Northern Inyo Hospital press release

West Bishop resident Mary Mae Kilpatrick was named to the Northern Inyo Healthcare District (NIHD) Board of Directors during the board’s regular monthly meeting Wednesday evening. She will be formally sworn into office Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Mary Mae Kilpatrick

Mrs. Kilpatrick, the retired Superintendent of the Round Valley Elementary School District, was the only applicant to file for the recent Zone 4 vacancy. An Ad Hoc Committee of current board directors Denise Hayden and Pete Watercott interviewed Mrs. Kilpatrick before recommending her appointment to remaining board members MC Hubbard and John Ungersma, MD. The appointment was approved 4-0.

Mrs. Kilpatrick will complete the term vacated last month by long-time director D. Scott Clark, MD. Dr. Clark stepped down from the board following his retirement so that he could pursue other interests. Mrs. Kilpatrick will serve just shy of one year before determining if she will run for formal election to the Board in November 2016.

A Bishop resident for the past 58 years, Mrs. Kilpatrick is best known for her 38-year career as first an elementary school teacher and then the Superintendent of Round Valley Elementary School District. Among the highlights of her career, she was named Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America, and was the first mentor teacher approved by the State of California.

Many local organizations have benefitted from Mrs. Kilpatrick’s volunteer leadership, including Playhouse 395, the High Sierra Chapter of Sweet Adelines, the Bishop Community Concert Association, the Bishop Friendship Center and the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 118. She also serves on the Northern Inyo Hospital Foundation Board of Directors.

“Since accepting a position on the Northern Inyo Hospital Foundation Board, I have gained a wealth of knowledge regarding the services of our hospital,” Mrs. Kilpatrick said Thursday. “I would like to learn more about its rules and procedures by contributing my time and energy assisting the Board in their leadership, and promoting the growth and good will of Northern Inyo Hospital.”

Zone 3 Director and fellow NIH Foundation member Pete Watercott said Mrs. Kilpatrick’s inquisitive and engaging manner will serve the board well. “I can tell you why she is such a great educator,” he began. “It’s because she’s such a great student. Mary Mae asks a lot of questions and she always seeks out the information behind the issues.”

Kevin S. Flanigan, MD MBA, Interim CEO for NIHD, excitedly described “the positive energy Mrs. Kilpatrick has brought to the NIH Foundation Board meetings.” He said he looks forward to “that same energy, depth of experience, community commitment and new ideas that she brings to NIHD as we focus on our mission- improving our communities, one life at a time. One Team. One Goal. Your Health.”

She is married to Charles J. “Chuck” Kilpatrick, a retired insurance agent and long-time community volunteer. The couple has one daughter, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Kilpatrick will represent Northern Inyo Healthcare District residents living in the following service boundaries:

Precinct 30: City of Bishop, West Line Street to south end of City, west of Main Street
Precinct 44: Highland, Sunset, Watterson
Precinct 45: North of Sierra Vista Way, Irene Way
Precinct 46: South of Sierra Vista Way, Underwood
Precinct 47: Reservation, west of Barlow, north of West Line Street
Precinct 48: Reservation, east of Barlow, north of West Line Street
Precinct 50: South of West Line Street, Barlow to Main Street

Mrs. Kilpatrick will be sworn into office during the next NIHD Board of Directors meeting, set for Tuesday, Jan. 19, 5:30 p.m. The meeting date was moved back one day from the normal monthly schedule to allow the board members to attend a leadership training session with the Association of California Hospital Districts.

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About Northern Inyo Healthcare District: Founded in 1946, Northern Inyo Healthcare District features a 25-bed critical access hospital, a 24-hour emergency department, a primary care rural health clinic, a diagnostic imaging center, and clinics specializing in women’s health, orthopedics and neurology, pediatrics and allergies and general surgery. Continually striving to improve the health outcomes of those who rely on its services, Northern Inyo Healthcare District aims to improve our communities one life at a time. One team, one goal, your health.