Dean Sharpe trained as a general surgeon and worked in private practice from 1980 to 2002.  He shifted focus, obtained a Master’s Degree in Health Administration, and became Vice President of Medical Affairs at St. Charles Medical Center for twelve years, sharing this position with his surgical practice from 1994-2002.  Informatics and computerized medical records came, and he facilitated the change at St. Charles from 2004 to 2006.  As the Vice President of Medical Affairs and VP Clinical Informatics, relationship and change facilitation were the major roles of the job.

His love has always been as facilitator and educator, so starting in 1992, he helped design and facilitate “People Centered Teams”, an organizational development and personal growth seminar, both at St. Charles and nationally, impacting the lives of over 5000 participants.  He helped design and taught two levels of Death and Dying workshops at St. Charles in the 90’s with the goal that caregivers would become more comfortable with their own mortality as well as that of their patients.  His belief as physician has always included the role of facilitating the relationship between patient and illness since this healthy relationship allows healing, regardless of physical cure.  The vision and mission of the Sacred Art of Living and Dying Center and the Sacred Art of Living and Dying seminars are a natural extension of Dean’s previous interests and work.  He is married to Marlis Beier and has two daughters and two grandsons. Dean lives in Bend, Oregon, and enjoys cooking, skiing, hiking, gardening, and being with his family.