SANDPOINT — Women’s health will be the focus of Bonner General Health's new community health conversations series, kicking off Wednesday, June 17.

The event will take place from 5:30-7 p.m. at Marigold Bistro, 414 Church St., Sandpoint. The event is free and open to the public.

The idea for the series grew out of feedback the hospital received during its 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment process, as well as conversations with community members seeking greater transparency and ways to engage directly with BGH leadership. While the assessment, which takes place every three years, provides valuable information, Kristin Carlson, BGH marketing manager, said ongoing dialogue is equally important.

"The community health conversations series is designed to create a space where we can share information, answer questions, listen to concerns, and work together to address local health needs," Carlson said.

The forums, which will be held quarterly, are designed to promote transparency, provide health education and create opportunities for meaningful dialogue between health care leaders and the community.

Women’s health was picked as the first topic for the series for several reasons. Not only was it identified as the top priority in the hospital's assessment, it is also a key concern in the community, BGH officials said.

"We also recognize that there has been significant community interest and discussion surrounding women's health care services in recent years, particularly following the closure of labor and delivery services and ongoing challenges recruiting specialty providers," Carlson said. "Starting with women's health allows us to address questions we know are important to our community."

The forum gives hospital officials a chance to talk about challenges facing rural health care, why labor and delivery services are difficult to maintain in a rural health care setting, detail current services and talk about future plans to improve health care in the community.

"This event is about listening as much as it is about sharing information," said John Hennessy, chief executive officer of Bonner General Health. "We want our community to understand the realities of health care delivery in a rural setting, learn about the services available today, and help us identify opportunities for the future."

Joining Hennessy in speaking at the forum will be Dr. Stacey Good, chief medical officer at BGH, and general surgeon Dr. Hannah Robbins.

A featured portion of the evening will focus on breast health services available at Bonner General Health. Dr. Hannah Robbins will discuss breast cancer detection, diagnosis and the surgical services currently available today. Attendees will also learn about BGH's efforts to secure funding through grant and fundraising efforts led by their Foundation for a comprehensive Breast Health Initiative aimed at expanding imaging capabilities and surgical services related to breast cancer detection and treatment.

The presentation will be followed by an open question-and-answer session, allowing community members to share experiences, ask questions and provide feedback.

Future community health conversations will focus on mental health, access to care, obesity and healthy lifestyles, other priority areas identified in the assessment. Specific topics could include discussions on behavioral health services, preventive care and the importance of establishing primary care, as well as chronic disease and pain management, nutrition, physical activity and available community resources. Each session will include an update from BGH's leadership team, including a member of its medical staff who will provide education on each session's focus.

At the end of the year, BGH officials said they will evaluate participation, feedback and impact to determine how the series should evolve moving forward.

"Our goal is to strengthen trust, improve understanding, and foster meaningful dialogue between Bonner General Health and the community we serve," Carlson said. "We hope attendees leave feeling better informed about available resources, having a better understanding of the current health care challenges, and ongoing efforts to improve access to care. … Ultimately, we want these conversations to create a stronger connection between the hospital and the people we serve."

Info.: bonnergeneralhealth.org