For more than two decades, Jay Burghart has played a key role in shaping healthcare delivery in Kitsap County, helping guide The Doctors Clinic through growth, industry changes and an increasingly complex medical landscape.
Now, as Executive Director, Burghart leads one of the region’s longest-standing physician-owned medical groups, focused on expanding access to care while maintaining a strong commitment to patient-centered service.
With a background in finance and more than 25 years in leadership roles within the organization, Burghart brings a broad perspective to the challenges facing healthcare today—from workforce shortages to advancing technology and the growing demand for coordinated, preventive care. Under his leadership, The Doctors Clinic continues to evolve, strengthening partnerships, investing in innovation and working to meet the needs of a growing and aging population.
In this Executive Q&A, Burghart reflects on his path to leadership, the changing healthcare landscape in Kitsap County, and how strategic growth, technology and community-focused care are shaping the future of The Doctors Clinic.
Can you share a little about your background and what led you to your role as Executive Director of The Doctors Clinic?
I began my career as a CPA, working from 1986 to 1992 and building a strong financial foundation, particularly with healthcare clients. That early experience gave me an appreciation for the unique challenges and opportunities in healthcare.
For more than 30 years, my career has been focused primarily in Washington State. I joined The Doctors Clinic in 1999 as Chief Financial Officer, where I oversaw financial operations and strategic planning to help ensure the organization’s long-term fiscal health. In 2008, I moved into the role of Chief Operating Officer, which allowed me to apply that financial and strategic background more directly to clinical operations, patient care, and administrative services.
Since 2015, I have served as Executive Director of The Doctors Clinic, leading the organization’s overall strategy and operations. My focus has been on supporting high-quality, patient-centered care while strengthening our relationships within the Kitsap County community. Having served in financial, operational, and executive leadership roles, I bring a broad perspective to the challenges and opportunities facing healthcare today.
For readers who may not be familiar, how would you describe the mission and role of The Doctors Clinic in the Kitsap County healthcare system?
The Doctors Clinic is a long-standing, physician-owned, multispecialty medical group that has served Kitsap County since 1945. Our mission is to provide high-quality, compassionate care close to home.
Within the local healthcare system, we play an important role by offering both primary care and a wide range of specialty services in a coordinated setting. For many patients, we are their first point of contact for preventive care and everyday health needs, while also providing access to specialists and more advanced treatment when needed.
Because we are physician-owned, our focus remains on delivering care that is centered on patients, supports continuity across services, and responds to the evolving needs of our community.
What are some of the biggest healthcare needs you see in Kitsap County today?
One of the biggest healthcare needs in Kitsap County today is the unavailability of healthcare support staff. To help meet those needs, we are focused on supporting physicians and care teams through better technology, more efficient workflows, and new approaches to care delivery. The goal is to ensure patients continue to receive high-quality, compassionate care close to home.
We also have a need to care for an aging population and to better support patients managing chronic conditions. That makes care coordination, preventive care, and timely access to services more important than ever.
Access to care is a growing concern across the country. How is The Doctors Clinic working to ensure patients in Kitsap County can receive timely care?
Ensuring timely access to care starts with having enough providers to meet the needs of the community. At The Doctors Clinic, one of the ways we are addressing that is through our unique practice model, which combines physician ownership with a partnership with Franciscan Medical Group. That structure has helped us attract physician talent in a highly competitive healthcare environment.
In fact, the last three years have been our most successful period of physician recruitment in the past 25 years. That success is helping us expand provider capacity and improve access to timely care for patients across Kitsap County.
Preventative care and wellness are becoming more central in healthcare. How is your organization encouraging patients to take a proactive approach to their health?
Our primary care team has placed a strong emphasis on preventive care and wellness over the past several years. We encourage patients to stay proactive through annual visits, screenings, vaccinations, and early attention to health concerns before they become more serious.
We also track wellness and quality measures every month, and we are proud to consistently exceed national benchmarks. For us, prevention is one of the most important ways we can help patients stay healthier and improve their quality of life over time.
Technology continues to reshape healthcare. What innovations or tools are helping improve the patient experience at your clinics?
Artificial intelligence is one of the most promising tools we are using to improve both physician efficiency and the patient experience. We are currently trialing AI tools that help reduce the time physicians spend on routine administrative work, particularly documentation.
We believe these tools could save up to 20% of a physician’s typical day while also improving the accuracy and completeness of clinical notes. That means physicians can spend more time focused on patients, have more meaningful interactions during visits, and reduce some of the administrative burden that contributes to burnout.
Ultimately, innovations like these help us improve access, strengthen quality, and create a better experience for both patients and care teams.
Recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals has been a challenge nationwide. How is The Doctors Clinic addressing workforce needs?
Recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals is a challenge across the country, but Kitsap County offers a unique advantage. This is an exceptional place to live and work, with a high quality of life, a strong sense of community, and the opportunity to build a rewarding medical practice.
At The Doctors Clinic, our recruitment approach is focused on finding physicians and providers whose professional goals and personal values align with both our organization and the lifestyle this region offers. Just as important, we work hard to create an environment where providers feel supported, connected, and able to build long-term careers here.
What are some initiatives or improvements your team is currently working on that you’re particularly excited about?
One of the initiatives we are currently working on is The Doctors Clinic’s transition to the Epic practice management and electronic medical record system. It is a significant project and a major investment in the future of patient care and operational efficiency.
When the system goes live in May 2026, it will create stronger connectivity with St. Michael and much of the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health network across the Pacific Northwest. Just as important, patients will benefit from a more integrated portal experience across Virginia Mason Franciscan Health facilities, making it easier to access information and navigate their care.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for the future of The Doctors Clinic?
The Doctors Clinic is committed to meeting the healthcare needs of Kitsap County as our community continues to grow. Looking ahead, our vision is to expand access to high-quality care while remaining a strong, trusted local healthcare provider for the patients and families we serve.
That growth will be supported and strengthened through our partnership with Franciscan Medical Group, which provides the resources and infrastructure needed to expand existing services, explore new specialties, and invest in innovative models of care. Together, these efforts will help ensure The Doctors Clinic remains a vital and enduring healthcare resource for Kitsap County for years to come.
What motivates you personally as you lead an organization dedicated to improving community health?
What motivates me most is the privilege of working every day with bright, dedicated individuals who truly care about improving the health of our community. That is incredibly rewarding.
Healthcare leadership is about bringing together that talent and commitment with the right strategy, resources, and support so our physicians and staff can do their best work for patients. Knowing that our efforts can make a real difference for both patients and providers is what makes this work so meaningful to me.
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