Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 1, 2021

10 Me e t o u r n ew p r ov i d e r s Nina Bozinov, M.D., M.S. Kootenai Clinic Neurology Tell us a little bit about you and your family: My husband and I met while working at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Hamilton, Montana. I attended medical school at the University of Washington and for the past six years have been at Stanford for residency and fellowship. We are excited to be here with our four young daughters. Why did you pick your specialty? Multiple sclerosis (MS) allows me to practice both the science and the art of medicine. From carefully confirming the diagnosis, selecting treatment and managing symptoms, the approach to MS care is truly individualized to each person. What can patients expect when they first meet with you? Patients can expect a comprehensive MS care experience. The visit includes intake with one of our MS nurses. We will spend time reviewing symptoms and prior tests, and I also do a detailed neurologic exam. Our goal at the end of the clinic visit is to answer as many questions as we can but also create a plan going forward. What are some of your hobbies? Spending time with my husband and daughters. Learning to embrace the seasons again. What drew you to Kootenai Health? So many things! Kootenai Health has an outstanding patient-centered care model, and I knew we could transform MS care for the community. We have a strong foundation in quality and process improvement. I really enjoy collaborating with other health care providers to provide optimal patient care. What is your favorite healthy tip? Try to smile and laugh every day. Schedule an appointment: Call (208) 625-5100 . Aaron J. Chalmers, M.D., FACS Kootenai Clinic General Surgery Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I was born and raised in northwest Minnesota, attended college and medical school at the University of North Dakota and then moved to Madison, Wisconsin, for surgical residency. After medical school, I joined a multispecialty group practice in Bismarck, North Dakota, where I worked for the past eight years prior to moving to Coeur d’Alene. Why did you pick your specialty? I was drawn to treating critically ill patients early in med school and had a difficult time deciding between surgery and critical care. A strong surgical mentor felt I had an aptitude for surgery, nudged me in that direction, and the rest is history. What can patients expect when they first meet with you? An honest assessment of their situation and the same recommendations I would give to my family or a close friend. What are some of your hobbies? Golf, hiking, biking, skiing, scuba diving, curling and hunting/fishing. What drew you to Kootenai Health? The experience and advice of a friend and colleague from residency training first prompted me to investigate Kootenai Health. Coeur d’Alene was beautiful and seemed a great place to live, and Kootenai Health has an excellent reputation, as well as values and goals that the organization supported through action rather than lip service alone. I also found the medical staff to be remarkably collegial and of high quality. What is your favorite healthy tip? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Schedule an appointment: Call (208) 625-5200 .