A physician with 12 years practicing obstetrics and gynecology is joining the Good Shepherd Health Care System staff.

The hospital announced Monday, Feb. 13, the addition of Dr. Benjamin Eastham to the Good Shepherd Women’s Center, 620 NW 11th St., Suite M-106, Hermiston. Eastham joins Drs. Allison Khavkin, Ken Snider and Alexis Tuck, providing comprehensive OB/GYN care to women in Eastern Oregon.

“My wife and I wanted to settle down in a rural setting close to family,” Eastham said. “When we came to visit Hermiston, we really liked the central location, the hospital campus and everyone we met.”

Eastham’s career in medicine came after a career as an electrician.

“My mentor during my journeyman apprenticeship told me I should go into medical school,” he said. “He knew I wanted to do more and would thrive in studying to become a doctor, He was right.”

After finishing his bachelor of science in aquatic and fishery sciences from the University of Washington, Eastham went on to earn his medical doctorate from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He then completed his residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas.

“I went into medical school wanting to be a surgeon, but in my last rotation I realized how much I enjoyed women’s health and especially the surgical part of it,” he said. “I’ve been thoroughly trained in da Vinci robotics for gynecological procedures, including training with urogynecologists doing procedures such as hysterectomy, prolapse repair, incontinence treatment, and intraabdominal advanced laser treatment for endometriosis.”

Eastham credited Good Shepherd’s “robust and successful robotics program” and state-of-the-art surgical facility as reasons he decided to launch a practice in Umatilla County.

“I’m excited to grow my practice here, helping women of all ages with their health needs. I tend to spend a lot of time with my patients to listen to what their concerns are and what their core complaint may be,” he said. “I’m very dedicated to women’s health and participating in and optimizing the health of each of my patients.”