Introduction
Dr. Mark VanTighem is an emergency medicine physician who has had a lifelong desire to care for the ill. He began his healthcare career as a registered nurse and EMT/firefighter. He credits those experiences as the push he needed to obtain his medical degree.
“I believe at the heart of all healthcare, there needs to be a true desire to compassionately and emphatically care for your patients,” he says. “In the Emergency Department, we care for all and turn away none. I like to think of my patients as family and treat them accordingly.”
He routinely puts this philosophy into practice by educating his patients, particularly about preventive care, in order to help them make better, more informed decisions about their health.
“The biggest epidemic we face in this country is chronic, preventable diseases,” he says. “Don't smoke, don't drink to excess, exercise daily, and maintain a healthy weight.”
Outside the Emergency Department, Dr. VanTighem’s hobbies vary widely. “My free time is spent with family, friends, and enjoying God’s playground here under the Big Sky,” he says.
Education
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, MD
Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, Residency
