Letter to Editor | Boteler Would Be Tremendous Asset to PHD

— from Steven M Thompson MD and Sarah K Lyle MD, MPH —

We are writing in support of the Public Hospital District, and to strongly endorse candidate Dr Diane Boteler for Commissioner.

We moved to Orcas Island ten years ago to raise our family, and hope very much to grow old here. Having local, sustainable, user-friendly, quality medical care is essential part of that dream, and we believe the PHD is an essential piece of this.

We believe Diane would be a tremendous asset for the Public Health District.

We have known Diane for nearly thirty years, first meeting through University of Washington Family Practice Residency training in Seattle WA. We can attest that she is a great physician, mentor, leader, and friend.

Diane has the necessary background for this important position. She has worked as a Family Physician on Orcas, Lopez, and San Juan Island, as well as a Hospitalist in Bellingham, providing quality outpatient and inpatient healthcare to northwestern Washington state. In addition, she has served as Clinical Director at the Orcas Island Medical Center, cultivating administrative and leadership skills.

Having her voice at the table will bring expertise on the unique aspects of real world rural medicine to the Public Hospital District committee on behalf of our island community.

Besides her broad hands on healthcare practice experience, Diane would bring her excellent interpersonal skills to the office of Commissioner. She truly listens, synthesizes complex information, considers varied perspectives, acknowledges differences, and seeks to find common ground. All this she manages to do with genuine compassion, grace, and empathy.

We cannot recommend her highly enough.