When Dr. Kevin Reavis with Foregut Surgery recently toured Columbia Memorial Hospital’s (CMH) expansion in Astoria, he saw the next chapter in a longstanding partnership between the coastal hospital and The Oregon Clinic (TOC).
The connection dates back to the 1980’s, when Dr. Lee Swanstrom, a founding partner of Center for Advanced Surgery and laparoscopic pioneer, began traveling to CMH to provide specialty surgical care at a time when minimally invasive techniques were still emerging. Dr. Reavis joined the effort in 2014.
Over time, the role of the TOC surgeons has evolved from providing broad general surgery services to focusing largely on foregut and bariatric cases. The goal is to complement rather than compete with locally available surgery services.
Today, Dr. Reavis and Dr. Talha Rafeeqi, also with Foregut Surgery, rotate visits to CMH every other month. From Thursday through Sunday, they see patients, perform surgeries, endoscopies, and provide ER and trauma call coverage.
Holding regular clinics in Astoria allows more patients to receive consultations and specialty care closer to home, removing a significant logistical hurdle. When patients need more complex procedures or services, Drs. Reavis and Rafeeqi can provide care in Portland and connect patients with other Oregon Clinic specialists.
For both physicians, the gratitude of patients and collaboration with coastal providers make the effort worthwhile. They are proud to continue the longstanding partnership with CMH in its innovative new facilities.
