says Bell. “I really enjoyed the application process to be able to host resident physicians. We told our story and they (the American Osteopathic Association) were really impressed.”

Going forward, Bell says she’ll keep her primary goals always in mind: To make sure students and staff have opportunities to develop clinical excellence to ensure that patients receive the best possible care. It’s a goal she’s been proud to work for on a daily basis for the past 30 years.