12 —Continued from page 11 Kevin Peters, PA Kootenai Heart Clinics Tell us abit aboutyou andyour family. I was born and raised in Chicago, where my family still resides. My fiancée, Kirsten, and I recently moved to northern Idaho after visiting and being so impressed with the natural beauty of the area. Whydidyoupickyour specialty? I’ve always been mechanically inclined and always loved working with my hands, so I was drawn to the surgical specialties from the beginning. I also gravitated toward cardiac physiology while in school. Cardiac surgery provided the opportunity to be hands-on in the operating room while also caring for high-acuity patients in other settings. Ashley Otto, DNP Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services Tell us abit aboutyou andyour family. I have an amazing husband and three incredible children. I was born here in Coeur d’Alene, so I am also blessed to be surrounded by my parents, sisters and their families, and uncles we are all close with. Whydidyoupickyour specialty? I started as a nursing assistant in the inpatient oncology unit at Kootenai Health over 10 years ago. I went on to obtain my nursing degree while dealing with my own diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer. Then I went on to work as an oncology-certified nurse for numerous years before being accepted into doctoral school. I was fortunate to complete 400 clinical hours of my doctoral education with the providers at Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services. I have always felt an amazing connection with my oncology patients and their families. I consider myself blessed to be able to aid them in one of the biggest challenges of their lives and see their resilience. What canpatients expectwhen theyfirst meetwithyou? I want to get to know you and develop a rapport with you and your family or caregivers. Oncology care can be scary and overwhelming, but we are a team navigating your journey together. What are someofyour hobbies? Reading—I missed reading for fun during my years of school! My family and I are very active patrons of our local libraries. Additionally, I enjoy being active in my children’s lives by attending music recitals, sports practices and games, baking for them, hiking, swimming, doing escape rooms, going to local plays—whatever you throw at us! We love to travel and see the world. What drewyou toKootenai Health? I was born and raised here in Coeur d’Alene and had previously worked at Kootenai Health as a nursing assistant. Ultimately what drew me to Kootenai Health for this role was my experiences and interactions during my doctor of nursing practice (DNP) hours with the team and Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services. The oncologists here are top-notch, and I am grateful to be part of their team. What isyour favoritehealthy tip? I would say diet is such an important part of our lives that is overlooked. Stay away from processed foods and focus on whole foods, such as fruit, vegetables and lean meat. Also, shop at your local farmers markets! Wheredidyou receiveyourmedical degree? I obtained my DNP degree at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. Thankfully, the program was a hybrid program. While the basis of education came from Bismarck, my clinical experiences took place here in the community, including at Kootenai Health.
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