Physician seeks seat on hospital district board

Dr. Robert McFarland on Tuesday announced his candidacy for trustee of the Kootenai Hospital District.

The election for four at-large seats on the district's board is May 18.

McFarland, a Coeur d’Alene native, has practiced family medicine for over 40 years. He has served in many offices in Kootenai Health, including chief of staff, chairman of Family Practice, and member of the founding committee of the Kootenai Care Network.

“For all of my career, I have derived the greatest joy and satisfaction from serving my patients directly, and indirectly through many organizations that enhance the quality of life and health in Idaho," he said in a press release. "Our community hospital is at a critical juncture in terms of adjusting to the growing demographics of North Idaho, changing and very complicated payment systems, and the rapidly advancing and expensive options in medical care. This is not and should not be a matter of partisan politics."

McFarland has also been president of the Idaho Medical Association and president of the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians, and has served on the Medical Education Committee of the Idaho Board of Education.

He was named the Idaho Family Physician of the Year in 2016. He has chaired the Long Range Planning Committee of the Coeur d'Alene School District and was a cofounder and board chairman of the Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy.

He is currently a trustee of the Kootenai Health Foundation and a member of the board of directors of the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Rotary Club, and is on the advisory board of the Idaho WWAMI medical education system. He also serves on the admissions committee of the University of Washington School of Medicine.

"The hospital needs the guidance of trustees who are experienced in medical care and the business of medicine, and in the service systems of our region," McFarland said. "I have a grounding in these areas that has taken decades to acquire, and I want to continue to use my knowledge and skills to improve the health and wellness of my neighbors.”

The seats of Dr. Terence Neff, Katie Brodie, Jim Eisses and Dave Bobbitt expire this year. The four leading vote-getters on May 18 will win seats on the board.