Caring Heart Awards spotlight: Dr. Michael Walton is the health system medical director for the Behavioral Health Service Line at St. Luke’s. In 2024, Dr. Walton was honored with the excellence award for physicians, part of St. Luke’s Caring Heart Awards program. This award recognizes physicians and advanced practice practitioners who demonstrate our values, behaviors and vision in providing exceptional patient-centered care. Known for his unwavering commitment to St. Luke’s values and Always Behaviors, Dr. Walton is a steadfast advocate for excellence in patient care. He has taken on multiple leadership roles, including interim Children’s Behavioral Health medical director and regional medical director for the East Region of the Behavioral Health Service Line. Dr. Walton’s dedication to patient safety and his ability to recognize and promote team achievements make him an exceptional leader and physician. “Mike’s professional performance exemplifies the epitome of leadership excellence and commitment. Mike is not just a leader and exceptional physician; he is a role model and catalyst for positive change,” said a colleague. (fb)

St. Luke’s has a longstanding philosophy that collaborating with other organizations can have an even larger effect to improve the health of the communities we serve. Kristi Pardue has seen that philosophy result in great success in her time as manager of St. Luke’s Sports Medicine Concussion Clinic. “St. Luke’s can do so much more when we’re working with community partners,” Pardue said. “We are making so much more of an impact when we do that.” Pardue has firsthand evidence of that after working with the Boise School District for the past decade. In early April, Cassie Luna, a learning coach with the Boise School District, presented a video at the 14th Annual St. Luke’s Concussion Symposium. The video was the result of years of collaboration between the school district and St. Luke’s. Geared toward eighth graders, the video features local students asking questions about concussions. The material focuses on some of the misconceptions surrounding concussions and provides facts about what concussions are and how to be aware of some of the common symptoms. It also provides resources for students. “After watching this video, eighth graders will know more than most adults do about concussions,” Pardue said. (fb)