WALDPORT – Dr. Stephanie Bosch, 32, a key member of Samaritan Health Service’s clinic in Waldport, died Wednesday night in the emergency room at the hospital in Newport.
Bosch had practiced family medicine at the Waldport Clinic since August 2018. Samaritan closed the clinic Thursday and Friday so staff could recover and grieve, said Dr. Lesley Ogden, chief executive officer of Samaritan’s hospitals in Newport and Lincoln City.
“There are so many patients who are grieving along with us,” Ogden said. “She was a lovely person and a wonderful doctor.”
Ogden could not say what caused Bosch to be in the emergency room, but said her death was “sudden and unexpected.”
In her obituary published Thursday, Oct. 21, Bosch’s family said she died of a pulmonary embolism, which is a blood clot that travels to the lung where it suddenly stops blood flow.
Bosch graduated in 2015 from the University of North Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and did her residency at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. From there she joined Samaritan’s Waldport Clinic.
“She was one of the first residents who chose to come work with us on the Oregon coast,” Ogden said.
While departures, retirements and resignations are part of Samaritan’s 800-employee orgaization in Lincoln County, the death of a young doctor is not, Ogden said.
“It’s the most horrible news you can possibly expect,” she said. “This was not on our radar. We are all just stunned.”
Samaritan has brought in its chaplain for the Waldport staff and offered its employee assistance and “Care for the Caregiver” programs.
“This is just ripping their (Waldport Clinic) family apart,” Ogden said.
The clinic has struggled with staffing and turnover this year, with the departure of one doctor and a nurse practitioner. Samaritan has hired a doctor and nurse practitioner to fill those spots and will bring down a temporary physician when the clinic reopens Monday to pick up Bosch’s appointments.
“We do have help immediately available,” Ogden said. “But there are so many patients who are shocked and grieving.”
I am so sorry to hear of the death of my special, wonderful doctor Stephanie Bosch. She was such a kind, competent and caring physician. I always looked forward to seeing her during checkups. She had a great sense style and a kind manner that facilitated conversation of my health, life and the world which she felt were all interconnected. My sorrow also goes to the friendly Waldport office staff who have lost such a friendly, interesting coworker.
I’m so sorry to hear of Dr. Bosch’s passing. Though I had been her patient for less than a year I felt cared for and knew I could trust her to truly listen. She supported me through a difficult time in my own life and I’ll miss her tremendously. Love to the rest of the clinic staff who are feeling this loss daily.
I’m sorry sorry to hear about Dr. Bosch, she was a very kind person and I will truly miss her as my doctor. My heart goes out to the staff at Waldport Clinic
Mike and I are shocked and so saddened by Dr. Bosch’s death. She was a breath of fresh air and she will be greatly missed. We were looking to have her as a doctor for so many more years. Our sympathies to her family, friends, and to all the clinic staff and doctors.
Dr Bosch was my doctor for two years. My heart goes out to the staff at Samaritan, her family and her dogs. I will miss her greatly was very difficult for me to find a doctor that I liked. Very sad
I was so sad today to Hear of Dr. Bosch’s passing. She was so Beautiful inside and out. I only saw her twice yet I felt like she really knew me. Very special lady. RIP.
Dr. Bosch was the first doctor in years that took the time to hear me. She was truly a special person that took the time to make me feel seen and understood. I am heartbroken that she is gone. My heart goes out to her family and friends, our loss is great but theirs is immeasurable.
I saw Dr. Stephanie on September 28 , I always enjoyed hearing about her cross stitch and needle point creations . She mentioned that she ran out of a green color for her latest project . I then picked up a variety of greens at Enough in Waldport . I dropped them off ( the next day ) with a receptionist ( in a little brown paper bag ) . The receptionist started putting on latex gloves when I asked her to give this to Dr. Bosch . I’m sure she thought it was some kind of “ sample “ …..No , just some cross stitch thread . We had a laugh ! I’m so glad I did that !
I’m just in a surreal funk right now . 💕, Mary