Dr. Laura McGeorge, for nearly three decades a St. Luke’s physician and leader, has been named to the health system’s board of directors. Approved by the board in late July, Dr. McGeorge will be involved in board and committee meetings starting this fall.

Starting with St. Luke’s in 1996 until her retirement from the organization two years ago, Dr. McGeorge served in progressive clinical and leadership roles, first as an internist and then with responsibilities covering primary and urgent care, medical specialties and occupational health.

Over her years with St. Luke’s, she helped to shape specialty care and to build out the organization’s common electronic health records system. As St. Luke’s moved into the value-based care space, which prioritizes outcomes and ongoing, rather than episodic, care, Dr. McGeorge guided the organization’s application to the federal government for accountable care organization status. In her capacities as system service line medical director, she was instrumental in St. Luke’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She brings to her new board responsibilities a depth of knowledge across the continuum of medical care and an understanding of St. Luke’s and health systems that round out the health system board’s cumulative experience and perspective; she is particularly passionate about excellent health care, including great care for rural residents, physician morale and well-being, the physician-patient relationship and community connection, in alignment with St. Luke’s long-time objectives and concerns. She also has been a St. Luke’s patient at multiple locations, as have family members; her two daughters, one now in college and the other a special education teacher, both were “NICU babies,” having been admitted to St. Luke’s Boise’s neonatal intensive care unit at birth.

“I realize what a gift it is to have excellent health care,” she said, adding that she can remember when St. Luke’s was composed only of the Boise hospital, before recounting many of the initiatives that have positioned the system to provide the services it does today. “It’s just amazing, all these things that have put us in this position. Amazing hospitals, amazing providers …

“I feel very good about the health care. I just have such confidence in the level of health care we deliver at St. Luke’s.”

Relationships, critical to the physician-patient connection, are another element that Dr. McGeorge looks forward to continuing within the organization.

“There’s something special about our people,” she said. “We want to keep that. It is one of the amazing things about St. Luke’s.

“I just think the general culture of St. Luke’s is so important, and we need to maintain that.”

Dr. McGeorge has served on and worked with a variety of professional organizations and committees, including the Idaho State Board of Medicine and Idaho Medical Association, and St. Luke’s internal and board committees. Over the past two years, she has been very actively engaged in multiple community commitments, serving as a school board member and volunteer with the American Red Cross. In that capacity, she has addressed needs as varied as house fire response and supporting the victims of the Maui wildfires.

“I was put on this earth to take care of other people, and I still feel that way. That is what gives me joie de vivre, taking care of people.”