Forensic Nurse Examiner Coordinator

Patti Kenyon, RN, OR-SANE, SANE-A, SANE-P, MDI, has worked with those affected by violence throughout her 45 year career as a nurse. Through her work in medical, surgical, and trauma intensive care units as well as the Emergency Department (ED), she has been involved in the care of both victims and perpetrators of violence. 

Patti was first trained as a sexual assault examiner 35 years ago while working in a Minnesota ED. She attended the first Oregon SANE training in 2003 and became an OR-SANE in 2004 while working in the Willamette Valley. 

Patti was instrumental in developing Sarah’s Place, Oregon’s first nurse-run SANE clinic. From 2008 to 2011, she also worked at the Sexual Assault Task Force as the SANE Coordinator. Patti’s leadership roles included the Task Force’s Medical Forensic Committee, Steering Committee, SATI instructor, and SANE Certification Committee. She is also certified through the International Association of Forensic Nurses for both pediatrics (SANE-P) and adolescents/adults (SANE-A) and as a Medical Death Investigator by the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office. 

She received Forensic Nurse Examiner Certificates through the University of California, Riverside in 2018 and University of Colorado, Colorado Springs in 2010.  In addition to working with RSI as a SANE, Patti is a Medical Death Investigator in Linn County. She also serves on the Benton County Crisis Response Team, the Child Abuse Multidisciplinary Intervention Advisory Council, the Local Alcohol and Drug Planning Committee of Linn County, the Linn County Child Fatality Review team, and the Linn County Multidisciplinary Team. 

Pronouns: She/Her

Specialty Areas: Death investigation, SANE-A, SANE-P, crisis intervention following trauma, Elder and Child Abuse, and Non-fatal Strangulation.     

Staff liaison to: Medical Forensic Committee, SANE Certification Commission