New providers join RRH team

Between the end of 2024 and 2025, Ridgecrest Regional Hospital recruited five new primary care providers to adult medicine and pediatric clinics, bringing new options for care and addressing the need for additional providers in our remote community.

New primary care providers include Dr. Jeffery Tun from New York, Dr. Brittany Toffey from New Jersey, Dr. Arvin Espiritu from West Virginia, Dr. Ehssan Ramezani from New York, and Dr. Kathleen Ranola from Honolulu, Hawaii. All five physicians practice adult medicine, with Dr. Espiritu seeing pediatric patients as well.

“Access to care was the leading concern identified in the Community Health Needs Assessment, and RRH intentionally responded by expanding our primary care team,” said Ziad Jureidini, strategy and experience director at RRH.

Hospitals across the nationwide have experienced provider shortages as the need for general practitioners consistently outpaces new doctors. Those challenges are amplified in rural communities. “Recruiting providers to Ridgecrest isn't easy, but it resonates strongly with a specific audience — clinicians who value community, connection, and a meaningful impact,” said Jureidini. “Our focus has been on identifying and engaging that audience, and we're proud of the result.”

As healthcare grows increasingly complex, the need for a “patient home,” or a primary care provider,” has become critically important. Primary care is where patients can ask questions early, catch healthcare complications sooner, and build a partnership that facilitates wellness. RRH recruiters looked for diversity in background and experience that would accommodate the many challenges facing our patient population.

“Many of the new providers have shared that what drew them to Ridgecrest was the family-friendly nature of the community, along with its calm, safety, affordability, and access to the outdoors,” said Jureidini. “They've expressed feeling genuinely welcomed and well-integrated — both within the hospital and in the broader community.”

“We know that our community has some unique challenges because of our geographic isolation, but at RRH it is our highest priority to protect access to quality care here,” said James Suver, RRH CEO. “We are excited about the new providers that have joined our team, and I am grateful to our recruitment team for helping us better meet the needs of our community.”

Anyone looking for a new provider can find information on our new and existing physicians by selecting the “Find a Provider” tab on rrh.org.