Our Educators

Meet Your Diabetes Educators

We want you to live the life you want, with your diabetes under control. We have teams of highly skilled diabetes educators throughout our service area to help you, either in a classroom setting or one-on-one.

Meet the team in your community below.

Albany

Jamie Brown, RN, RD, CDE

Jamie manages the Diabetes Education Department at Samaritan Albany General Hospital. She earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Portland graduation and a master’s degree in dietetics from Oregon State University. She has been a nurse for 33 years and a diabetes educator for 12 years.

In her free time, Jamie loves to bike ride, read, cook gourmet foods and garden.

Barbara George, RD, LD, CDE

Barbara earned a bachelor’s degree from Russell Sage College and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Sage Graduate School. She has been a dietitian for 24 years and has counseled diabetes patients in Albany for the past 10 years. Her specialties are integrative nutrition, weight management and gastrointestinal disorders.

In her free time, Barbara enjoys working on ceramics, gardening, quilting and going on walks with her dog.

Eileen Schramm, RN, CDE

Eileen has been a diabetes educator for more than 30 years. She also specializes in foot care.

In her free time, Eileen enjoys painting as well as other arts and crafts.

Jeana Van Dyke, RD, LD, CDE

Jeana earned a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University. She started her career with Samaritan in Lebanon before joining the team in Albany in 2000.

In her free time, Jeana enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, working out, reading and cooking.

To speak with one of our educators, call 541-812-4839.

Corvallis

Debbie Pauls, RN, BSN, CDE

Debbie leads the Diabetes Education team at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Oregon Health & Science University and has a broad experience treating patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as diabetes in pregnancy.

In her free time, Debbie enjoys hiking, gardening and traveling.

Theresa Anderson, RD, LD, CDE

Theresa earned a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University. In addition to counseling patients with diabetes, she has specialized training in eating disorders and sports nutrition.

In her free time, Theresa enjoys landscape and home design, entertaining, skiing and running.

Cathy Beyea, RNC, CDE

Cathy’s interest in diabetes stems from family experiences with diabetes, and she specializes in treatment of type I diabetes, gestational diabetes, insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring.

In her free time, Cathy enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and animals, as well as quilting.

To speak with one of our educators, call 541-768-6973.

Lebanon

Angie Frederic, RD, LD, CDE

Angie earned a bachelor’s degree at Oregon State University. In addition to counseling patients with diabetes, she has special training in weight loss counseling, insulin pumps and elimination diets.

In her free time, Angie enjoys hiking, gardening and reading.

Donna Keen, RN

Donna earned a nursing degree from Linn-Benton Community College and is pursuing her certification as a diabetes educator.

In her free time, Donna enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.

Holly Weare, RD, LD

Holly earned a bachelor’s degree from Harding University. She started her career at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital and transitioned to Diabetes Education, focusing on outpatient diabetes and nutrition in 2016.

In her free time, Holly enjoys spending time with her cat, cooking, reading and hiking with her husband.

To speak with one of our educators, call 541-451-6313.

Lincoln City

Mica Ward, RD, LD

Mica leads the Nutrition Services Department at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital. Part of this role involves counseling inpatients and outpatients about diabetes. Mica earned a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University and has been with Samaritan Diabetes Education since 2008. Mica was born and raised in Lincoln City and was happy to have the opportunity to join Samaritan Health Services and move home to be near family.

In her free time she enjoys playing with her two children, gardening, crafting, cooking and camping.

Tricia Harper, RN, BSN

Tricia joined the Diabetes Education team at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital in November 2016. She earned an associate’s degree in nursing from Lower Columbia College and obtained her bachelor of science in nursing from Western Governor’s University. Tricia worked as a nurse in Washington and Wyoming before coming to Lincoln City in August 2014. Along with her work as a diabetes educator, she also works in the hospital’s ambulatory infusion and wound care department.

In her free time, Tricia enjoys reading, spending time with her children and walking the beach.

To speak with one of our educators, call 541-557-6414.

Newport

Kandice Abramson, RD

Originally from western Colorado, Kandice recently completed her master’s degree in dietetics at Illinois State University and looks forward to putting her skills and education to use in helping improve the lives of her patients.“What I hope from my work is that I can help people improve their quality of life by embracing simple lifestyle changes,” Kandice said.

In her free time, Kandice can be found exploring the coast and its water, mountains and green spaces.

Heather Johnson, RN

Heather works with patients individually and in groups to help them manage diabetes. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Linfield College and her nursing degree from Cape Cod Community College.

When not on the job, Heather enjoys time with her husband and their two young children.

Michele Partridge, BSN, RN, CDE

Michele earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama. She spent most of her career in hospital nursing before becoming a diabetes educator in 2007.

In her free time, Michele enjoys spending time with her family and throwing a frisbee to her dog on the beach.