Since 1992, Northwest Pediatric Center (NWPC) has been providing expert care to children in our community. Conveniently located in Centralia, Chehalis and Rochester, the center has grown steadily over the years, necessitating the search for more providers to accommodate this growth. Recruiting can be challenging in rural areas but as practice administrator Lisa McKay stated, “We were fortunate to have a group of providers looking in our area.” NWPC has hired five new providers which will allow the practice to see more patients as well as lessening wait time for needed appointments and offering more services.
Here’s a brief introduction to their practitioners.
Meet Maggi Hume, ARNP
Maggie Hume is a new pediatric nurse practitioner at NWPC. Originally from Tennessee, she received her undergraduate degree from University of Tennessee and then received her Masters of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University in Knoxville. She enjoys walking with teenagers through the tough adolescent transition to support them as holistically healthy individuals. She is working on her Spanish so feel free to challenge her Spanish skills when you visit.
Hume loves finding new coffee spots. Her local favorites are Fiddler’s and Olympia Coffee Roasting Company.
Favorite part of the job: I love seeing children’s personalities develop as they grow, as well as observing older siblings taking on a nurturing role.
Tip for parents bringing kids to the doctor’s office: Bring activities, toys or books to keep the kids occupied while you are waiting.
Meet Katherine Kehoe, ARNP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Katherine (Katie) Kehoe is a Midwest transplant. She received her undergraduate and graduate education at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin before coming to the Pacific Northwest in 2012. Kehoe’s lighthearted demeanor makes her a hit with the kids and their parents. She is committed to a partnership with her patients and families to ensure that the foundations of a healthy childhood are strong. Katie is fluent in Spanish and enjoys direct communication with Spanish speaking families.
Katie, along with her husband and daughter, loves to be outside. She plays on a recreational soccer team and enjoys cooking. “I love to use my blender to make soup,” she says. “I add all of the ingredients and then blend for just over six minutes and then the soup is ready and hot.”
Favorite part of the job: I love to witness how a child sees the world – their innocence, humor and constant curiosity.
Tip for parents bringing kids to the doctor’s office: Talk to your kids ahead of time to let them know what the visit might entail. Managing expectations goes a long way.
Meet Tara Murphy, PsyD
Dr. Tara Murphy is the new behavioral health consultant for NWPC. She received her bachelors at Mount Saint Mary’s College, her masters at University of Southern California and her Doctorate of Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology. Before moving here, she worked in community mental health in Los Angeles, California for 14 years, where she enjoyed working with diverse populations of at-risk children, adolescents and their families. Her passion is helping to empower parents and children in the management of emotional and behavioral challenges of all varieties.
Murphy has a blended family of six children ranging from six to 14-years-old that keep her busy. She also owns an off-the-track thoroughbred (OTTB) named Silver Sunset whom she enjoys riding through the trails that extend through roughly 180 acres near Hunter Family Farm in Yelm.
Favorite part of the job: Connecting with kids and families. I love empowering parents and improving their ability to see and understand their children.
Tip for parents bringing kids to the doctor’s office: Focus on relaxing yourself and your own body and your kids will feel more relaxed, calm and safe.
Meet Chris Nelson, MD, FAAP
While Dr. Chris Nelson is a new pediatrician at Northwest Pediatric Center, he is definitely not new to practicing in the area. He has been practicing in Lewis County since 1984. He attended Walla Walla University, and then went on to Loma Linda for his other degrees and his medical school and residency. He realized he wanted to work in pediatrics while in medical school when all his favorite rotations had a common theme – kids!
He and his wife keep busy gardening and playing with their four dogs, German Shepherds Molly and Tye and Chihuahuas Tanner and Penny. Nelson also enjoys hunting and an occasional trip to a golf course.
Favorite part of the job: I love working with children and babies.
Meet George Tsao Wu, MD, FAAP
Dr. Tsao-Wu, pediatrician, is known as Dr. George at NWPC. He studied at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and did his residency at Denver’s Children’s Hospital. He met his wife in residency and they have two daughters. They worked in Vietnam for four years with OMF International. “We were working in the Capitol City and the surrounding provinces on some educational projects and in orphanages, sharing the love of Christ with people who hadn’t had a chance to hear about it,” Tsao-Wu says. They returned to Alaska from Vietnam and Dr. Tsao-Wu worked with Southcentral Foundation from 2010 to 2017 before joining NWPC. He brings many years of dedication to kids and building healthy communities.
Tsao-Wu and his family enjoy running, hiking, skiing and biking.
Favorite part of the job: Walking through a complex medical situation with a child and their family until they are back on their feet.
Tip for parents bringing kids to the doctor’s office: Realize that the staff and doctors care very much for your child and want their very best.
For more information, visit the Northwest Pediatric Center website or call 877-712-6800 to schedule an appointment.
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