Our Staff

 Albert Pacheco, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Pacheco was born and raised in El Paso, TX. He received his BA and MA in clinical psychology from Seattle University and he went on to receive his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Pennsylvania State University.  Dr. Pacheco has 15 plus years of operational and administrative oversight experience within a private non-profit community healthcare setting overseeing primary care, and behavioral health programs. He has experience working with urban, rural, farm worker and homeless populations.   Dr. Pacheco enjoys spending time with his family. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, working out and playing guitar.  

 Teresa is ACHC's Chief Financial Officer. She has worked for Asher since 2001. She is also the Administrator of Northeast Wheeler County Health District. Previously she was the City Recorder/Manager for 13 years. Teresa was also the Accounting Manager for Public Health from 2001-2019, and she's been the Accounting Manager for Asher Home Health Services from 2016-current.   Teresa held the position of Tech II at a Wild Life Area for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for five years. She is also a local rancher in Wheeler County. 

  We're excited to have PA-C Justin join our team in 2020.  He was born and raised just outside of the Eugene area and has lived in Oregon his whole life. "I am blessed to be married to my beautiful and supportive wife, Krystal, who is also a native Oregonian," says Justin.  "I attended PA school at Pacific University in Hillsboro Oregon.  I consider myself very lucky to have the opportunity to join the team at Asher Community Health."  

  Hanorah McDonald, or "Nora" as she prefers to be called, has joined the ACHC team.  She is dual-certified Acute Care and Family Nurse Practitioner (ANP/FNP).   She brings 10 years of nursing experience: Critical Care at the Mayo Clinic and Flight Nursing with Airlift Northwest.     Living in Mayville, she's happily married with two children and says she is, "staying busy caring for our growing angus herd, working outside, hunting, fishing, hiking, you name it!"Nora added, "I'm excited, humbled and privileged to share my experience to serve and care for my home community."  

     Joan Field is the clinic's Community Health Worker, and staffs the Community Paramedicine-Mobile Integrated Health program.  To learn more about these services, see the brochure on the CHW webpage. 

She provides support to Wheeler County Public Health on an as-needed basis. 

Joan also volunteers for Spray Ambulance and is an EMT-Intermediate, and volunteers for the Wheeler County District Attorney office as a state certified medicolegal death investigator.   

   Medical Assistant Joely says, "Hi, my name is Joely Jak Patnode.  I’m a Medical Assistant at Asher Community Health Center, and am currently in training to take x-rays. I have my Phlebotomy and Nursing Assistant certification. I grew up in Gilliam County on a ranch between Condon and Arlington. I love the rural area and couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else. I enjoy the atmosphere of the clinic and all the great people I work with. I look forward to working here and meeting new people!" 

  Shelanna Burton is a Medical Assistant and a certified Oregon Health Authority Assister for Asher Community Health Center. "Previously," she shares, "I was a Patient Access Coordinator with St Charles Hospital for 5 years. In that position I helped manage 6 departments within the hospital: Emergency Room, Radiology, Outpatient Rehab, Main Admitting, Financial Services, & OR scheduling. I became a certified Assister in 2016 to continue to help patients pay for services. I was also a part of the Safety team, Code Grey team."  In 2019, she left St Charles and started working at Central Oregon Pediatric Associates (COPA) as a Patient Advocate and started the Assister program there. She specialized in newborns and OHP primarily. Shelanna was a part of the Safety team and Quality Improvement team for COPA, and is also a certified Community Health Worker and helped COPA get that program started. She says, "During the Pandemic I was lucky enough to work remote from home for a year. During that time, I realized how much I missed interacting with patients and having that face-to-face time, so I started looking. I am honored to be given the opportunity here at Asher!" Shelanna lives in Twickenham with her boyfriend, 4-year-old son, and 5-month-old puppy.  "We go fishing, hiking, ride quads, go on any sort of adventure really. I am an Aunt of 22 wonderful littles!" She added, "I am also continuing school online, so one day I can accomplish my goal of becoming a flight nurse."   

  Brenda Bissonnett is our Front Desk Receptionist, and our staff’s Vitality coordinator.  The Front Desk is a pivotal position and called upon to perform a wide variety of tasks—many times simultaneously. Brenda began at our front desk in 2019.  As the Vitality coordinator, she is instrumental in boosting our staff’s morale, and is key in fostering a spirit of teamwork and cooperation.  Brenda has begun creating a staff newsletter to highlight important upcoming dates, and to acknowledge staff's achievements and the Clinic's accomplishments - another great way to keep us connected. Brenda says she enjoys being a part of the Asher team, and we enjoy her enthusiasm and creativity! She has a flair for holiday decorating for the Clinic, and does a wonderful job making sure that Asher is represented in local community-building events.  In her free time, she enjoys teaching Sunday school, singing and being an active part of the community. 

   We're happy to announce that Sara Starr has been added to our team!  She will be cross trained in Front Desk reception and 

also as a Medical Assistant. 

"I have lived in Gilliam County for 9 years now," says Sara. "I love our little communities in Gilliam County and Wheeler County, and try to be a part of them as much as possible.

"The things that I love to do in my free time are baking, cooking, hanging out with friends and family, riding 4- wheelers, having game nights, bonfires, and camping."  

Sara went to school to become a baker and says, "One day I hope to open my own bakery.  But not 'soon' - it will be awhile!" 

Sara is known as someone with a big heart and someone that can be counted on.   

We are excited to have Sara on the ACHC team!