Richard Emele, a dedicated certified medical assistant at Mason Clinic-Hoodsport, has been known to go out of his way for his patients on a daily basis, handling patient interactions with effective communication, a calm demeanor, gentleness and a sense of humor. Emele’s unwavering commitment to patient care, his deep connection to the community, and his positive attitude have earned him the recognition of his peers. Please join us in honoring Emele as the Mason Health September 2024 Employee of the Month.

A proud native of Shelton, Emele is a 1986 graduate of Shelton High School and a six-year veteran of the United States Navy. Following his service from 1986 to 1992, where he worked as an aviation storekeeper stationed in locations such as Diego Garcia Island and China Lake, California, Emele returned to the local workforce. He spent 24 years at the Simpson plywood mill on the waterfront, working in various roles until the mill’s closure in 2016.

“When the mill closed, I was looking for a career that offered stability and a sense of purpose,” Emele said. “I always enjoyed working with my hands, but after an injury and some retraining through the Labor & Industries program, I discovered that being a medical assistant was a great fit. I wish I had found this path sooner.”

In 2019, Richard enrolled in the medical assistant program at Olympic College, and upon passing his national exam in 2020, he began his new career at Mason Health. He initially worked as a medical assistant at the Family Health Clinic, with Jennifer Kummerfeldt, ARNP, and Carlos Rubio-Reyes, MD, before working as a floating medical assistant at Mason Clinic, gaining valuable experience in family health and pediatrics. He found his permanent home at Mason Clinic-Hoodsport.

One of Emele’s nominators, Catherine Shutty, ARNP, noted that Emele takes time in person and over the phone to explain to patients their treatment plan thoroughly, listen to concerns, and advocate for their needs effectively.

“He helps set the tone for every appointment and is a reliable, dependable teammate,” Shutty said. “I feel so lucky to have Richard by my side to help care for the needs of our patients. He went above and beyond recently for a patient by tracking down critical medical records and spending additional time on the phone with the specialist office to facilitate scheduling. I think this work greatly improved this patient’s outcome long-term.”

Emele’s work at the Hoodsport clinic, which serves many retirees and elderly residents, has been particularly rewarding.

“Hoodsport feels like a ‘ma and pa’ clinic,” he said. “The patients remember you, and you remember them. It’s a special connection, and being able to help someone, even in small ways like an ear lavage, is incredibly fulfilling. When a patient walks out and they can hear better, it’s moments like that which make this job so meaningful.”

Outside of work, Emele is an artist and craftsman who enjoys painting, carpentry and making Native drums from rawhide. He also enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and is dedicated to raising his granddaughter, Lily Rose, alongside his wife, Sherrie, in Shelton. The Emele family also includes two grown children, Ronni and Lindsay, and their beloved dog, Logan.

Mason Health, Public Hospital District No. 1 of Mason County is ISO 9001 Quality Management System certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and is a licensed and accredited acute care hospital with a level four emergency trauma designation. Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic are ENERGY STAR® certified and Mason Health is the recipient of three Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Partner for Change Awards, two Greening the Operating Room Awards and the Making Medicine Mercury Free Award. To learn more about Mason Health’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.masonhealth.com/about/sustainability-environmental-stewardship. There are more than 100 physicians on staff in 19 specialties. For more information or to find a health care provider, visit www.masongeneral.com. To learn more about DNV, visit www.dnv.com/healthcare.

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