Lakeside Living is in His DNA

Meet your healthcare provider: Dr. Jedediah Kaufman

by Loni Rahm

Jedediah (Jed) Kaufman is no stranger to lakeside living. After all, he grew up in Two Harbors, Minnesota — a small town of about 4,000 on the shores of Lake Superior.

Many of his memories from childhood include fishing, boating and playing in the brisk waters of the lake — activities he was happy to bring with him decades later to the shores of Lake Chelan. But the childhood memories that ultimately defined his future career path are far different.

As early as 4 or 5, Jed was tagging along with his father, Stuart, the small town’s family doctor on hospital rounds and patient visits. This was a time in our history when Vietnam vets were returning home suffering from what we now identify as PTSD. Jed remembers riding with his dad as they drove to isolated campsites, modest homes and remote cabins deep into the woods.

“We would pull up to a parking area where we were immediately met by several large barking dogs,” he said. “My dad would calmly get out and before long we were seated in someone’s off-the-grid house, sharing venison “stew” while my dad walked them through medical discussions and administered what medications he deemed necessary.”

Although PTSD didn’t have a commonly known name back then, it had a face. Actually many, many faces. The faces of the fragile, wary patients that Jed’s dad treated out in the woods because they were hesitant to come into town for medical care.

“It resonated with me even as a child,” said Kaufman. “Doctors need to meet patients where they are…without any preconceived notions, even if it’s uncomfortable.”

Meeting patients where they are — literally, as in the physical sense, but also figuratively, as in the emotional sense. This philosophy quietly but firmly planted itself deep into young Jed’s mind.

From an early age, Jed anticipated he might follow his dad’s path into a medical career. But a couple of volunteer opportunities he experienced while in college solidified the decision. One was a volunteer position at a home for the handicapped; the other as a volunteer in a hospice house.

In both cases, he heard his dad’s philosophy emerging a bit more loudly in his mind. “No preconceived notions. Meet them where they are.”

Red tape and layers of bureaucracy

After graduating from Medical School at the University of Minnesota, Kaufman migrated west for residency and advanced fellowship training at the University of Washington. Training at the Veterans Association and Harborview really left its mark on how Dr. Kaufman wanted to treat people and who he wanted to care for.

After completing his fellowship in advanced laparoscopic and esophageal surgery, Dr. Kaufman spent his early years of practice at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. Swedish is a huge medical complex, with layers of bureaucracy, and as Dr. Kaufman put it “lots of red tape”.

As a major medical center in a large city, Swedish maintains a full to overflowing surgical schedule. As a result, often times Dr. Kaufman’s first introduction to a patient was as they were wheeled into the O.R.

Ultimately, it didn’t seem like the right fit.

Next, he spent several years in a private clinic in Olympia. Smaller with seemingly fewer barriers to cross and greater access to administrative decision-makers.

But the bottom line was far more precarious in the smaller setting. There was an intense element of financial pressure, and certainly an expectation that medical staff should focus on generating revenue.

Dr. Kaufman didn’t always feel he was able to spend enough time to really get to know his patients. “To meet them where they are.”

Enter Lake Chelan Health

“Lake Chelan Health provides the environment I have been searching for my entire career,” stated Dr. Kaufman.

“Aaron (CEO Aaron Edwards) is extremely accessible,” Kaufman continued. “If you need to talk to him, you can just tap him on the shoulder walking down the hall, and when he asks ‘what can I do for you?’ — it isn’t a rhetorical question.” The entire executive team including Shawn Ottley, Chief Operating Officer and Dr. Stu Freed, Chief Medical Officer, are creating a culture of inclusivity and genuine care for the community.

Dr. Kaufman also appreciates the opportunity within the Lake Chelan Health system to wear multiple hats and serve as a problem solver with his patients.

Of course, as a surgeon, there are still times where the initial encounter with patients is the result of an emergency or trauma situation that requires immediate surgery.

But he is quick to point out that consulting a surgeon does not always result in a trip to the operating room. In fact, Dr. Kaufman prefers to see patients in a pre-emptive manner, exploring treatment options to emergent or chronic situations that may very well result in avoiding surgery entirely.

“Listen to your body,” says Dr. Kaufman. “If something just doesn’t feel right, have it checked out.”

As Dr. Kaufman talked about exploring his new home, getting to know his patients and becoming a healthcare and community advocate, he gave a small sigh of relief.

“I finally feel like I am meeting people where they are,” he said.

Apparently, they’ve been in the Lake Chelan Valley all along. It just took Dr. Kaufman a while to find them.

On the Personal Side:

The Pacific Northwest has been his home since 1999.

Outside of work, Dr. Kaufman enjoys fly-fishing, trail running, snow sports, sloshing through water with his dog, and spending time with his family while raising three teenagers (15, 17 and 19).

Generosity throughout the Lake Chelan Valley

One of the things that immediately struck Dr. Kaufman about people in the Lake Chelan Valley, is how generous and supportive they are. In the few months he has lived in Chelan, he has already noticed how the community comes through on fund raisers, capital campaigns and giving whenever and where ever the need is.

Healthcare is an extremely expensive industry. Equipment and technology come with a hefty price tag. The needs are numerous and ongoing.

“This is a very generous community”

— Dr. Jed Kaufman

Your help is greatly needed…and appreciated

You can help support continued development and growth of Lake Chelan Health through individual and corporate giving.

The Lake Chelan Health and Wellness Foundation exists to enhance healthcare in the Lake Chelan Valley by funding medical equipment, supporting healthcare education, and advancing wellness programs that improve community well-being. They actively manage donor contributions, bequests, memorials, donor-advised funds, endowments and an annual giving campaign.

The Foundation is incorporated and recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. Contributions are tax deductible under IRS regulations. For additional information, contact Lake Chelan Health & Wellness Foundation at (509) 682-6125.

Online donations to the Foundation can be made at www.lchealthwellness.com/ways-to-donate/ or sent to PO Box 1911, Chelan, WA 98816.

Professional Bio – Dr. Jedediah Kaufman, MD, General Surgeon, Specialty Care Surgery, LCH Hospital Specialty Care

Dr. Jedediah Kaufman is a board-certified general and acute care surgeon with advanced fellowship training from the University of Washington. His clinical expertise includes esophageal and anti-reflux surgery, bariatric surgery, colon surgery, and solid organ procedures, allowing him to provide comprehensive surgical care for a wide range of conditions.

Dr. Kaufman grew up in Two Harbors, Minnesota, a small town on the North Shore of Lake Superior, before moving to Minneapolis where he earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School.

He completed both his residency and fellowship training at the University of Washington, and has practiced in Seattle and Olympia prior to joining the Chelan Valley community.

Board certified by the American Board of Surgery and a long-standing member of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Kaufman is committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based surgical care. He firmly believes in involving patients in shared decision-making and values open communication throughout every stage of treatment.