Meet the Board
Dianna Konrad, President | Public Relations
Dianna joined Mended Hearts as a charter member in 2012, initially serving as Public Relations Chair and later taking on responsibility for the chapter’s website and newsletter. In 2015, she co-founded Young Mended Hearts of Northwest Washington, helping expand the chapter’s outreach and support to younger heart patients and their families.
As President, Dianna provides leadership and direction for the chapter and its Board of Directors. She keeps members informed about chapter news and activities and serves as an important liaison between Mended Hearts and PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, sharing chapter activities with the Executive Director of Cardiovascular Services and the Director of Volunteer Services and helping to strengthen the chapter’s partnership with these groups.
Dianna also coordinates educational speakers, promotes the chapter’s accomplishments within the community, and represents Mended Hearts as a speaker for outside organizations. Of all her roles, however, she finds the greatest fulfillment in visiting with heart patients and their families, offering encouragement, connection, and hope.
For Dianna, giving back to the community and continuing to strengthen the relationship between Mended Hearts and PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center remain at the heart of her service.
Susan Vaughan, Vice-President
Susan serves as Vice President of Mended Hearts Chapter 382, supporting the Chapter President, Dianna Konrad, and fellow Board members in the work of the organization. As an accredited hospital visitor and volunteer, Susan connects with heart patients, caregivers, chapter members, and referrals through phone calls, visits, and ongoing outreach.
She also helps welcome guests at monthly meetings, assists new visitors in getting connected with the chapter, and coordinates refreshments for meetings.
Susan especially values the opportunity to bring encouragement, support, and hope to heart patients and their families. Giving back to her community through Mended Hearts is deeply rewarding and truly fills her heart.
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Deenie Berry, Treasurer | Visitor Training Officer
Deenie Berry is an educator, community advocate, and heart health champion with a passion for supporting others through their recovery journeys. After undergoing open-heart surgery for an ascending aorta replacement in 2012, Deenie found strength through PeaceHealth’s heart patient program. She went on to become the first patient visited by Marilynn Huffman to complete visitor training and begin visiting other heart patients.
A longtime educator who served as a teacher, principal, and Curriculum Director, Deenie later held a leadership role with Seattle Public Schools. Following her retirement in 2024, she returned to Bellingham and reconnected with the Bellingham Chapter of MH. She now serves as the chapter’s Board Treasurer and a trainer for accredited hospital visitors.
Deenie enjoys traveling, golf, kayaking, volunteering in schools, home renovation, and singing in her church choir. Most of all, she treasures time with her four sons, their families, and seven grandchildren.
For Deenie, retirement is a new chapter centered on family, service, resilience, and giving back to the heart patient community.
Tammy Longstaff, Secretary | Media Relations
Tammy serves as Secretary and Media Relations Chair for Mended Hearts Bellingham. As Secretary, she prepares meeting agendas, records Board minutes, and helps keep the chapter organized and informed. As Media Relations Chair, Tammy develops and manages the chapter’s communications, including newsletters, brochures, presentations, promotional materials, and the Mended Hearts Bellingham website.
Tammy enjoys using creativity and communication to share the Mended Hearts mission, celebrate the people who make the chapter special, and connect heart patients, caregivers, and families with valuable support and resources. She especially enjoys finding new ways to help the chapter grow its outreach and strengthen its connection with the community.
Jan Knutson | Membership Co-Chair
Jan Knutson serves as Co-Chair of Membership for Mended Hearts Bellingham, helping maintain membership records, connect with members whose dues have lapsed, and welcome new members and guests. She also helps make monthly meetings warm and inviting by coordinating decorations and sending thank-you cards to new members and visitors.
Jan is an accredited hospital visitor and has also found creative ways to support the chapter, including starting the monthly 50/50 raffle and a decorated refreshment donation jar, both of which help provide additional funds for chapter activities. She also lends her talents to preparing chapter materials and brochures.
Outside of Mended Hearts, Jan has an artful touch for flower arranging and grows many of the flowers she uses in arrangements from her own beautiful garden. Her creativity, thoughtfulness, and welcoming spirit are reflected in the many ways she contributes to the chapter.
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Gene Knutson | Membership Co-Chair
Gene serves as Membership Co-Chair for Mended Hearts Bellingham, helping maintain membership records, reconnect with members whose dues have lapsed, welcome guests, and assist new members with applications.
He is also an accredited hospital visitor and helps prepare and distribute Mended Hearts brochures throughout the community. Gene joins Chapter President Dianna Konrad in community outreach presentations, helping introduce others to the support and resources Mended Hearts provides.
Gene's connection to Mended Hearts is personal, having received support from the organization during his own open-heart surgery. Giving back and helping other heart patients and their families is especially meaningful to him.
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Howard Milewski | Pre-Op Visiting Chair
In 2013, the Bellingham Mended Hearts Chapter partnered with the Cardiothoracic Surgery Office (CTS) to develop a new program supporting patients as they prepared for heart surgery. At the time, Mended Hearts International did not have a similar pre-operative support program to use as a model, so our chapter and the CTS team worked together to create one from the ground up.
Howard played an important role in developing a program that would be meaningful for patients while also supporting the needs of the Cardiothoracic Surgery team. Through collaboration, experience, and continued refinement, the program has grown and evolved over the years.
Howard continues to serve as the volunteer coordinator for the Pre-Op Patient Program, a role he has happily maintained since its beginning. He takes great pride in helping patients feel supported, informed, and connected as they prepare for heart surgery.
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Peter Kilcline | Young Mended Hearts Liaison
Peter serves on the Mended Hearts Bellingham Board of Directors as the Young Mended Hearts (YMH) Liaison. Peter was introduced to Young Mended Hearts while preparing for heart surgery and found a community of people who understood the unique challenges of being a younger heart patient. A member since YMH began in 2015, Peter is grateful for the support he received and is passionate about helping other young heart patients and their caregivers find that same sense of connection and encouragement.
Peter co-leads the monthly Young Mended Hearts meetings with Chapter President Dianna Konrad, keeps the Board informed about YMH activities and outreach opportunities, manages the Young Mended Hearts Northwest social media presence, and maintains the group’s mailing lists. He also serves as a point of contact for young heart patients seeking information, resources, or virtual support, connecting personally with individuals both locally and across the country.
Peter enjoys giving back by helping others feel welcomed, understood, and less alone during challenging times. His kindness, thoughtfulness, and willingness to reach out to others are an important part of the supportive community Young Mended Hearts strives to provide.
Outside of Mended Hearts, Peter enjoys hiking, kayaking, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.
If you are interested, please contact one of the board members at our meetings, or leave a message on our message line at 360-788-6928.
We need your help so we can continue our goal to help heart patients and their families in our community. We have several volunteer opportunities available.