Reaching new heights: St. Luke’s care, pacemaker help team member continue active lifestyle

Ice, wind, snow, jagged rocks, even an uncommon heart issue — nothing can really slow down Selina Paul.

Paul, a 14-year team member at St. Luke’s, serves as a specialist in training clinical staff in Epic, the commonly used healthcare records software.

But earlier this year, she became a patient while processing a diagnosis that required a pacemaker, something shocking to an active 43-year-old.

“I kind of thought, ‘Isn’t that something only old people need?’” Paul said. “But over the course of a few years, I was noticing it was getting harder to bounce back after working out or a long hike.”

In January, Paul met with St. Luke’s cardiologist and cardia electrophysiologist Dr. Melinda Marks. It was recommended she wear a heart rate monitor while performing her normal activities. So, naturally, Paul decided on a winter jaunt up King Mountain near Arco, about 10,000 feet above sea level. It was the perfect test.

Dr. Marks diagnosed Paul with sinus node dysfunction, meaning the heart was not creating proper electrical signals. It can be diagnosed at any age, but most cases are in people 70 or older. Dr. Marks reassured Paul of any concerns about a pacemaker — she would still be able to be her active self.

“You don’t see it often in people her age, generally older folks,” said Dr. Marks. “But over a two-week period, her average heart rate was 53 beats per minute.

“We wanted to make sure with the pacemaker that was selected, that it wouldn’t prevent her from doing what she likes to do.”

Five months after receiving it, she’s been moving as well as ever.

A test in June found that, in fact, the pacemaker needed to keep pace with Paul. With the assistance of Dr. Marks and fellow cardiologist Dr. Robyn Bryde — “the best of the best,” Paul said of the pair — it was programmed to keep up even better with her.

“It has not stopped me from doing anything I love,” Paul said. “I’m still going to get there, even if it takes a little longer. If I ever don’t feel right, I’m going to take a break.”

In July alone, Paul trekked up California’s Mount Whitney and Mount Shasta, both 14,000-foot peaks, though she had to stop about 300 feet shy of Shasta’s summit due to weather. In between, she scaled True Grit, Idaho’s highest technical climb.

“I feel like a badass,” Paul said. “I think for everyone, you want to push yourself. My hiking group says, ‘Do something hard every day.’ You don’t know who you are until you push yourself. My pacemaker is a part of me, but it’s not my identity.”

Paul certainly gained a further appreciation for the clinical teams she at times helps educate. “I like the fact that I can teach people like that something that helps them with their jobs.” It wasn’t just her own experience.

Late in 2025, her son was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. While he was undergoing chemotherapy, Paul had her pacemaker put in.

Paul’s father, Guy, had a stent placed five years ago due to a 90% blockage. After he recovered, he made it a goal to hike all nine of Idaho’s 12,000-foot peaks with his daughter. So far, they’ve done six.

Going back further, St. Luke’s care teams supported Paul through a complicated pregnancy with her son.

“We’re all here today because of St. Luke’s,” Paul said.

Added Dr. Marks: “It’s very rewarding to see … even if you’re a young, active person like Selina, if something doesn’t feel right, say something. If there’s a disturbance, we have options and treatments to alleviate symptoms sooner.”