Island Health welcomes internal medicine physician to staff

||| FROM LAURA MULRONEY for ISLAND HEALTH |||

Charles Kotal, M.D. 

Today, Charles Kotal, MD, joins Island Health’s Island Primary Care – 24^th Street clinic (formerly Fidalgo Medical Associates) as an Internal Medicine physician. Kotal was most recently a provider at The Everett Clinic in Anacortes. He served as Island Health’s Hospitalist Director for 10 years (2008-18), the last three of which he was also Chief of Medicine. Previously, Kotal worked as a hospitalist/internist and eventually served as director at Skagit Valley Hospital, where he developed and staffed its inaugural hospitalist program.

Kotal earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University, followed by neurobiology research studies at the University de Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris, France. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Virginia and completed his internship and residency at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle.

Dedicated to working closely with his patient’s medical team, Kotal enjoys getting to know each patient as a person first, identifying goals and tackling challenges, then solving the problems. He says he finds himself most at home working one-on-one with patients and their families.

“As in internist, I am interested in the entire spectrum of healthcare. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be preventative medicine, as I don’t want to see a problem arise that I could have helped prevent in the first place,” he said.

Island Health Chief Medical Officer Jason Hogge, MD is thrilled to officially welcome Kotal to the staff.

“We are looking forward to both his excellent care and his leadership experience. Dr. Kotal is a great addition to our team,” Hogge said.

Kotal has lived in the Skagit Valley since 1999 and considers it the most wonderful place on earth. He loves reading, running, backcountry skiing and eating spicy Thai food, but most of all, spending as much time as possible being a dad.

To make an appointment with Dr. Kotal, call 360.293.3101.