Dr. Hailey Wilson is an enrolled member of the Nimiipuu Nation.  Raised in Lapwai, Idaho, she is a graduate of Lapwai High School. Dr. Wilson is the daughter of Mark Wilson and Vivian Henry; her paternal grandparents are the late Lucille Redheart Wilson and Simon Wilson. Her maternal grandparents are the late Carla Norris and Kenneth Henry. Dr. Wilson received her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science Studies from Boise State University. She then went on to obtain her Medical Degree from the University of Washington, Seattle. She completed her family medicine residency training with the Swedish Cherry Hill Family Medicine Residency program and the Seattle Indian Health Board.

Dr. Wilson is excited to be returning home after serving the Indian Health Service (IHS) for nearly 7 years on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Arizona. There, she practiced full-spectrum family medicine and served as the Director of the Outpatient Department. Her professional interests include Native American health, rural and underserved health, patient and provider wellness, addiction medicine, and community health and engagement. She is also passionate about mentorship and strengthening the pipeline into healthcare and medicine. Outside of medicine, Dr. Wilson enjoys spending time with her family, especially her husband and 4 daughters. She also enjoys running with her dog Lola, traveling, sports, reading books and watching movies.

Physician – Member of the NMPH staff since 2020. Dr. Smith attended and graduated from Pullman High School from 1990 to 1994. He obtained a Bachelors in Biology in 1998, from Lewis and Clark College. In 2003, he graduated as a Doctor in Medicine (MD), from Wake Forest University. In 2015, Edward was blessed with a son. Dr. Smith completed his Family Medicine Residency at the University of New Mexico – School of Medicine, from 2003 to 2006; and Sports Medicine Fellowship, from May 2007 to May 2008.  Dr. Smith is knowledgeable in a variety of areas such as: Women’s Health issues, Skin Procedures, Sports Medicine, Pediatric Adult, Pediatric from newborn to 18 years old, Joint Injections, Wound Care, and/or Geriatric Care.  From 2009 to 2014, Dr. Smith was employed in the Student Health Clinic at Washington State University (WSU). At WSU, he was the team Physician for varsity sports. His employment before he began NMPH, was at the Pullman Family Medicine Clinic, in Pullman, WA.

Dr. Vu has been the OBGYN at Nimiipuu Health for the past 8 years. She graduated with her medical degree from New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY. She has over 20 years of experience which she brings to the table treating our patients. She enjoys serving patients from a diverse and unique population.

Pete received his Bachelors in Sports Medicine and has 15 years of experience as a Certified Athletic Trainer. He also has a Masters in Clinic Health Services, which afforded him the title Certified Physician Assistant, and he has been working with us for 10 months.

Pete loves working at Nimiipuu Health, having grown up in Lapwai himself. He gained even more interest in working here after having a positive experience at NMPH amid his clinical rotation during his Physician Assistant program.

Pete has a wife and two kids that he enjoys supporting in their activities. His daughter figure skates and his son participates in soccer, basketball, baseball, and cross country. During his off time, Pete likes to spend time golfing.

Brenda was born and raised on the prairie in the Winona area.  Her family farmed and raised cattle and hogs. The house Brenda grew up in sits in the middle, giving her a Kamiah address, Grangeville phone, and she went to school in Nezperce. She moved away for a short time and resided in Phoenix, Arizona. She returned to Idaho to raise her son, then began her education at LCSC to obtain her RN. She spent almost 20 years working as an RN in many different areas and doing travel nursing, but she had a feeling she needed to do more, so she returned to school to get her masters. Brenda worked her way through her master’s gaining her family nurse practitioner and Master’s in nursing education. She attended Grand Canyon University for her BSN then moved on to Walden University for both of her master’s degrees. Before coming to Nimiipuu Health, Brenda was a Nurse Practitioner at Tri-State Memorial Hospital and an instructor at Walla Walla Community College. Brenda is married with one son, a grandson, and two fur-babies. One fun fact about Brenda is that she competes in cowboy mounted shooting. She has five horses that are trained to compete in these events.

Saker has been a Physical Therapist for over 22 years. He has been practicing at Nimiipuu Health since March of 2019. He graduated from Andrews University with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology. He then attended Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID where he graduated with a Master of physical Therapy in August of 1997.

Saker has his own business, Full Potential Physical Therapy, located in Lewiston, Idaho. In his personal time, he loves outdoor cycling, and he also enjoys fly fishing and backpacking.

Physician – Dr. Worth has been with Nimiipuu Health since April of 2018 as a part-time physician practicing in Family Medicine.  Outside of Nimiipuu Health Dr. Worth also teaches medical students at the University of Idaho WWAMI medical education program.  His emphasis there is on clinical skills and mind body medicine.

Dr. Worth has a wife and four children that are grown. In his spare time, he enjoys running and Hockey, and he has also recently been trying his hand at the arts on stage and had a part in a play.

Podiatrist – Dr. Capawana graduated in 1998 from Brigham Young University. He then attended medical school at the California College of Podiatric Medicine and completed his Residency at the University of Utah from 1994-1997.

Dr. Capawana has been working in the Palouse region since 1999 and raised his family in the area.  He has four kids and three grandkids that he loves very much. In his off time, he enjoys skiing in the winter and biking in the summer.

Recruited to the team by Dr. Lois Niska, Dr. Capawana began contracting with Nimiipuu Health as a Podiatrist in 2007.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner – Chad has been working with Nimiipuu Health since January of 2014. In 1995 he earned an Associate Degree in welding from Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC). In 2004 he attended Walla Walla Community College, earning another Associate Degree with focus on Nursing. He received his bachelor’s degree in Nursing from LCSC in 2005 then went on to Washington State University to earn a master’s in Nursing for Family Practice. He extended his knowledge base further by attending Gonzaga University in 2012, earning another master’s degree, this one in Psychiatry.

Chad worked at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Facility from 2003 to 2021, with a year break from 2014 to 2015.  In addition to working here at Nimiipuu Health, Chad currently works at the Veteran’s Health Administration in Lewiston, Idaho.

His work experience includes, but is not limited to Thought Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, Addiction Medicine, Inpatient Psychiatry, and Geropsychiatry.

Chad was born and raised in Lewiston, Idaho. He is married with four kids, one grandchild and one more on the way! In his personal time, Chad enjoys Boating, scuba diving, hunting, fishing, camping, exercising, building things,  and powered paragliding.

Julie is a Registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist. Julie was raised in Seattle Washington.  She has been employed at Nimiipuu Health as a registered dietitian nutritionist since August of 1997 and became a certified diabetes care and education specialist in 2005.  She has been interested in the relationship between nutrition and health most of her life and loves to help people to achieve their best health.  Outside of work Julie enjoys concerts, movies,  animals (chihuahuas in particular) and cooking.

Massage Therapist Sally Springs joined Nimiipuu Health as a full-time Massage Therapist in December 2019. She grew up in the beautiful northwest until her late 20’s, moving to Central Oregon. She worked in a saw mill for ten years. Joining the military in 1986, Sally served in the US Navy and was honorably discharged in 1994. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Ottawa University in 1997. After graduating, she relocated to the Phoenix, Arizona area. While in Phoenix, Sally enrolled in Allied Health, a wellness center where she obtained her official massage license. Sally has been then practicing massage therapy for six years. Sally has one daughter and two granddaughters. She recently discovered that she has Nez Perce roots and it turns out that she has many relatives; she was even fortunate enough to come into contact with her full-blood sister. Sally is an enrolled Nez Perce tribal member.

Leslie graduated with her BSN from Idaho State University in 1988. She worked in Home Health for many years before getting a position at the Ft. Hall Clinic on the Shoshone/Bannock Reservation. Leslie was hired at Nimiipuu Health in 2001 and has held many positions during her time here. She is currently the Community Health Department Manager.

She is the current QI/Risk Chair, she does Case Management and Discharge Planning, she performs in-home care visits and medication management. She is a champion for the elder community, serving on the Adult Protection Multi-Disciplinary Team and never giving up on the assisted living facility in our own community dream.

Jackienna is an enrolled Nez Perce Tribal member. Her parents were Jack Trail and Patricia Pablo.  In 1999, Jackienna began her career at Nimiipuu Health after working several years as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in multiple nursing homes in the Lewis-Clark Valley. She started at Nimiipuu Health as the Maternal Child Health CNA and worked until 2008 when she went back to school to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. In 2010, she graduated as a Registered Nurse from Walla Walla Community College. While in school, she kept her ties with Nimiipuu Health by participating on the Nimiipuu Health Board from 2009-2012. In 2012, she took on the role of a Community Health Nurse.

Her scope of care is helping anyone with health needs but her focus is cancer and her special relationship with Elders. She works in the community providing home visits, filling medisets, assisting with the Immunization clinics and working with the Community Health staff. She coordinates the scheduling and facilitation for the mammogram mobile visits to Nimiipuu Health. She also plans to bring Blood Drives back in collaboration with Vitalant in Lewiston. She currently has three sons who are now young men and one granddaughter. She enjoys spending her free time with her family and traveling.

Dr. Eichler was born in McMinnville, Oregon. He attended Oregon State University where, in 1976 he obtained a bachelor’s in animal science and went on to pursue a degree in Nursing. He became a Registered Nurse in 1987. On a medical mission to Haiti in 1987, he had the opportunity to assist a dentist. Taking a keen interest in dentistry, he applied and was accepted into Oregon Health Sciences University in 1989, working as a nurse and graduating in 1993. After graduation, he spent the next 26 years in private practice in North Pole, Alaska, serving the profession as President of the Alaska Dental Society and as a member examiner of the Alaska Board of Dental Examiners. After retiring for four months in 2019, he saw an opportunity to serve in Lapwai and accepted his present position as a dentist at Nimiipuu Health. Dr. Eichler has been married for 46 years. He has three children and six grandchildren.  He loves to spend his time traveling and serving in his church in Clarkston.

He was rehired as a Dentist in April of 2021 after being gone for some time. He previously worked for almost 9 years at Nimiipuu Health in the capacity of a Dentist as well as the Dental Director.

Heather Foster, LCSW, QSUDP, has been serving Nimiipuu Health patients since 2015.  She graduated from Lewis-Clark State College in 2014 with a Bachelor of Social Work degree and from Boise State University in 2015 with her Masters of Social Work.  She is licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Idaho.

Heather currently provides diagnostic assessments for Mental Health, Substance Use Disorders, Anger and Domestic Violence which is approved through the Idaho Supreme Court.  In addition, she provides Co-occurring individual psychotherapy, as well as group therapy   Heather previously worked in the Substance Use Field and was a Mental Health and Drug Court Coordinator.  She also owns a Private Practice.  She is trained in Motivational Interviewing, Moral Reconation Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Anger Management.

Heather is currently appointed to the Juvenile Justice Counsel and the Juvenile Justice Association as a representative for District 2.

Heather’s motto is “there is no one size fits all approach to therapy”.  Every person has a unique collection of struggles that only pertain to them.  As a counselor, she empowers her clients by using a variety of strategies and interventions based on the client’s needs.  She has experience treating children, adolescents, and adults with diverse backgrounds and ranges of concerns.

Sasheena Williams, Behavioral Health Recovery Coach- Sasheena transferred to Behavioral Health in 2021 after her 8-year service in the Dental Department.

Sasheena’s desire to make a difference in the lives of others brought her to Nimiipuu Health. In her role as a Recovery Coach, Sasheena States,  “I can contribute to creating a healthier world for our people. Life-changing and lifesaving makes this opportunity all worth it."

In her down-time, Sasheena loves spending time with her family, traveling, fishing, cooking, baking, cleaning, shopping, music, bird watching and photography. She adopted her first kid in 2018, gets anxiety being in large crowds, and loves being outdoors huckleberry picking and root digging. One struggle that made Sasheena who she is today is her journey overcoming alcoholism and helping others through that struggle as well.

Words Sasheena likes to remember in hard times are, "Every time that it seems like life is punishing you, understand that you’re only being prepared for everything that you have coming to you.” -Londrelle

BH Clinician - Originally hired in 2005, Dora worked in many capacities for Nimiipuu Health until 2018, when she left to go back to school. After graduating from LCSC in May of 2018 with a bachelor’s in social work, Dora was rehired with NMPH as an Intake Specialist in January of 2019. During this time with the assistance of her peers, she performed clinical hours towards her Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW).  On July 30, 2021 she was licensed as an LMSW. On October 4, 2021 she was reclassified to the Behavioral Health Clinician job description. She was credentialed by Nimiipuu Health on October 4, 2021.

Kiara Garcia, LMSW: Behavioral Health Co-Occurring Clinician. Raised in Lapwai, ID, Kiara earned her Bachelor of Social Work from LCSC in 2021. She then went on to earn her Master’s in Social Work in 2022 and was licensed soon after. After graduating, Kiara moved back to Lapwai where after a few months, she was hired as co-occurring clinician as a Licensed Master Social Worker. Kiara is currently working on obtaining her clinical licensure and is very excited to be back home working in the community. She loves the department she works in and the support they have for one another. In her spare time, Kiara enjoys spending time with her family and her boyfriend. She like to hunt, forage for morel mushrooms and huckleberries, she also likes hiking and taking in a new movie or show.

Sabrina Wakefield is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been in the profession since 2012 and with Nimiipuu Behavioral Health since 2018. She serves all ages who have mental health and addiction needs utilizing a strengths-based approach. She provides individual, couples, and family therapy in the Behavioral Health office as well as through confidential Zoom sessions Monday through Friday. Sabrina has lived in many places during her life and has lived the entirety of her adulthood in the Lewis-Clark valley. In her free time Sabrina loves spending time with her family in nature or playing games. She is a fan of the arts from drawing to acting, singing, and dancing. She found her niche in her profession, as she has always been a lover of people and the various personalities, cultures, and stories that make us unique as well as united.

Behavioral Health Clinician – Tammy has her Master’s in clinical Social Work (MSW). She earned her initial license, Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in 2003 and moved on to replace that with a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in 2008.  Tammy began her career as a program manager in a crisis stabilization facility back in 1998 with Western Montana Mental Health Center in Missoula, MT. She has been a Clinical Director of a private group practice in Grangeville, ID since February of 2005.

Hired in November of 2018 as a Behavioral Health Clinician and having worked in the mental health field since 1998, she brings 25 years of knowledge and experience  to Nimiipuu Health. Tammy has experience in Child Protection work, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral therapy, trauma work, Motivational Interviewing, Group work, Family Counseling, Mediation, Crisis Intervention strategies, Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Assessment and Evaluation, DV evaluations and related treatment, DUI evaluations and ADIS curriculum. Her passions are helping people to heal and rebuild their lives, advocate, and train others in this field to be the very best providers they can be by providing Ethical Delivery of Care.

Tonia practices as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She attended Lewis-Clark State College for her undergraduate degree in Social Work and Boise State University for her graduate degree in Social Work. While pursuing her education, she completed her internship with the Nez Perce Tribe, Child Protection Services serving tribal members and their families. In 2012, she was hired by Nimiipuu Health, Behavioral Health and worked under the Methamphetamine and Suicide Prevention grant, as an Intake Specialist and was later hired as a Clinician.

Tonia is an eclectic counselor with experience working with individuals at all stages of life wanting assistance with a range of issues including: abuse and trauma, depression, anxiety, substance use issues, life adjustments, and grief and loss. Her therapeutic approach model recognizes that each person is an individual and has a unique set of skills and strengths that requires a creative and diverse approach to therapy.  Tonia continues to obtain training and education related to counseling and health disparities that disproportionately affect tribal nations.

“If you focus on the hurt, you will continue to suffer. If you focus on the lesson, you will continue to grow.”

Dr. Kuehfuss began working at Nimiipuu Health in 2011 moving from a contracted position to the Behavioral Health Director. She eventually stepped down from that role to spend more time with her family. In 2015, she became a Behavioral Health Clinician. She is currently working under contract as a Licensed Psychologist for Nimiipuu Behavioral Health, providing telehealth services.

Supervising Optometrist – Originally from sunny California, she graduated from Illinois College of Optometry in 2010. She joined Nimiipuu Health in 2014 where she has been serving as the sole Optometrist and has been a valuable member of our team. Prior to working at NMPH, Dr. Huh practiced at Navajo Area Indian Health Service (NAIHS) in Chinle, AZ and Libertyville Vision in Libertyville, IL.  Dr. Huh is married with one daughter. She also has a fur baby, Roblus, a Bouvier des Flanders who was born in September of 2020. In her spare time, Dr. Huh enjoys being outdoors. Her whole family, Roblus included, love the water. She has yet to go huckleberry picking, but maybe this year she will get her chance to gather some delicious berries with her family.

Christina has been with Nimiipuu Health since 2013 serving in the capacity of a pharmacist. She graduated from Washington State University with her Doctorate in Pharmacy in 2011. Christina brings with her over 11 years of experience.

Natasha was a pharmacy student while working here at Nimiipuu Health in 2009. She graduated from Washington State University school of Pharmacy with a Doctor of Pharmacy in 2010. She has worked at Nimiipuu Health since 2017 and has a Diabetes Certification which she received in May of 2014. Having spent 7 years in Bethel, Alaska serving the Yupik tribe, Natasha has been with IHS for 13 years! She has a loving husband, Mike and she loves to spend time doing crafts with her little girls McKinley and Bristol.

Rita has been a pharmacist at Nimiipuu Health for over 22 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Idaho State University in 1988. She has over 34 years of experience as a pharmacist.

Kimberly has been with Nimiipuu Health Pharmacy since 2020, before that she has worked as a pharmacist in retail and hospice settings in Clarkston and Vancouver WA for 22 years.   Kimberly calls the valley her home, having graduated from Clarkston High School, Biology from Lewis-Clark State College and Pharmacy from Washington State University. She enjoys all our area has to offer, such as camping, boating, and exploring the great Pacific Northwest.

Tyler earned a degree in chemistry at the University of Utah prior to completing the Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy. He recently joined Nimiipuu Health Fall of 2022 and is excited for the opportunity to meet and serve the community. Tyler has 14 years of pharmacy experience and just left Lewiston Walgreens as the pharmacy manager to take this opportunity.

Originally from Southern Utah, he has lived abroad in Vienna, Austria, as well as Salt Lake City, Utah, and Roswell, New Mexico. Dr. Cowart is married with 5 kids, 4 sons, 1 daughter, and a Belgian Shepherd that is commonly mistaken for a wolf or bear. In his spare time, Dr. Cowart likes to hike, play racquetball, play board games, and read.

Brenda has worked as a Laboratory Technician since 1988 starting at the Pathologists Regional Laboratory. From there she moved to the Laboratory Technician at Lewiston Medical Center in 2005, then in 2007 to Raw Materials Technician at Veterinary Medicine Research and Development. She came to Nimiipuu Health in 2012 and has been serving as the NMPH Laboratory Supervisor since 2019. Brenda received her Phlebotomist Certification in 1997, and she became a Certified Lab Technician with American Society of Clinical Pathologists in 2018. She has been married for 36 years, and she has 2 grown children and 2 grandsons.

Lori was born and raised in Lewiston, Idaho where she attended LCSC and received her Bachelor of Science in Radiographic Science and Business Management in 2015.  Lori has been with NMPH since 2015. She was initially hired as a PRN/on-call Radiologic Technologist and eventually transitioned to full-time in 2017.  Outside of work, Lori enjoys working on house projects and spending time with her husband, Brandon, and their 4 dogs.

Connie graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Technology in the Philippines. She worked as a Medical Technologist at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in the  Philippines from 1984 to 2000. She then moved to Pullman and worked at Pullman Memorial

Hospital from August 2000 to June 2002. From Pullman, Connie went to work at St. Mary’s Hospital in Cottonwood, Idaho from July 2002 to December 2002. She has been with Nimiipuu Health since January 2003. Connie loves working at Nimiipuu Health, which is why  she has chosen to stay with this team the longest. Connie is married to Rico Cruz, who also used to work for the Nez Perce Tribe. He is now retired. Together they have a daughter who is a senior at the University of Idaho. Connie’s hobbies include cooking, baking, and making beautiful beaded jewelry.

For the past 14 years Michelle has worked at Pathologist’s Regional Laboratory as a Core Scientist in many departments within the lab including some IT and lead/supervisory duties. She is excited for the chance to work in a different laboratory setting and be more involved with patients and providers. She has two girls and one cat. She enjoys quiet time with a book and being outdoors. Michelle has spent a few summers working for USGS on juvenile chinook/steelhead fish studies along the Snake/Columbia River dams. Every generation in her family has been in some medical profession and Michelle originally did not want to take that path, but an ad in the paper for a part-time position at PRL lead her to where she is now and she loves what she does.