A Decade of Partnership – Strengthening Local Healthcare in Rural Curry County
By Cameron Byers, VP of Service Line Implementation RPG
For more than a decade, Curry General Hospital and Rural Physicians Group (RPG) have worked side by side to support the healthcare needs of Gold Beach, Oregon—a close-knit community of roughly 2,500 residents that also serves a broader region stretching north into southern Coos County, south toward the California border, and inland across the rural landscape of Curry County.
What began in June 2013 as a full-time hospitalist program has grown into a partnership defined by shared purpose, mutual respect, and a steady commitment to strengthening local healthcare.
Building for the Future
When Ginny Williams became CEO on May 4, 2015, Curry General Hospital looked very different from the thriving facility that stands today. The original hospital building—a wooden structure that had long exceeded its lifespan—posed fire and safety concerns that limited what the organization could safely offer its community.
Under Ginny’s leadership, a new, modern Critical Access Hospital was completed and opened in 2017. The new facility represented more than bricks and mortar; it created a safer environment for patients and staff and sparked renewed optimism for what healthcare in Curry County could become. For the community, it was a tangible symbol of progress and possibility.
A Culture That Puts Care First
Ginny’s focus, however, has never been limited to facilities alone. From the outset, she worked to build a strong core of local physicians who were not only clinically skilled, but also collegial, collaborative, and deeply committed to a politically neutral culture.
Her vision emphasized something rarely spoken yet deeply felt in rural healthcare: physicians make a home where they can practice without fear of hidden agendas, personal turf wars, or institutional politics—where the singular priority is providing exceptional care to the community.
RPG’s exclusive focus on rural communities naturally aligns with this philosophy. Still, cultivating a healthy practice environment takes effort. Over the years, Curry General Hospital and RPG have navigated staffing needs, evolving community demands, and unexpected challenges together. Each obstacle strengthened the partnership, reinforcing trust and a shared vision for what sustainable rural healthcare can look like.
Expanding Access, Changing Lives
As the partnership deepened, its scope expanded. What began with hospital medicine grew to include the augmentation of general surgery into full-time coverage. Most recently, in October 2025, Curry General Hospital launched a full-time Orthopedic Surgery Program.
The impact of this expansion reaches far beyond the hospital walls. For many residents, access to orthopedic care close to home means improved mobility, greater independence, and a better quality of life. Ginny has shared that the orthopedic surgeons “have no idea how much they’re going to change lives here in Curry County,” a powerful reflection of just how meaningful these services will be for the community and why strengthening local healthcare is so important.
Creating a Place People Want to Stay
Throughout these developments, Ginny has remained committed to fostering a workplace where people feel valued, connected, and comfortable being themselves. Her goal is for Curry General Hospital to be a place where employees take pride in their work and feel supported every day.
She also hopes that physicians who choose to practice in Gold Beach truly “feel the red carpet”—not in an extravagant sense, but through genuine appreciation, respect, and support that makes rural practice both fulfilling and sustainable.
Looking Ahead
The growth of the partnership between Curry General Hospital and RPG has been steady and intentional. Today, there is a strong sense of momentum as both organizations look toward the future—new services, stronger teams, and a continued focus on meeting the real needs of the community. The optimism comes from a foundation that has already been tested and strengthened over time.
Ginny captures her perspective simply, in a way that reflects both humility and deep respect for those who choose this work:
“I love seeing medical professionals given the runway to do what they were trained to do.”
That outlook continues to guide the partnership—quietly, steadily, and with just enough momentum to make the future feel bright for Curry County.
To learn more about our Service Lines, explore partnership opportunities that built for strengthening local healthcare, or stay up to date on RPG news, visit www.RuralPhysiciansGroup.com and follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @RuralPhysiciansGroup. You will also find more articles like this in our FREE Quarterly Magazine, Fields of Care.