Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 3, 2017

Matthew Bean, M.D. Kootenai Clinic Family Medicine Started: July 10 Tell us a little bit about you and your family: I grew up in Coeur d’Alene. I am married to the love of my life (Alicia Ogram), and we have three small children: twin 4-year-old boys and an almost 2-year-old daughter. We are thrilled to be moving back to the area. Why did you pick your specialty? I initially chose family medicine because I loved delivering babies and practicing women’s health and sports medicine. I now love family medicine because of the relationships that I develop with my patients and their families. I love how I am able to help patients over the broad scope of medicine and life: from kids, to sports medicine, to women’s health, to mental health, to living and being healthy. What can patients expect when they show up for their first appointment with you? I want to get to know you beyond your medical history. What do you enjoy? How many kids do you have? What makes you you ? Medically, I will advise you based on what the evidence has shown and come to a shared decision with you about your care. What are some of your hobbies? Running, biking, swimming, skiing and reading. What drew you to Kootenai Health? I have always enjoyed teaching. When I heard that Kootenai Health had an opening in its family medicine residency (training for new doctors), I had to apply. The high quality of people working at Kootenai Health and the program made me want to work here. What is your favorite health tip? Exercise is medicine. It pretty much makes everything better. To schedule an appointment, call (208) 625-6000 . Ramsis Benjamin, M.D.,M.P.H. Kootenai Clinic Neurology Started: April 17 Why did you pick your specialty? In 1990, President Bush designated the ’90s as “Decade of the Brain.” The Library of Congress and the National Institute of Mental Health received a large amount of federal funding for research. Because of this, I went to the National Institute of [Mental] Health in 1993, where I worked on G-protein mutations on McCune- Albright disease. What can patients expect when they show up for their first appointment with you? I work with my patients to cover every detail of their medical history, because anything, however trivial, can be used to make the proper diagnosis. What are some of your hobbies? I love history and would like to know more about Abscam and the congressional “Private Bills” of the 1970s, as well as the group of artists that created Fauvism in the early 1900s. I’m also looking forward to riding the Hiawatha Trail. What drew you to Kootenai Health? The great team of physicians that I’ll be working with, including Drs. Britt, Schreiber, Lavy and Hampton. To schedule an appointment, call (208) 625-5100 . KH . ORG 11