Chief Medical Officer/ Medical Director
Valley Immediate Care
Brief Biography:
Dr. McArdle has more than 30 years of experience in Urgent Care medicine, spanning academic training, large integrated health systems, ED fast-track programs, and independent startup organizations. Her career reflects both the clinical evolution of Urgent Care and its increasing strategic importance within the U.S. healthcare system.
She currently serves as Chief Medical Officer/ Medical Director at Valley Immediate Care, where she helped lead growth from 14 employees to more than 150. In this role, she oversees more than 25 providers, leads physician and staff development initiatives, and has designed career pathways to support recruitment, retention, and workforce sustainability. She also serves as a community liaison and is actively engaged in healthcare advocacy at the state and national levels.
Dr. McArdle has used her leadership platform to help establish a nonprofit organization focused on strengthening recruitment and retention of healthcare providers in rural communities. Her work centers on building strong clinical teams, advancing quality of care, and improving access for underserved populations.
Over the past three decades, she has witnessed and contributed to the transformation of Urgent Care into a critical component of healthcare delivery, as such Dr. McArdle seeks to serve on the Urgent Care Association Board at this pivotal time. She is committed to advancing high-quality patient care, supporting providers and staff, and advocating for equitable reimbursement models to ensure long-term sustainability of the profession.
Dr. McArdle was raised in Colorado Springs, CO and completed her undergraduate education at the University of Utah, with one year at North Carolina State University. After some medical research, she trained at University of Utah School of Medicine, with residency at Oregon Health & Science University. She has practiced Urgent Care in Oregon for more than two decades and has participated in international medical service in Nepal and American Samoa.
Outside of medicine, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and whitewater rafting.
Organization Description:
Valley Immediate Care is an independent, physician-owned Urgent Care organization serving Southern Oregon. Founded in 1999 by three emergency medicine physicians, with the goal to provide timely, high-quality care for patients who need medical attention but do not require emergency department services.
Today, Valley Immediate Care operates six Urgent Care clinics across two counties, with additional clinics in Occupational Medicine, Dermatology, and non-surgical Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. The organization sees approximately 80,000 to 100,000 patient visits annually and is supported by a team of approximately 30 medical providers.
Valley Immediate Care is committed to workforce development and community engagement. The organization offers structured career pathways for support staff, actively supports student providers and new graduates, and has a strong record of long-term employee retention while remaining deeply involved in the local community.
Professional Experience:
Medical Director/Chief Medical Officer- Valley Immediate Care, Medford, Oregon 2015-Present Including 6 Urgent Care Clinics, Orthopedics/Sports Medicine Clinic, Dermatology Clinic and 2 Occupational Health Facilities.
Urgent Care Physician- Valley Immediate Care 2003-Present
Previous Involvement with Boards:
I have served in leadership roles on several healthcare-related boards, including:
Education:
Awards, Honors, Community Involvement:
I have received several professional honors, including Fellowship in the American College of Physicians (FACP), Fellowship in the College of Urgent Care Medicine (FCUCM), and nomination for the 2024 Oregon Medical Association Doctor-Citizen Award. I was also a featured speaker at the 2025 Oregon Rural Health Conference, presenting on recruitment and retention of healthcare providers.
My community involvement includes serving on the Medical Advisory Groups for the Jackson and Josephine County Health Departments, volunteering as a physician at evacuation centers during the 2020 Alameda Fires in Southern Oregon, participating in junior high and high school outreach programs with hands-on clinical exposure, and providing tattoo removal services through the Ink-Out Program for at-risk and trafficked youth. I have also contributed to medical Public Service Announcements and educational segments for KTVL and KOBI News from 2020 to 2023.
Vision for the Future of Urgent Care and Core Purpose for UCA for the next 3-5 Years:
Urgent care is a critical and increasingly indispensable part of the healthcare system, particularly as we confront ongoing and future challenges in access, workforce shortages, and rising costs. Urgent care sits at the essential intersection of access and affordability, providing timely, high-quality care for patients who might otherwise face significant barriers.
As an association, we have a responsibility to elevate the visibility and understanding of Urgent Care, to clearly define and promote standards of high-quality care, to advocate for ABMS recognition, and to engage in legislative efforts that support fair reimbursement reflective of the acuity and complexity of care provided in modern Urgent Care settings.
Disclosures:
none