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Richard A Varan, MD
I speak: English
My gender: Male
Where I practice
- Emergency service
- Urgent care services
- After-hours services
- Pharmacy services
- No emergency services
- No urgent care services
- No after-hours services
- No pharmacy services
About me
Raised in an Appalachian mill town north of Pittsburgh, I first pondered becoming a doctor while growing up down the street from my hometown hospital, where my mother worked as a nurse. Years later, during college, I studied Portland in an urban planning course and grew deeply interested in living in Oregon. After college, I spent a couple years travelling around Asia and teaching English to Chinese children and adults. During this time, I met the woman who has become my wife. In time, we moved back to America and settled in Portland, where I attended medical school at OHSU. After residency, I joined Kaiser Permanente's Department of Family Medicine and have worked at the Mt. Scott Medical Office, on the Sunnyside campus, since 2005. While we greatly enjoy travel, these days my wife and I spend most of our time at home with our daughter, enjoying Portland. After our daughter goes to bed, I spend most evenings reading, especially public affairs and natural history. I am a member of several professional and community organizations, including the American Academy of Family Medicine, the Oregon Academy of Family Medicine and the City Club of Portland. Since early 2011, I have served as Kaiser Permanente's regional chief for family medicine in Oregon and Washington.
About my practice
A family doctor devotes years of training to learn the skills and knowledge needed to provide comprehensive primary care to the whole family. I provide primary care to patients of every age - from birth to the end of life. Whether managing childhood illnesses, adolescent injuries, or any of the many chronic diseases of middle and later life, my goal is always to provide the best quality care possible. While I very much enjoy working with patients as individuals, I particularly enjoy getting to know entire families. Supported by Kaiser Permanente's advanced technology and computer-based patient care resources, and working closely with my specialist colleagues, I strive to be a familiar face and a dependable home base to my patients within the Kaiser Permanente system. I try hard to encourage healthy choices and emphasize preventative care. I perform a variety of office-based orthopedic and dermatologic procedural treatments for my patients, including joint injections and skin biopsies.
How I thrive
I strive to maintain a healthy balance in life, seeking a rich private life while also remaining dedicated to serving as the personal physician for each of my patients. Raised to value hard work, personal integrity, healthy habits and devotion to family, I try to cultivate moderation in all things. A philosophy major in college, I try to approach life with circumspection, seeking a balance between work and family, and also between spontaneity and familiar routine. Watching my daughter grow and learn every day reminds me that even life's smallest moments feature little delights and new discoveries. Talking everyday with patients and learning about their lives reminds me that the world offers an amazing variety of things to see and do in a lifetime. I thrive by trying to take the time to appreciate these little life lessons as they present themselves to me both at work and at home, on even the busiest days.
My office
Referral requirements
You do not need a referral to see this provider.Languages spoken by medical staff
Help is available in your language. Learn more.
Medical Groups, Plans, and Networks
Northwest Permanente Physicians and Surgeons, PC
- Added Choice (Washington Employer)
- Added Choice + Dental Choice (Washington Employer)
- Classic
- Classic + Dental Choice
- Classic Complete
- Medicaid
- Oregon Added Choice (Oregon Employer)
- Oregon PPO Plus (Oregon Employer)
- PPO Plus (Washington Employer)
- PPO Plus + Dental Choice (Washington Employer)
- Senior Advantage
Contact information
- Advice Nurse
- 1-800-813-2000 (toll free)
- Information
- 503-652-2880
- Information (TTY)
- 1-800-735-2900 (toll-free TTY for the hearing/speech impaired)
My training, certifications & licensing
Medical school
Oregon Health & Science UniversityBoard certification
Family Medicine
AB Family MedicineTo verify board certification for an individual practitioner, please visit the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Medical Association, or the American Osteopathic Association websites.
Medical training
Providence Milwaukie HospitalJoined Permanente Medical Group
2005Provider ID
12419License information
Look up this provider’s credentials at the Washington State Department of Health website.
Look up this provider’s credentials at the Oregon Medical Board website.
Cultural Competency Training (CCT)
Kaiser Permanente providers complete accredited cultural competency training.My hospitals
This information is not available at this time.
To find:
- a provider’s office hours, search our facility directory
- providers in your plan or accepting new patients, call 1-800-813-2000 (toll free) or 711 (TTY for the hearing/speech impaired)
- Oregon Medicaid members: For information about Ride to Care, call 503-416-3955, 855-321-4899 (toll free), 711 (TTY), or visit ridetocare.com
If you are looking for a gender affirming treatment provider and can’t find a provider close to you, please call our Member Services department at 1-800-813-2000 for help finding an in-network provider.
The information in this online directory is updated at least monthly. The availability of physicians, hospitals, providers and services may change. For the most up-to-date information, please contact Member Services at 1-800-813-2000. Information about practitioners is provided to us by the practitioners or is obtained as part of the credentialing process.
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If you request it, your request for hard copies of the provider directory remains until you leave Kaiser Permanente or request that hard copies be discontinued.
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Learn more about provider selection and tiered network criteria
Kaiser Permanente uses the same geographic distribution consideration to select hospitals in Marketplace plans as it does for all other KFHP products and lines of business. Accessibility of medical offices and medical centers in this directory: All Kaiser Permanente facilities are accessible to members.
Help in your language: Interpreter services, including ASL (American Sign Language), are available during business hours at no additional cost to members. Many of our doctors also speak more than one language. Call 1-800-324-8010 (toll free), or 1-800-813-2000 (toll free), or 711 (TTY).
Kaiser Permanente providers complete accredited cultural competency training.
Questions? Please call Membership Services from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days a week (except major holidays).
- Portland: 503-813-2000
- All other areas: 1-800-813-2000 (toll free) or 711 (TTY)
For language interpretation services: 1-800-324-8010 (toll free).
For specific license information, including malpractice history and disciplinary actions, you can call the Oregon Medical Board at 971-673-2700 or the Washington State Department of Health at 360-236-4700.
Referrals to affiliated community physicians/providers in Oregon and Washington
Affiliated community physicians/providers are not part of the NWPMG (Northwest Permanente Medical Group). They are physicians/providers credentialed by Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest and/or who have a contract with the NWPMG.
If your NWPMG physician decides that you require covered services not available internally from an NWPMG physician, he or she may refer you to an affiliated community physician/provider. You must have a written, authorized referral from Kaiser Permanente in order to receive a covered service from an affiliated community physician/provider.
Referrals to affiliated community dentists in Oregon and Washington
Affiliated community dentists are not part of PDA (Permanente Dental Associates). They are dentists credentialed by PDA for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest, and they have a contract with PDA.
If your PDA dentist decides that you require covered services not available internally from a PDA dentist, he or she may refer you to an affiliated community dentist. You must have a written, authorized referral from Kaiser Permanente in order to receive a covered service from an affiliated community dentist.
If you would like to report an error in provider or facility information, call Member Services at 1-800-813-2000 or contact the web manager.
This page was last updated on: 12/11/2024