Striking gold in the Silver Valley

Being relatively new to Heritage Health, Dr. Heidi Herold agreed to cover a colleague’s maternity leave in Kellogg.

After three months, the plan was for her to return to Coeur d’Alene from her temporary assignment. Instead, she struck professional gold in the Silver Valley, practicing family medicine.

“I love the people here,” said Herold. “After three months working in Kellogg, I realized that I didn’t want to be anywhere else. This is home.”

The Silver Valley suits Herold’s personality and lifestyle.

“It’s more intimate here,” she said. “A smaller clinic allows me the opportunity to get to know the patients and really develop lasting relationships with them. Of course, rural medicine brings a lot of excitement too.”

Dr. Herold said she feels privileged to help residents and sees a wide array of conditions.

“There’s never a dull moment,” she said. “I also get the opportunity to help bring knowledge to the patients who may never have known about the impact of unhealthy habits.”

She graduated from medical school at the University of North Dakota. She completed her undergraduate work at Dickinson State University. Herold completed her residency in Redding, Calif., and then she opened a private clinic there.

“I was there for 16 years, but the economics of healthcare in California meant I was going to either have to join a larger group or move somewhere else,” she said. “I opted to move to be near my son in Eagle, Idaho.”

Herold eventually found her way to North Idaho and took a job with Heritage Health nine months ago.

“Heritage Health was appealing because I knew I could make difference in people’s lives,” she said. “It’s like a family.”

Herold lives east of Coeur d’Alene on a large parcel that she and her husband, Randy, maintain. Their children are grown, but family is very important to Heidi. Today, they enjoy raising horses and other animals on their ranch.

“We love our horse, dogs and we’ll be getting some ducks in the near future,” she said.

Dr. Herold said practicing medicine has always been appealing to her.

“I have a fix it personality,” she said. “It’s a pretty amazing feeling to be able to help people heal. It’s a big rush when a patient finally is able to change something in their lives that has been holding them back.”

To hear more from Dr. Herold, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfyj9DRyfHY