Health library

GRH welcomes four new physicians.

Grande Ronde Hospital (GRH) is honored to welcome these new physicians to our community. Each is looking forward to meeting you and working with you for your good health.

All four willsee new patients at the Regional Medical Clinic (RMC) at 506 Fourth St. in La Grande.Call the RMC at 541-663-3138 for more information. Rodrigo Lim, MD, and Christopher Woodworth, MD, are available by physician referral only.

Rodrigo Lim, MD, neurology, is married to Meldy Lim, MD, a pediatrician at GRH’s Children’s Clinic. They have three children. Although Dr. Lim admits his nature often makes relaxing a challenge, he knows the move from the East Coast bustle to the slower pace of a rural community is good thing for him and his family.

Upon receiving his medical degree from St. Louis University College of Medicine in the Philippines in 1986, Dr. Lim moved to New Jersey. There he finished a three-year residency in internal medicine at Jersey City Medical Center, affiliated with Seton Hall University. Following that, Dr. Lim completed a residency program in neurology at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City and served as chief resident in his final year there. In 1995, Dr. Lim completed a prestigious neuromuscular fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center, the university hospital for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. Dr. Lim has spent the past 14 years in private practice at Hudson Neurosciences in New Jersey.

Heidi Abreu, MD, internal medicine, has a professional interest in endocrinology, particularly diabetes and metabolism. That makes volunteering her time as a diabetes educator a perfect fit. Her focus is empowering patients who have diabetes and their relatives by teaching them better self-management skills. Dr. Abreu’s hobbies include hiking, biking, reading, music, arts and crafts, interior decorating, and travel. In addition to English, she speaks both Spanish and French. She is married to Jose Gutierrez, MD.

Dr. Abreu received her medical degree from Pedro Henriquez Urena National University in the Dominican Republic. She recently completed her internal medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in New York City.

Jose Gutierrez, MD, internal medicine, and his wife, Heidi Abreu, MD, grew up in the Caribbean, where they enjoyed outdoor activities such as biking and hiking. They have purposely chosen the western United States, La Grande in particular, as a permanent place to settle partly because of the wonderful outdoor activities that abound here. They believe the quality of life offered in this small community makes it a great place to raise a family. Besides English, Dr. Gutierrez speaks both Spanish and French.

Dr. Gutierrez earned his medical degree, magna cum laude, from the Ibero-American University in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He completed his internal medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in New York City.

Christopher Woodworth, MD, general surgery, and his wife, Joli, have seven children. They are so excited about becoming part of the La Grande community next year that they are already in the process of purchasing a home. Since Dr. Woodworth is skilled in a wide variety of surgical procedures, he has found that working in a smaller community allows him to enjoy a richer diversity in his work. He and his family are currently living in Hobbs, N.M., a university town of approximately 28,000 people. Dr. Woodworth’s personal interests include hiking, running, biking, racquet sports, golf, fly fishing and music.

After earning a bachelor of arts degree in from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., Dr. Woodworth received his medical degree in 1990 from New York Medical College. He completed his general surgery residency in 1995 at Berkshire Medical Center in Massachusetts. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery. He has spent the past 13 years in private practice, including serving one year on a medical mission in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Dr. Woodworth will begin seeing new patients by referral only in 2010.

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Growing to serve you

Grande Ronde Hospital’s mission to the region is to provide access to superior-quality health care. That mission drives a successful physician recruitment program that garnered five new physicians for our community last year.

The four newest physicians, featured on this page, were hired after an extensive search for the best possible fit from the most highly qualified candidates. Please join us in welcoming these outstanding physicians to our community.

We are still actively seeking two more obstetrician/gynecologists for our Women’s Clinic, an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) and—something new to our community—a hospitalist, a physician who works strictly in the hospital providing additional care for our patients.