Editor’s Note: This article was submitted by Providence Centralia Hospital. To submit community news items to The Chronicle, email news@chronline.com.
When patients come to Providence Centralia Hospital or Providence St. Peter Hospital, they may be cared for by William (Alex) Stevens, M.D., a hospital medicine specialist (hospitalist) – and president of Providence Centralia Medical Staff — whose career has been shaped by service to others.
A father, veteran and physician, Dr. Stevens brings a calm, grounded presence to his work.
“My path through military medicine shaped who I am as a physician. Service has always been at the core of my work,” he said.
Stevens grew up in the suburbs of Las Vegas and was introduced to health care by his mother, a first-generation Filipina-American and nurse. He attended medical school in Reno, Nevada, and joined the Army on a medical scholarship. His residency at Madigan Army Medical Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Pierce County brought him to the Pacific Northwest, a place where he immediately felt comfortable.
After being stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and a combat deployment overseas,Stevens returned to Washington state and joined Providence Swedish in 2020.
“Coming back to the Northwest felt like coming home. This is where my family wants to be, and this is where I want to practice,” Stevens said.
Although he trained in family medicine, Stevens discovered a passion for inpatient care during residency. He was drawn to the complexity of hospital medicine, the fast pace and the opportunity to see patients improve quickly.
“It’s the chance to think deeply and act quickly for patients who need us most,” he said.
Hospitalists are the physicians who care for patients during their hospital stay, coordinating treatment with specialists, nurses and primary care providers. Stevens serves patients at both Providence Centralia and Providence St. Peter hospitals, helping support care throughout Lewis and Thurston Counties.
He believes deeply in the importance of local access to care, especially in communities like Lewis County.
“Centralia has a small-town feel, but we’re connected to a whole network of Providence resources,” he said. “Patients get the best of both worlds.”
For Stevens, quality care means seeing each patient as a whole person.
“It’s about understanding the human behind the diagnosis and helping them feel seen and supported,” he said.
Outside his hospital-based work, Stevens spends as much time outdoors as he can. He enjoys backpacking and camping with his family and is preparing to take their youngest child on his first backpacking trip. He is also a runner, who has completed two half marathons and plans to tackle another soon.
“Whether solving a complex medical case or helping a patient feel understood during a difficult time, Dr. Stevens brings heart, skill and a spirit of service to every shift. Providence is proud to have him caring for our communities,” said Providence South Puget Sound Chief Executive Darin Goss.
