Mission
To partner with patients of all ages and walks of life in trusting, long-term relationships in order to offer outstanding, compassionate, and accessible primary care in a safe and healing atmosphere that is inspired by our community's needs and desires.
Photo courtesy of Trent Goss 2023.
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Meet Dr. LissaI am a board-certified family physician and mother of 9 and 11 year old boys. My husband, Ned Hammar, and I fell in love during our family medicine residency in Seattle. Together, we moved to Omak, a small town in North Central Washington roughly the size of Forks. We practiced there for 5 years and both our boys were born there.
We moved to Port Angeles in April 2015, and we love living and working with our patients in this community! We continue to put down roots here and have no plans to leave this beautiful place. Being a family physician is my calling. So is being a mother. The most meaningful and joyful part of my journey as a doctor is the time I spend with my patients. When I worked in other medical settings, I felt frustrated by how little time I had with each patient. I want each patient to feel treated as a whole person. I want to have the time to really listen to my patients, develop meaningful relationships, and care for them right when they need me, and not weeks or months later. What I intend to cultivate in my clinic is a new and truly patient- and family-centered experience. Together we will enjoy unhurried visits (typically 45 minutes) so we can address the whole situation, problem-solve, and stay in close communication throughout your care, both in times of wellness and illness. This is big-picture care: I want help you achieve the best overall health possible. |
PhilosophyMy calling is to approach my patients as if they are family. I believe we all need to be seen as whole people. Our health is absolutely impacted by what's going on with us physically, emotionally, spiritually, nutritionally, and economically. I do a better job as a doctor when I can listen to a person's whole story. I can problem-solve and work with you to improve your wellbeing in all situations. I have growing experience in blending the best of Western medicine and other healing approaches to my patients. This experience includes exploring what can affect our wellbeing, including nutrition, inflammation, stress, sleep, physical movement, mindfulness practices, as well as a sense of purpose and belonging. There are many ways to heal, and one size does not fit all! I partner with my patients to individualize care to your needs and situations. I do not judge anyone based on medical complexity, gender, age, sexual orientation/preferences, religious/spiritual beliefs, or political beliefs.
Why Direct Primary Care?In the traditional system, most of the money you pay (65-75%) goes to pay the overhead of the clinic and the insurance company, not the doctor. When we remove that layer, the cost of running a clinic is less, and the care doesn't have to be so expensive. Paying a doctor directly, like we pay plumbers, lawyers, and farmers, is something we've done for centuries (until the insurance industry inserted itself between us and our doctors about 50 years ago). When we simplify the system, we remove the barriers between patients and their doctors and allow people to get the medical care they want when they need it. That is exactly what I am offering you.
Community Time
Professional Passion
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Education
- College at Baylor University in Waco, Texas | 1999 - 2003
- Medical School at University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis, Minnesota | 2003 - 2007
- Residency at Swedish Cherry Hill Family Medicine Residency in Seattle, Washington | 2007 - 2010, Chief Resident 2009 - 2010
- Ongoing education in Functional Medicine through Institute for Functional Medicine
- Ongoing education in practicing and teaching mindfulness skills through the Center for Mind-Body Medicine