Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 4, 2018

10 Tell us a littlebit about youandyour family. I grew up on a farm in a small town in North Dakota. I attended Washington State University for my undergraduate degree before returning to North Dakota for medical school. It was at medical school where I met my fiancée, who has spent the last three years in Ohio for residency training. We’re excited to live in the same state again. Whydidyoupick your specialty? I chose family medicine because I enjoy caring for people of all ages. I volunteered at a children’s center as an undergraduate and worked as a certified nursing assistant in nursing homes and hospitals prior to medical school. Family medicine gives the opportunity to get to know people over time from all ages and walks of life, which is pretty cool. JamesWest,M.D. Kootenai Clinic FamilyMedicine Tell us a littlebit about you andyour family. I have a 4-year-old son named Elijah. He is energetic all the time and keeps me and my wife extremely busy. We love to camp and spend time outdoors. We are looking forward to having the opportunity to spend more time enjoying the beautiful outdoors and the numerous lakes and rivers in the area. Whydidyoupickyour specialty? Gastroenterology is a wonderful mix of clinical medicine and hands-on procedural time. I have always wanted to do something that would allow me to interact with people and use my hands and technical skills. It offers a wide variety of opportunities—everything from screening colonoscopies and bile duct stone extraction to constipation and reflux. The screening colonoscopy is a procedure that can alter long-term outcomes by providing preventive care for patients to avoid colon cancer. This field provides me with a great opportunity to impact and help others. What canpatients expect when theyfirstmeetwithyou? I try to be understanding of their situation and listen to their concerns. Often there are things that we can work through and therapy options that can be pursued that are unique to gastroenterology. The goal is always to improve quality of life by treating symptoms and completing a workup to determine the reasons and causes for the presenting symptoms. Whataresomeofyourhobbies? I enjoy being outside. This includes fishing, hiking, kayaking, biking and camping. I also enjoy woodworking, washing cars and fixing things, most of which are usually broken by my inquisitive 4-year-old. What drewyou toKootenai Health? Kootenai fit our dream of being able to work in a community setting and provide a level of care that is excellent. The vision of the hospital to serve this area is perfectly in line with my goals. What is your favorite healthy tip? Many people are nervous about having a procedure, especially a colonoscopy, and they avoid undergoing evaluation as a result, which is unfortunate. Having a colonoscopy is a valuable part of health maintenance for the right age group and for patients exhibiting certain symptoms. We need to see more individuals coming in for screening exams to avoid future cancers and concerns. To schedule an appointment, call (208) 625-4595 . MatthewLute,D.O. Kootenai Clinic Gastroenterology