The central ethic of EHNW is that we respect patients, that we want to know their concerns, and we work collaboratively to improve and maintain their eye health.

Dr. Bentley is a comprehensive ophthalmologist with expertise in multiple areas including cataract surgery and medical management of glaucoma and diabetes. He is grateful to be part of EHNW because, “We get excellent administrative support. We have great employees and staff, and I'm given all the tools I need to do a superlative job.” He finds it deeply satisfying to provide this quality, comprehensive eye care to his patients.

Dr. Bentley’s warm and affable manner is very comforting to his patients. He puts his patients at ease by keeping a sense of humor. “It helps break tension and improve communication; it helps the patient know that I want to work together. I want my patients to enjoy their visit.”

In addition to serving his patients, Dr. Bentley volunteers considerable time to leading the future of the medical profession. “I have a vision of where the medical profession should move forward. I want to cultivate and nurture the next generation of physicians that will take our place one day.” He does that by serving as clinical faculty at Oregon Health Science University. And he mentors high school and college students who are interested in medicine. Additionally, as the Chair of the Board of Legacy Health Systems, he has a significant hand in the strategic planning of the organization. As a result, this has a major impact on the direction and policy of the local medical community as LHS has 7,000 employees.

Direct service volunteering is equally important to Dr. Bentley. He has devoted substantial time to “Project Erase”, a local program that helps at-risk youth get a fresh start by performing laser removal of gang-related tattoos. And like many of the EHNW doctors, his life has been profoundly touched by his mission trips abroad.

On one trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, he performed surgery on a 10 year old boy that had been blind almost his entire life. His vision improved dramatically within days of the surgery. Dr. Bentley was able to witness the tremendous impact on his young patient. The child went from needing to be led around his whole life to experiencing independence for the first time. Dr. Bentley looks forward to his future trips and plans to go to El Salvador in June 2009.

Despite his many service projects, Dr. Bentley does find time to enjoy himself and relax with his family. He has been with his wife, Leslie, for 25 years. They have three children. Laurel and Olivia are grown and their teenager, Michael, is still at home. The family enjoys traveling extensively to Europe and Central America for pleasure and on medical mission trips.

Dr. Bentley has many personal interests. He has been cycling and taking photographs for decades. He likes the exercise he gets biking to work and around town. His creative side is expressed in his photography, woodworking and music. He loves determining the composition of his photographic landscapes and directing the viewer’s eye. And he enjoys handcrafting wood furniture and cabinetry for his home as well as playing classical and modern piano pieces. 

DR. BENTLEY'S EDUCATION: