Broadening the Reach of This Exceptional Place
Doug Yock, M.D., was elected to the Board of Directors of Spirit in the Desert
in 2018, bringing his leadership experience from healthcare to the retreat
center. He graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Medical School and
completed internship and residency at Stanford University and fellowship at
the University of California San Francisco. Prior to retirement, Dr. Yock
practiced neuroradiology at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis,
where he directed Magnetic Resonance Imaging and led the development of the neuroscience program.
He served on boards and physician councils of the hospital, its foundation, and Allina Health System, and held leadership positions in a number of national radiology organizations. He also enjoyed teaching during his career, including writing several textbooks of neuroradiology.
Doug and his wife, Doris, are native Minnesotans, and they settled in Minneapolis after periods of training in Boston and San Francisco. In 2014, they moved to Scottsdale, joined Living Water Lutheran Church, and became acquainted with Spirit in the Desert through the congregation’s close relationship with the retreat center.
After first attending one of Living Water’s New Year brunches at Spirit in the Desert, Doug made several solo trips to the campus, attracted by the peacefulness and beauty of the setting. “I was impressed by the serenity of the courtyard, the desert landscape, and the views. From the beginning, I felt a sense of peace and focus on the campus.”
Doug would like to extend this experience to more guests at Spirit in the Desert. “This center offers rest and grace to people of all faiths through programs of renewal, healing and growth.” He notes that the programs are enriched by the desert setting and the welcoming hospitality of the faculty and staff.
As a member of the board’s Finance Committee, Doug hopes to help Spirit in the Desert become a top-of-mind retreat center for organizations of all faiths, as well as for other nonprofits and academic institutions. He says, “It’s a pleasure to work with the dedicated members of the board and the talented staff to broaden the reach of this exceptional place.”