Find Top-Notch Health Care in Pullman and Moscow

Pullman Regional Hospital

The Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest is rich with wheat fields and vineyards, leading colleges and universities and a stellar collection of innovative and highly skilled health care facilities and providers. 

For those seeking health care in Pullman and Moscow, you don’t have to go far to find high quality doctors. Two local physicians share why they wouldn’t want to practice anywhere but here. 

Dr. Nancy Panko 

General and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Pullman Regional Hospital 

Growing up in Alaska, Dr. Nancy Panko, a general surgeon and medical director at Pullman Regional Hospital’s Pullman Surgical Associates, was used to big mountains and an ocean. These days, she has come to love the region’s scenic, rolling hills, saying, “the Palouse is a hidden gem that has a wonderful sense of community.” 

After earning her medical degree from the University of Washington WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) in 2013, her general surgery residency was at Saint Joseph Hospital in Chicago. 

Afterward, Panko attended the University of Texas Medical School in Houston and completed an Advanced GI and minimally invasive surgery fellowship. 

After training in Chicago and Houston, the physician and her family wanted to find a smaller town to call home in the Pacific Northwest. 

“I knew of the Moscow/Pullman area from some friends in medical school who had been WWAMI students here, and so when I saw a job opening, I pursued it,” she says. “I loved the area and the partners when I interviewed and have happily been practicing here since 2019.” 

During her off days, she is fond of being outdoors with her 8-year-old daughter. 

“My daughter is an avid horseback rider. I am a crazy horse woman and am usually riding with my daughter when I’m not at work,” Panko says. “I also enjoy yoga and hiking.” 

She is a strong advocate for health care in Pullman, Moscow and the Palouse, saying she is “continually impressed with the wealth of knowledge in our medical providers. I also feel so lucky to take care of patients here – my desk is full of kind notes and little gifts given to me by my patients.” 

Dr. Adam Kappmeyer 

Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Gritman Medical Center 

Dr. Adam Kappmeyer doesn’t wear ruby red shoes to his office, but for the Moscow, Idaho, native, there was no place like home to start his medical practice. Gritman Medical Center has long been part of Kappmeyer’s story. 

“I grew up in the Moscow area and was a volunteer there starting as a junior high student and continuing through college,” he says. 

He remembers hanging coats during community events, stuffing envelopes and shadowing in the emergency department. “I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to receive a world-class medical education through the University of Washington School of Medicine, Idaho WWAMI program,” Kappmeyer says. 

The Idaho WWAMI program is a partnership between the University of Washington and the University of Idaho. “When it came time to choose a practice location, I sought a way that I could reinvest the support I had experienced back into the community,” he says. 

Kappmeyer completed his residency at the University of Rochester at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York, and is happy to bring both internal medicine and pediatric specialties to the community. 

“My philosophy in medicine is to slow down, take time to listen to patients and to practice in a holistic style,” he says. 

He recommends the area to other physicians because of the excellent care and resources offered by the medical center as well as the friendly, rural community and many recreation opportunities that dovetail with cultural enrichment fueled by the University of Idaho. 

Away from his office, Kappmeyer likes to grow tropical plants and spend time with his wife and two young boys. They like to spend free time walking, biking, frequenting parks, hiking and enjoying coffee shops. 

Hospitals on the Palouse

Here’s a look at the outstanding facilities that provide great health care in Pullman and Moscow.

Pullman Regional Hospital: Pullman Regional Hospital is an independent, award-winning organization that has served the Palouse region since 2004. Over 600 employees serve patients and communities through the hospital and a growing network of clinics, making it one of the largest employers in Pullman. It is a community leader in health care activities and partners with Washington State University. It works to nurture and facilitate a healthier quality of life for the region. 

Gritman Medical Center: Gritman Medical Center in Moscow is a nonprofit critical access hospital delivering exceptional health care through its Moscow hospital and network of primary care and specialty clinics. Ranked as one of the top 100 private companies in Idaho, Gritman Medical Center has brought advanced technology, comprehensive service and care to the communities it serves for more than 125 years. The medical center is Latah County’s largest private employer, with over 700 people working to support patients and the community.