Our Staff at BrightStar Care® West Portland

Local owner Lori Calder-Miller grew up in a family of healthcare providers and has been an RN since 1990. After taking some time off to raise her own children, Lori wanted to do more for the community when she returned to work. Helping her patients, friends and even family members endure various medical conditions taught her the importance of quality home care. She understands firsthand how helpful it is to be at home, surrounded by all the things you love, whenever possible. Lori made it her goal to help as many patients as she could, through all stages of life, to remain in the comfort of their own homes while receiving the most qualified, compassionate care available. Just like her own career in nursing, BrightStar provided a natural fit and she has been the owner of West Portland BrightStar since 2008.

Alex is orginally from Boston, MA and moved to the pacific north west in 2018 and now calls it home for he, his wife and three children.

He has been a in healthcare management in various capacities for the last 15 years, more specifically in the medical equipment field.

Alex began his time with BrightStar Care West Portland as the Branch Manager in 2021 but was recently promoted to the Director of Operations position in 2023 where he has helped establish growth and consitency to the orgainization. In his role he handles the day-to-day aspects of the business.  

I've been in the nursing field for over 20 years, bringing lots of experience and a real commitment to providing great patient care. I began my nursing journey in 1996 as a CNA and earned my RN license in 2000 from Chemeketa Community College. Committed to continual growth, I obtained my BSN in 2017 and my MSN in 2024 from Western Governors University.

Most of my career has been spent at OHSU Hillsboro Medical Center, where I gained valuable experience in both acute care and home health settings. I was wound care certified (2013–2023) and have held leadership positions, including Quality Improvement Coordinator and Clinical Manager of Home Health.

My passion lies in delivering high-quality care to clients and fostering a supportive environment for staff. I believe that quality care begins with well-trained, empowered team members, and I prioritize open, honest communication in all my interactions. I am committed to enhancing patient outcomes and promoting a collaborative, efficient work environment.

Mary has been with BrightStar Care since 2014. Mary has served the organization under many different roles but has really shone as the CCM. Mary is incredibly knowledgeable about the industry and provides excellent communication to both client and employees. Mary continues to be responsible for staffing with a focus on our skilled clients and national accounts. 

Mary is tremendous asset to Brightstar Care and we glad she is on our team. 

Kamie has been with Brightstar Care West Portland since 2022. She has a vibrant personality which helps make her an effective recruiter. She cares deeply about her role and takes great pride in hiring individuals that fit the Brightstar Care brand & culture. Kamie is dedicated to finding talented employees and staying connected with them throughout their time with the organization. She has been asked to speak at several recruitment forums on how to help other recruiters become successful within the Brightstar Care Franchise. 

We value Kamie and all that she brings to our organization.

Grace has been with Brightstar Care for over 6 years. She started as a Staffing Coordinator and was promoted to our Payroll & Billing Specialist. Grace has a wealth of information about our industry and provides valuable input to the team. You can often find Grace answering phone calls when others are busy and helping staff clients in her down time.

 

Dawn graduated, with honors, from Linfield College - School of Nursing in 1995. Dawn's first job as a nurse was on a step-down critical care and telemetry unit. There she worked with cardiac patients and transplant patients as well as patients on ventilators and dialysis. She also enjoyed a few years as a bedside nurse in the post-anesthesia unit at a women's hospital, where she helped women and babies recover from anesthesia after cesarean section. 

In 2004, Dawn was offered a position in home health working as a transplant lead, caring for all kinds of patients in their homes, as well as teaching other nurses to care for the special needs of transplant patients. In 2006, Dawn was given an opportunity to move back to her hometown of Portland, OR, to raise her children and work as a kidney & pancreas coordinator at a local hospital. 

Dawn feels passionate about doing all she can to keep people in their homes for as long as possible. She knows this is where people typically prefer to live, and with caregiver assistance and nursing oversight, she believes most people can spend many happy and safe years in their own homes as they age. Dawn comes from a close-knit family and helped to take care of her grandparents as they aged, and is currently helping care for her own parents as they advance in years.

Dawn is a fierce patient advocate and highly empathetic. Dawn is inclusive & accepting of an individual's autonomy in care planning. We are grateful to have Dawn as a part of our team at BrightStar Care West Portland.
 

I have 33 years of nursing experience in various arenas. I began nursing in medical, surgical, and cardiac ICUs for 8 years. I then transitioned to ER, where I worked for 8 years. Most recently, I was a Case Manager for a private Infectious Disease practice for almost 17 years.

I am most passionate about improving the quality of daily life of my fellow humans, and preserving their dignity is one of the reasons I became a nurse. It remains one of my passions.