Housecall Providers' newly appointed Hospice Medical Director, Dr. Craig Tanner, brings an extensive 13-year medical journey marked by diverse experiences and a profound commitment to compassionate care.

Craig’s medical ambitions were, at first, rooted in a very different soil. "I initially pursued college as a music major," he shares. This artistic pursuit took a turn towards medical care when his mother, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), brought the idea up to him one day. "I worked as a CNA for four years because of my mother's influence and loved it," he said. "I began nursing school during this time but later opted for medical school."

Craig’s career reflects his passion to serving the most at-risk populations as well as his upbringing in a Navy family. From a Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care clinic where he cared for chronically mentally ill Veterans, to a skilled nursing facility and time spent as a hospitalist, he ultimately pursued a Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship.

“The VA often felt like home as the population was so familiar to me from growing up in that world,” says Craig. “I still think of it as a very special place that does amazing work with a population that has had tremendous challenges and burdens.”

Throughout Craig’s training and career, he gravitated towards the most difficult conversations and the most severely ill patients. “It always felt like a privilege to enter into those spaces, and I learned to feel quite comfortable in those conversations,” he said. It was this inclination that naturally led him to specialize in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, where he found fulfillment in guiding patients and families through life's most delicate phase.

Joining Housecall Providers in summer of 2022, Craig was drawn to the organization's clear mission and commitment to serving the community. “I feel proud to represent an organization where the values align closely with my own,” he says.

His approach to end-of-life care is deeply empathetic, focusing on understanding individual needs and dispelling misconceptions about hospice. "Everyone’s journey is unique," Dr. Tanner emphasizes, "and I feel my job is not to get them to any particular place but rather to come alongside them."

Reflecting on a memorable patient experience, Craig shares a touching story of fulfilling a patient's final wish for a lobster dinner. This moment encapsulated the essence of hospice care, showing how small gestures can make a significant impact on patients and their families.

“The joy in his face and the fact that we made him not just feel important, but showed him that he was important, was amazing,” says Craig. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget that, and it speaks not only to the power of hospice, but how special this group is.”

Beyond medicine, Craig enjoys the accepting culture of Portland and the Pacific Northwest where he can pursue his hobbies, spend time with family and enjoy the “glorious summers.” Looking back, Craig expresses gratitude for his career. "I feel very privileged and grateful," he concludes, "for the role I’ve been able to play in the lives of patients, families, and the other staff and professionals that care for them."