Celebrating National Doctors’ Day

Doctors bring their expertise, skill and compassion to patient care every day — diagnosing and treating illness, guiding patients and families through some of their hardest moments, and sharing in the joy of good news or a health victory. And behind the responsibility of caring for the health and wellness of their patients and communities is a personal story that set them on the path to medicine.

Nicholas Strasser, DO, MultiCare Rockwood Northpointe Orthopedics & Sports Medicine and Foot & Ankle

Nicholas Strasser, DO

What called you to work in health care?

“I was called to work in health care after seeing the needs of the community around me. This career affords the rare opportunity to meet someone at their most vulnerable state, come alongside them in their challenges, and use knowledge and resources to help empower their healing.”

How do you show up for your patients beyond just your daily work?

“I show up for my patients through availability, prioritizing access and close follow-up. From beginning to end, we are in this journey together.”

How do you hope to impact the community through your work? 

“As a sports medicine physician, I hope to show my patients the importance of physical activity coupled with emotional strength and mental well-being. If we can work together in all these domains, we can move their health needle in the positive direction.”

What do you love about your job?

“I love getting to know my patients, seeing their struggles and successes, sharing tears and laughter, and knowing we are working together toward their healing.”

Learn more about Nicholas Strasser, DO

Amy Prezbindowski, PhD, director for behavioral health (Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital & MultiCare Behavioral Health Network)

Amy Prezbindowski, PhD

What called you to work in health care?

“My passion for languages led me to work with Deaf and hard of hearing children and their families within the United States and in other countries. I was fascinated by the differences in the ‘lens’ through which these individuals were viewed, some as part of a rich and vibrant Deaf culture and others as ‘handicapped’ by limitations in perceiving sound. I was called to work in mental health by the desire to support families in understanding their children, especially those with developmental differences, so that they can embrace their children and celebrate them. When we have the opportunity to support families early on in their journey with children with developmental differences, we shift the lens to see the possibilities in each child.”

What do you love about your job?

“I love the opportunity to educate colleagues about neurodivergence and developmental complexity with the intention that each of our patients is understood and valued for the unique individual they are. When our clinicians understand how to connect with our patients and families where they are developmentally, families feel understood and the treatment we provide is effective. I love the opportunity to intervene when our patients are young so that we set up the child and family for success early on in life.”

Learn more about Amy Prezbindowski, PhD

Laila Rashidi, MD, medical director of colorectal surgery, program director of colorectal and advanced GI/minimally invasive surgery

Laila Rashidi, MD

What called you to work in health care?

“As a child, I always liked to build things and see the result of it. I think that moved forward into my adult life in medicine — that I always wanted to see the result of my work, but in the best way.”

How do you hope to impact the community through your work?  

“I hope the impact that I have is, number one, education. I love to educate my community, my patients about their situation. I think that’s key. Respect and elevation is important. I think my patients need to know that they are in control, but also being able to offer the most innovative and less invasive way to my patients from a surgical standpoint in any way that I can. If I can save a patient with rectal cancer from a permanent ostomy, or if I can save them from a big open operation, that to me is valuable.”

What do you love about your job?

“Treating a cancer patient or a patient who has a complex disease and seeing them walking out the door with a smile and with no complications, that means a lot. My dedication is to my patients. They’re a very important team member. I want to make sure they do well.

“Being able to treat patients in their most vulnerable state and elevating them and ensuring that they understand they are in charge and I’m at their service to do what is best for them. I think that is the most valuable thing for me in the field that I am in.”

Learn more about Laila Rashidi, MD

Sarah d’Hulst, MD, medical director, MultiCare Rockwood Clinic Primary Care

Sarah d’Hulst, MD

What called you to work in health care?  

“Health care touches nearly everyone. I love to be able to provide good choices for patients and help them make decisions. In my administrative role I really enjoy finding the ‘perfect’ job for people so they can settle in Spokane and enjoy life in the INW. I also find satisfaction in helping people resolve issues and find new efficiencies while providing high-quality care.”

How do you show up for your patients beyond just your daily work?

“I show up for my patients with the same zest for life, service and goodness that I do in my personal life. I stay focused in how I spend my personal time so I can come to work with a balance that allows me to juggle all aspects of my life.”

How do you hope to impact the community through your work?

“I hope to have a positive impact on families through my work — through my clinical work, in my administrative role for our employees, and through my role as a board member for Teen and Kid Closet.”

Learn more about Sarah d’Hulst, MD