14/08/2025
This year, the Puget Sound Business Journal honored 20 individuals as Health Care Heroes, including Rudy King, emergency room navigator at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way, and Kelsy Smith, resident RN at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Enumclaw. Both King and Smith exemplify the true spirit of service, consistently providing high-quality care to their patients.
For nearly 30 years, Rudy King has been the heart of the emergency department at St. Francis Hospital. Driven by a profound desire to improve patient outcomes, he created his role as an emergency room navigator in 2016 to address a critical issue: patients leaving without receiving the care they deserved. King leveraged his clinical background and experience as an army medic to bridge the gap.
"It took our entire team working together, and today, less than 1% of patients leave without being seen which means thousands of lives have been saved," King said. "We want our patients to have the best experience possible, and we want to provide safe, quality care always."
In 2023, tragedy struck King and his family with the loss of their son to gun violence. Despite the devastating loss, King continues to give his all to serving patients and their families. Rather than stopping his positive work in the community, Rudy wakes up every day and thinks about how he can be a ray of light in someone else's day, understanding that those entering the emergency department may be facing the worst day of their lives.
Service runs deep in King's family, with his father, son, and himself all dedicating their lives to military service. "It is in our blood. After the devastating loss of my son, I felt the desire to continue his legacy of service in the important work I do today," he said. King also attributes much of his strength and inspiration to his team for staying by his side since his son's passing.
Kelsy Smith has also dedicated her life to serving others. Smith's commitment to the Enumclaw community extends far beyond her role as a registered nurse. She is also a firefighter and EMT. Kelsy's unique perspective, honed by her dual roles as a nurse and first responder, allows her to seamlessly integrate her skills and knowledge between the hospital and pre-hospital settings.
"Both roles have gifted me a profound sense of calm, allowing me to maintain composure even amidst chaos," she said.
Raised in a family where service was a way of life, Kelsy credits her parents for teaching her about giving back from an early age. From volunteering at church to her father's role as a ski patroller, her upbringing emphasized the importance of contributing to the community. Kelsy firmly believes that even small acts of service can collectively create a better world, and she leads by example, hoping to inspire her own children and community to do the same.
"It takes a village to get through life. If you try to do things on your own, it's going to be a really hard road" she shared. "I have found that when I give back in small ways, I inspire others to do the same. It is deeply rewarding to care for my neighbors and offer support during their most challenging times."
King and Smith are shining examples of the dedication and compassion that define health care heroes. Their commitment to serving their communities is an inspiration to us all.
