In recognition of Veteran’s Day, we salute all Providence Swedish North Puget Sound caregivers and physicians who served and continue to serve in the Armed Forces. Every day, we're grateful to our military veterans, past and present. Thank you for proudly serving our country to protect and defend our freedom. Your bravery and heroism deeply humble us.
To celebrate Veterans Day, we’d like to honor military veterans by sharing their stories. We owe a debt of gratitude that can never match the commitment and sacrifice veterans and their families have made – and continue to make long after service has ended. We will always remember what they’ve done and continue to do for our nation.
Meet a few North Puget Sound caregivers who are also veterans of the United States military
William Martin, U.S. Navy veteran, PRMCE x-ray technologist
William Martin served 27 years (1991-2018) in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman first class. He worked as an x-ray technologist and felt a great sense of pride serving his fellow Americans.
For 10 years, he’s been a radiology technologist on the night shift in the emergency department at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett (PRMCE). Away from work, Bill flies remote control airplanes, loves camping with his beautiful Labrador retrievers and riding bikes.
Thank you, Bill, for your service to our country and your dedication to your patients.
Mandy Asaei, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Providence Medical Group medical assistant
Mandy Asaei served in the United States Marine Corps from 2005-2013. In her job as a personnel administrator, she processed paperwork for people headed to new duty stations, people either retiring or leaving the armed forces – and for people who got in trouble.
She’s thankful for the friends she made along the way and the places she got to live. “I never deployed,” she said, “but I got to go to South Carolina, North Carolina and California.” She’s worked as a medical assistant at Providence Medical Group (PMG’s) neighborhood clinic in Clearview for seven years.
Away from PMG, Mandy loves hanging out with her two boys, watching new movies, playing board games, going to the park, hiking, hitting the beach in summer and playing in the snow in winter.
Thank you, Mandy, for serving your country and for working hard for PMG patients.
Deanne Mecham, U.S. Army veteran, PRMCE RN
Deanne Mecham was a member of the U.S. Army for 16 years. She was an army nurse and worked in a mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) and a combat support hospital (CASH). In addition, she taught the Combat Lifesaver course for non-medical personnel being deployed into combat, and worked at headquarters in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Her favorite thing about serving in the military was the comradery and the mission of caring for soldiers. Deanne has been an RN at PRMCE for 26 years. She currently works in surgical services at the Colby campus. In her spare time, Deanne likes to travel, spend time with her grandchildren and watch all kinds of sports.
Thanks, Deanne, for caring for your fellow soldiers, your service to our country and your dedication to surgical patients at PRMCE.
Paula Newman-Skomski, U.S. Air Force veteran, PICAA nurse practitioner 
Paula Newman-Skomski was a ground radio repairman in the U.S. Air Force for seven years (1975-1982). She did tours of duty at several air force bases (AFBs), including Keesler AFB in Mississippi, McChord AFB in Washington and Lakenheath AFB in the UK.
In her time, she was a pioneer for female servicemembers, and was the first female member of her unit at McChord AFB. Paula ended her time in the service as a Staff Sergeant (E-5). Reflecting on her service, Paula says: “I really enjoyed serving my country like my dad, grandpa and uncles did.”
Paula has continued her service for the past 18 years by caring for abuse victims as a nurse practitioner and forensic examiner with the Providence Intervention Center for Assault and Abuse. Away from work, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, drumming, art, live music and supporting women on their journey to recovery.
Kathy Currie, U.S. Navy veteran, PRMCE pharmacist 
Kathy Currie was an information systems technician in the U.S. Navy for four years (2010-2014). During that time, she served on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and achieved the rank of Petty Officer Second Class (PO2/E-5).
Now, Kathy is a pharmacist at PRMCE. When she’s not managing medications, Kathy enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and scrapbooking.
Valerie Feller, U.S. Navy veteran, PMG medical assistant
Valerie Feller spent six years (2006-2012) responding to accidents and emergencies as a damage controlman in the U.S. Navy. She served aboard numerous vessels, including the USS John F. Kennedy, the last conventionally powered (non-nuclear) supercarrier built for the navy and had three deployments aboard the USS Momsen.
Valerie received several commendations for her service, including the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), Navy Good Conduct Medal and the Sea Service Deployment (three awards). She left the service as a Second Class Petty Officer (DC2).
Valerie’s favorite part of being in the navy was traveling and seeing different parts of the world. She reflects that joining the navy was “the best decision I ever made. I was able to be a part of something I will treasure forever. Made many friends who are now family.”
Currently, Valerie is a medical assistant with PMG’s centralized staffing pool where she has spent the past five years floating between more than 30 clinics. Away from Providence, she enjoys spending time with her husband and fur babies. She also enjoys the sand dunes in Oregon, riding quads and camping with friends.
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This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional’s instructions.
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