Meet our Foundation Board
Amelia Boyd, Board Chair
Kathryn Merkeley
Kathryn Merkeley is a program director for the Vizient Patient Safety Organization, supporting organizations as a subject matter expert and resource for safety and performance improvement. Prior to joining Vizient, Kathryn served as the director of patient safety at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she oversaw strategic safety and systems improvement initiatives for clinical and non-clinical service lines. Her clinical background is in emergency department and trauma nursing, where she worked in a variety of frontline and operational leadership roles in rural, community and urban hospitals. She holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Widener University in Chester, Pa., and a Master of Science in health systems administration from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
In her clinical and performance improvement roles, Kathryn recognizes the need for delivering high-quality healthcare where and when patients need it. Her work revolves around addressing clinical and operational challenges to ensure that providers have the resources to succeed in the complex and ever-changing healthcare industry. When she moved to Sandpoint in 2020, she quickly recognized the important and valuable role of Bonner General Health in the community and surrounding areas. Having care close to home is critical for supporting for a healthy and thriving population and ensuring that necessary services are available when residents and visitors need them most. She is excited to be part of a Board that is dedicated to the long-term success of Bonner General Health and using her own personal and professional experience to support initiatives in whatever way is necessary.
Kathryn lives in Sandpoint with her husband and twin toddler sons. She enjoys skiing, boating and being outdoors with her family.
Brittany Jacobson, Treasurer
Brittany Jacobson, a fourth-generation Sandpoint native, joined the Foundation Board in 2021, motivated by her desire to give back to her community.
Brittany and her husband Alex own the Pack River Store and during the pandemic shut down, they instituted a sack lunch program donating over 5,000 free lunches to the community.
“It was then that I realized my passion for volunteering and our community,” said Brittany. “The pandemic has shed so much light on how essential health care is and how important supporting our local hospital is for the community.”
Brittany currently serves on the Foundation’s Marketing and Fundraising and Hometown Health Care Grant committees. She also assists with the Heart Ball.
Brittany manages the catering at Pack River Store and also performs a lot of behind-the-scenes work. She and Alex have two daughters and live on a mountain with several animals.
Serving on the Bonner General Health Foundation Board has allowed Brittany to be part of a vital group in our health care community.
“I enjoy being a part of such a great group of people who all provide such excellent ideas and who meet or exceed our fundraising goals,” said Brittany.
She wants people in the community to know that as a nonprofit Hospital, Bonner General relies on community support. “Please consider donating to or volunteering for one of our fundraisers,” said Brittany.
Casey McLaughlin, Secretary
Casey joined the Bonner General Foundation Board in 2022. He is excited to partner with an amazing group of leaders to continue the excellent work being done at our local hospital.
As an educator in Sandpoint, Casey understands the importance of community support and is grateful to have the opportunity to help give back to BGH through the Foundation Board. Casey is grateful to live in an amazing area like Bonner County and when he is not working you can usually find him on the water or hiking up a trail in the woods.
Tom Lawrence, MD
Dr. Lawrence has served as a Trustee on the Bonner General Health Board since 1991 so it made perfect sense that when the Foundation Board was re-established that he join that board as well as a medical liaison.
“I treated patients in our community for more than 40 years as a family practice physician. I became the medical liaison to act as a bridge between the Foundation and clinical care at BGH,” said Dr. Lawrence. “When I retired, I wanted to stay involved because I strongly believe in the mission of Bonner General Health and all the hospital does for our community.
After serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam era, Dr. Lawrence moved to Sandpoint in 1977 and began his practice as a physician in Family Medicine. He has had the privilege of treating thousands of people in the community. He and his wife Debra raised their two sons here.
In addition to providing a wealth of information to the Bonner General Health Foundation Board, Dr. Lawrence also serves on the Planned Giving committee for the Foundation, working closely with local professionals.
Dr. Lawrence shares that after treating so many patients at Bonner General Health over the years, it is wonderful to witness how much the community members care about their hometown hospital. He also enjoys being a part of the advancements in technology, patient care and the facility.
He hopes that the community realizes just how instrumental the Foundation is in supporting Bonner General Health so we can keep quality health care close to home.
“We often take for granted how lucky we are to be able to receive the care we need in our small town,” said Dr. Lawrence.
Kathy Marietta
Kathy Marietta joined the Bonner General Foundation Board in 2023. Prior to that time she was an active member of the Advisory Board. Kathy and her husband, Bruce, have been supporters of Bonner General Hospital since shortly after they relocated to Sandpoint in 2019. They greatly appreciate the services and staff at the hospital through major complex encounters and more routine visits over the last few years. Upon deciding to move to Sandpoint, Kathy identified Bonner General as a community non-profit that she desired to support through volunteerism.
Kathy serves as the Chair of the Fundraising Committee, Chair of Foundation grant writing efforts, and is on the Governance Committee. Kathy noted “the competence and dedication of the Trustees is motivating, to say the least! Service on the Advisory Board gave me valuable insight into the quality care and capabilities Bonner General Hospital offers. Service on the Board has opened my eyes to the opportunity for the community to make a tangible difference through targeted annual programs to enhance the workplace for staff and to meet non-budgeted equipment needs. My involvement has been rewarding.”
Kathy and Bruce moved to Sagle from Houston, Texas. Kathy was actively involved in community activities in Houston including serving on the Board of Catholic Charities for a number of years and serving on the Boards of various professional organizations. Kathy is a retired attorney. She spent the bulk of her career as an international transactional lawyer which she says, “enabled me to travel and experience the world”.
