ABOUT US
Pediatric Associates of Whidbey Island has been providing medical and preventive care for children, teens, and families since 1979.
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Amy Garrett, MD
Heroes: My children, my husband, my parents, my grandparents, my patients. Parents everywhere. My teachers. My friends. Louis Zamperini. Victoria Sweet. Stephen and Elizabeth Wampler. Tony Gwynn. Anne Frank. Lawrence Waddy. Ysaye Barnwell.
Favorite Places: Anywhere I can watch the Green Flash, Ebey's Bluff, Scripps Beach, Kamakura, Balboa Park, National Cathedral, Domino's Sugar sign in Baltimore.
Favorite Characters: Yoda, Baymax from Big Hero Six, Totoro, Maria in "The Sound of Music," Alice in Wonderland, Anna and Elsa; Dorothy and the Scarecrow from "The Wizard of Oz," The Little Rascals, The Little Prince.
Languages Spoken: English, music, musical theatre, Navy, Navy Medicine, Naval Aviation, some French, some Japanese, learning Spanish.
Special Interests: The balance between "slow medicine" and "fast medicine," community pediatrics, school-based health, autism, asthma, nature, gastroenterology, the physician as gardener, "Viriditas."
Recommended Websites: lowninstitute.org (healthcare), healthychildren.org (pediatrics), simplicityparenting.com, 123magic.com (parenting).
Recommended Books: Recovering My Kid: Parenting Young Adults in Treatment and Beyond by Joseph Lee, MD, and Sleeping through the Night by Jodi Mindell, PhD.
Recommended Video: "The Poo in You" (youtube).
Callsign: Doc, Sister of Mercy
When I Grow Up: I am going to be the lead singer in a band called "Dust-off," named in honor of the search and rescue crews and medevac crews who tirelessly provide unconditional assistance to those in need.
Education:
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Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1997
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Internship & Residency: Naval Medical Center San Diego
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Board Certified by the American Board of Pediatrics
Michele Gasper, MD
I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to finish up my 22 year career in the Navy at Naval Hospital Oak Harbor and now to join Pediatric Associates of Whidbey Island. I am excited to work with the awesome staff here at PAWI and getting to wear real clothes (although I will miss my comfy boots and multiple uniform pockets)! My favorite part of being a pediatrician are the relationships that develop between myself and the kids and their families and I look forward to those being longer and stronger without so many military moves. Outside of work I enjoy cooking; reading and you may see me out running with my dog. With my husband and two kids, I enjoy traveling (a nice perk of the Navy), watching movies, skiing and playing games. Our current favorites are 7 Wonders and Exploding Kittens—check them out!
Education:
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Medical School: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, 1993
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Internship & Residency: Portsmouth Naval Medical Center
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Board Certified by the American Board of Pediatrics
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Hannah Carlson, MSN, ARNP, NP-C
I was thrilled to join PAWI in 2019. As a Whidbey Island resident and healthcare provider, I had already developed a love for rural health and the families on this beautiful island. Prior to joining PAWI, I was honored to serve South Whidbey for six years as a Family Practice primary care provider in Clinton. During that time, I got to know Dr. Wagner and Nurse Teri through collaborating on mutual patients, ultimately trusting them with the care of my own children. It was a dream come true when the opportunity arose to join them and the rest of the PAWI team! Working with children has always been the bright spot of my day. Teaming up with families to promote healthy lifestyles, disease prevention, and empower my patients with health knowledge is my passion. I am honored to work with you and your children.
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A lifelong resident of the Puget Sound region, my husband and I have been delighted to call South Whidbey home since 2012. We are parents to two fantastic daughters, an exuberant golden retriever, and have a small flock of somewhat-annoying chickens. When we can, traveling and learning about other cultures, history, and our planet with our daughters is our hobby of choice (kids fly free under 2!). Together we also love to hike, garden, snorkel, camp, and enjoy family walks on Whidbey. My main hobby though with young children is of course endless laundry and chopping food into tiny bite-sized pieces.
Education:
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Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, Seattle University, 2012
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Bachelor of Psychology, University of Washington, 2006
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Board Certified by American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
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Honors: DAISY Award for Nursing Excellence 2017
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Heather Good (McCoy), MPAS, PA-C
I'm thrilled to join PAWI and work in Pediatrics after working with "older kids" (aka, adults) for the past 7 years in Coupeville. I grew up in Central Florida and came to Whidbey by way of Upstate NY and Philadelphia (college and medical training). Despite growing up in the land of white sandy beaches and sun, I love the outdoors, giant trees, gray skies, and sprinkling rains of the Pacific Northwest and try to get outside whenever I can. I also love to read, dig in the dirt/garden, participate in musical theater at the Whidbey Playhouse, and help out where I can with the OHHS choir community. I believe wholeheartedly in creating therapeutic medical relationships founded on mutual respect and communication.
Education:
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Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Masters of Physician Assistant Studies
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Certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
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Sarah B. Poyen, MD
When my daughter enrolled at WWU, my husband and I fell in love with this corner of the world. We bought our home on Guemes Island in 2016 but didn’t make the move permanent full-time until a few years later. I’ve practiced pediatrics for over 20 years in the rural areas of eastern Washington and coastal northern California. As a pediatrician, it’s been a great honor and privilege to be entrusted with the care of children. Put simply, I love kids - newborns, infants, toddlers, all the way through the teenage years. Each stage is so fun. My family of humans, horses, dogs and cats are all happy to be here. Outside of work I mostly muck stalls, feed horses, walk dogs and change cat litter. I really cherish clear blue skies, night stars and the beautiful waters of the surrounding Salish Sea.
Education:
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Medical School: George Washington University School of Health Sciences, DC
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Internship & Residency: Children’s Hospital Oakland, CA
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Board Certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics
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Danielle Gladstone, MD
I am thrilled to be back home in Washington State, fulfilling my lifelong dream of caring for children on an island community outside of Seattle. I am returning to the Pacific Northwest after about 15 years away in order to attend Middlebury College in Vermont, medical school at Stony Brook University School of Medicine in New York, and complete my Pediatrics Residency at Children’s National Hospital in Washington DC. I provide general pediatric care for all children and adolescents, both when they are healthy and sick. I am also very excited to care for the Spanish speaking community on Whidbey Island. I bring with me to Whidbey my fiancé John, a love for developing relationships with the children and families I care for, as well as a deep appreciation for Frozen, Goodnight Moon, and every single song from Moana. We look forward to getting to know the community!
My favorite Winnie the Pooh quote is:
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“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”
“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh.
“What do you say, Piglet?”
“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully. It’s the same thing,” he said.
- A. A. Milne
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Please note that Dr. Gladstone speaks Spanish.
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Melissa Gowans, MD
I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah as one of 11 children. I love just about everything outdoors! Cross-country skiing, hiking, bicycle riding, kayaking, and especially being outside with my big dogs! I love to read and complete jigsaw puzzles when I can't go outside.
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I received my medical degree from St. George's University School of Medicine and have 20 years of experience in pediatrics (critical care and primary care).
I will be accepting South Whidbey Island clinic patients only.
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Elizabeth Cortez, MSW, LICSW
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After leaving the sweltering heat of the greater Houston area in 2010 for Whidbey Island, I’ve truly enjoyed living in the beautiful PNW and have never felt more at home in a community than I have in Oak Harbor. Following the birth of my son and adjusting to motherhood, I returned to school to pursue my passion for helping others. I’ve been providing therapeutic services to the Whidbey Island community since 2018. I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to support the well-being and development of our youth as part of the PAWI team!
Outside of my professional role, I enjoy spending time with my son, making up new recipes, traveling/exploring, spending time outdoors and trying new things (currently it’s paddle boarding), creating music (singing, guitar, ukulele, & piano), and all things gaming.
Education:
Simmons University- Master of Clinical Social Work, 2020
Western Washington University- Bachelor of Science in Psychology, 2015
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