Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 2, 2021

10 Me e t o u r n ew p r ov i d e r s Ruxandra Costa, M.D. Kootenai Clinic Neurology Tell us a little bit about you and your family: My husband’s name is Florian, and we have one son, who is 13 years old and attends public school. Why did you pick your specialty? I picked neurology a long time ago when my grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. I just wanted to be able to make a difference in these patients’ lives. What can patients expect when they first meet with you? I see patients while they are in the hospital. They can expect a caring provider and top-notch facilities and technology. What are some of your hobbies? I like to fish, travel and read. I also like to cook and experiment with new recipes from different cultures. What drew you to Kootenai Health? I heard wonderful things about Kootenai Health—about the people here and up-to-date technology used for EEG and radiology—and wished to come and be part of all this. What is your favorite healthy tip? I would say nothing is more important than our health. “Live long and prosper.” Vadim Pustynovich, CRNP Kootenai Urgent Care Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I am a native of eastern Ukraine and moved to the U.S. in 1996. I worked as an emergency department registered nurse for many years before graduating as a family nurse practitioner from Wilmington University in 2019. Since then, I’ve been practicing as an urgent care, occupational medicine nurse practitioner and an FMCSA-certified medical examiner. I am happily married to my beautiful wife, Danielle, the CEO of North Idaho Dermatology. We have four children, a very protective and affectionate dog, a noisy bird, and a lizard. Why did you pick your specialty? It is my passion to provide care to patients who need an urgent intervention. I enjoy connecting with patients, finding out what brings them in, and doing everything possible to make sure they are heard and provided safe and effective care. What can patients expect when they first meet with you? Patients can expect to be greeted by a health care provider who is genuine and open-minded to the needs of the person seeking immediate care. In the busy world of medicine, my patients can rest assured that they will be provided their fair share of time, that they will be listened to and delivered the most up-to-date, cutting-edge interventions available, or referred to the appropriate level of care they need. What are some of your hobbies? Traveling, hiking, exploring new areas, meeting new people and participating in a worship band at a local church. What drew you to Kootenai Health? Kootenai Health has a reputation built around delivering the highest-quality health care for the patient community and fostering a positive work environment for its team. Having access to the multidisciplinary health care team allows the patient to have access to the best provision of care they can have. Looking for urgent care? Reserve your spot in line at kootenaiurgentcare.com .