Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 4, 2021

Why did you pick your specialty? Cardiothoracic surgery is a fascinating field that really makes me feel like I am making a difference in my patients’ lives. I enjoy working as a surgeon to help improve someone’s health by replacing an aortic valve or bringing new blood to the heart with coronary artery bypass grafting. What can patients expect when they meet you? I always like to greet my patients with a smile. It’s still there, even though we’re wearing masks nowadays! What are some of your hobbies? Hiking, camping, paddle boarding, running and anything outdoors. What drew you to Kootenai Health? I was looking to get out of the city and find a smaller community close to the outdoors. I was impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities at Kootenai Health, as well as how friendly and kind the people are. What is your favorite healthy tip? Stay active! Get outside and get at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise every day! Schedule an appointment: Call (208) 625-4120 . Erica Magers, M.D. Kootenai Clinic Family Medicine Tell us a bit about you and your family: I am blessed to be married to my husband for 26 years. We have two wonderful teenagers. Why did you pick your specialty? I feel honored to be a family doctor who cares for entire families, from newborn babies to great-grandparents. What can patients expect when they first meet you? My patients know me as a warm, welcoming person with a kind heart. I try to take complex medical concepts and explain them in understandable ways. I really care about my patients and try to go the extra mile for them. What are some of your hobbies? I love to spend time with family and friends. Also, reading, cooking and hiking. What drew you to Kootenai Health? The people, the community and the natural beauty. What is your favorite healthy tip? Keep moving. Exercise does not absolutely have to be an intensive, sweaty workout. Staying functionally strong by lifting, squatting, bending, reaching and generally keeping your body moving throughout the day is a great contributor to wellness. Schedule an appointment: Call (208) 625-3500 . Emily McCarty, M.D. Kootenai Clinic Pediatric Hospitalist Tell us a bit about you and your family: I’m originally from Coeur d’Alene. My husband and I made a conscious choice to move back to the area. We love the outdoors in every season, so we are excited to start adventuring again in northern Idaho. We also love the community and are excited to call this place home again. Why did you pick your specialty? I love pediatrics! As a pediatric hospitalist, I am so grateful for the opportunity to take care of kids and their families when they have to be in the hospital, which can be a very scary time. Pediatric medicine is unique; kids are amazing in how they can recover from being sick. What can patients expect when they first meet with you? Medicine is a team sport, and I want my patients and their families to be a part of the medical team. My goal is to provide quality, evidence-based medicine while sharing my thought process in an open and understandable manner that allows kids and their caregivers to ask questions and be a part of their care. I love what I do for a living, and I want my patients to see that come through in the care they receive. What are some of your hobbies? I love running, biking, hiking, swimming, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP!), skiing, snowshoeing…basically anything outside with my husband and our dog. What drew you to Kootenai Health? I value the emphasis Kootenai Health places on community, including outreach, recruiting providers who are from and/or want to stay in the community and grow with the community. What is your favorite healthy tip? Move every day that you can! Walk, dance, run, swim, play with your pet—anything that gets your body moving. I think it helps keep us healthy and happy. KH . ORG 13