Sue Kangas was born and raised in a small town with a population of 300 in Michigan. “In 1985 I met a wonderful man who asked me if I wanted to live in Alaska. I said, ‘sure, why not?’ and we moved to Alaska in 1988,” says Sue.
In Alaska is where Sue became involved in medicine. First working as a Dental Hygienist for 20 years. “During this time as a Dental Hygienist is where I knew I really needed to pursue my passion. I always wanted to be a doctor but knew neither my parents nor myself could afford medical school. In 2009 the Medex Physician Assistant program from The University of Washington started at the University of Alaska Anchorage. I knew then that this was my chance to pursue my dream of becoming a medical provider. I applied to the program in 2010 and was accepted and started in 2011. I graduated in 2013 and started my first job at a local Urgent Care where I spent my first year caring for others. A position for a Primary Care Provider opened closer to home at our local Native Health Care Clinic. I was hired in 2015 and spent the next 8 years helping the Native and Veteran populations with their healthcare,” explains Sue.
“Medicine is one of my many passions. I am also very passionate about my family, friends, traveling, hiking, boating, snowshoeing and pretty much any outdoor activity!” says Sue.
After 33 years as an Alaskan resident Sue and her husband decided they were tired of the cold dark winters and went in search of a new place where they could call home. “We became involved in the Covid migration like many other Americans. We placed our home on the market, we accepted a bid in 24 hours and that began our new journey. We sold most everything we owned, packed a 20-foot cargo trailer and left Alaska by ferry because we couldn’t drive through Canada. We landed in Bellingham, WA. We spent some time with our son and grandchildren in Roy, WA then hit the road to search for the next place to call home,” says Sue.
Their first stop in their search was Coeur d’Alene. After a few days looking around there, Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry they headed south on 95 to Orofino. “We spent the night at the Best Western here in Orofino, chatted with people in the community and put Orofino at the top our list as our next possible home town. We realized we really missed and enjoyed the small town atmosphere where people wave to you when you pass them on the road and stop to chat with you in the grocery stores and post office even if they don’t know you. This made us feel welcome,” Sue explains.
They then left Orofino to travel for the next year visiting 16 states during their travels. “In January of this year we made a decision to find our next home. We looked at our list of possibilities and I started looking for employment. I checked the Clearwater Valley Health website and saw an opening for a Physician Assistant. I filled out the online application on a Wednesday and Friday I received a phone call from the clinic asking me if I’d like to do an interview via the web. I accepted the opportunity and ‘viola!’ I was hired. So, here we are in this beautiful canyon town we now call home!”
Sue says her passion lays in lifestyle medicine, “we all deserve to have the best healthcare possible and I enjoy sharing with others what I’ve learned throughout my lifetime.”