Our U.S. Board

Mike served as administrative executive at Adventist Medical Center in Portland, Oregon, for 38 years. He is now “retired” and lives in Vancouver, Washington, with his wife Donna. When he’s not visiting his two kids and six grandkids, he loves to spend time hiking the mountains and serving on the board of several nonprofits. Mike and Donna helped build a school in Kenya and Mike has personally visited some of the zero-income villages in western Uganda where Ourganda works.

What do you call a person who travels to the same part of Uganda year after year? Committed? Obsessed? Focused? Ron and his daughter visited western Uganda in 2006 and helped set up a new NGO for orphans. His love for the kids and families coupled with obvious, heartbreaking medical needs, led him to found Ourganda in partnership with the other board members. Ron’s love is his family (wife Fran, two daughters, two sons-in-law, four grandkids), his hobby is hiking (preferably in the snow), and his passion is helping people find hope.

Ally Whittemore holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Hope International University in Fullerton, California. With over 15 years in ministry and non-profits, she has worked globally, most recently writing children’s Bible curriculum. Her first visit to East Africa in 2011 deeply shaped her view of missions, fueling her passion for empowering the local church with sustainable solutions. Ally is closely involved with Ourganda’s Children’s Committee to promote the well-being of every child. She lives in northern Colorado with her husband, Ian, and their children, Zoe and William.

Andy leads the Materials Management team at Adventist Medical Center, Portland. He is a master of strategy and detail who thrives on finding better ways of accomplishing a task. His hobbies include reading, researching anything he or someone else might be interested in buying, exploring back roads, hanging with his three nephews, and attending music concerts. Andy has traveled to Bundibugyo to experience this forgotten area of the world for himself and to meet our medical teams and the people in Ourganda’s villages. He believes it should be easy to change people’s lives, and he loves showing the way.

Steve has been a businessman for 40 years in Southern California and Vancouver, Washington. His primary passion, however, is helping those who need a hand, especially vulnerable women and kids. Steve has traveled to Mexico on numerous mission trips to Hermosillo, Baja, and Coahuila City. When he learned about a new non-profit that saves and extends lives in western Uganda, he jumped in with both feet. “It doesn’t take much to save lives in the forgotten parts of the world,” Steve says. “So why wouldn’t I do this?”

Joynene is a chaplain at Providence, where she provides emotional and spiritual support to patients, families, and staff. She has traveled extensively and has a passion for humanitarian and development work. She is always up for anything active and adventurous. She enjoys hiking, mountaineering, and scuba diving. She brings a fresh perspective and new energy to the team.

Ed is an analytical, passionate cheerleader of the men, women and children of western Uganda. In 2016, he joined a mission trip to Bundibugyo with his wife, Joy Staley, and others who were supporting a local orphanage. When Ourganda felt compelled to start a medical ministry in 2018 to save and extend lives, he and his wife were first in line to be part of the action. Along with his personal passion, Ed brings thoughtful experience and deep wisdom to the board.

Carl Buchanan is a lifelong entrepreneur who has served on school, church and non-profit boards. He currently runs a plant nursery. Carl and his wife Rose, RN, have served on the Ourganda domestic violence elimination committee and they, along with their daughter Amy, RN, visited Bundibugyo, Uganda, in 2023.Carl believes a board must do everything possible to advance the mission while maintaining reserves for future growth and unexpected contingencies.

Dr. Mike Garnett practiced Family Medicine in Goldendale, Washington for 37 years and retired in 2018. He is a Clinical Associate Professor, University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine. He and his wife Pam have four children and enjoy hiking together. Dr. Mike’s medical expertise and extensive mission experience make him a valuable advisor to our team in Uganda as well as our U.S.board.