40 Under 40: Sarah Cushman

Sarah Cushman always knew she would work in healthcare. It was just a matter of which area.

Cushman, the regional development and clinical outreach manager for Kootenai Health, leads the hospital’s regional development and outreach efforts by partnering with community providers and rural hospitals to strengthen collaboration, expand access to care and enhance the patient experience.

She started her career in an anatomic pathology laboratory, where she spent more than 12 years growing from client services to business development and, ultimately, managing hospital partnerships.

“Over time, I had the privilege of working with more than 50 hospitals across a five-state region,” she said. “That experience was formative. I gained a deep appreciation for how varied health systems can be and how much thoughtful collaboration matters in delivering quality care.”

Cushman first partnered with Kootenai Health during that period, and she said she couldn’t have asked for a better organization to learn from. When she had the opportunity to transition from laboratory work into broader hospital strategy, she said the move felt like a natural next step.

“The move allowed me to take everything I had learned about partnership, strategy and healthcare operations and apply it within a single system,” she said.

After establishing herself in the healthcare industry, Cushman pursued a degree — a decision driven less by advancement than by accountability. It was, she said, about honoring the complexity of the field and ensuring she showed up prepared for the responsibility healthcare demands.

“Healthcare is a field where the decisions we make affect real lives, and I felt a responsibility to deepen my understanding of systems, finance, ethics and leadership,” she said.

While learning on the job taught her grit, resilience and operational adaptability, Cushman said her formal education provided the framework and additional perspective she needed.

“Together, they shaped how I try to approach leadership today — from a practical, strategic and, most importantly, mission-driven approach,” she said. “I’m a strong believer that excellence doesn’t come from one prescribed path but instead comes from a willingness to keep learning, whether that’s through lived experience or formal education.”

Some of her most formative experiences, she said, have come through the challenges she has had to navigate, both early in life and throughout her career.

“Difficult seasons clarify what matters,” she said. “They’ve taught me resilience, adaptability and the discipline to keep moving forward even when the path isn’t clear. They also shaped my conviction to do what’s right, even when it’s not the easiest or most popular decision. These lessons have stayed with me in high-pressure situations where integrity matters more than optics.”

Cushman grew up in a small agricultural area, something that gave her both a strong work ethic and a deep respect for the power of community. That foundation still influences everything she does. Her family and three “incredible kids” add another layer of purpose, she said.

“They are my daily reminder that the work we do matters beyond spreadsheets and strategy, and they are my motivation to show up each day with purpose and determination,” she said.

Over the past 18-plus years, Cushman has found herself increasingly drawn to rural systems of care. In the future, she hopes to be more deeply invested in rural healthcare in a meaningful way.

“I’ve seen both the fragility and resilience of these hospitals,” she said. “Workforce sustainability, reimbursement pressures and specialty access limitations are real challenges, but so is the deep commitment rural communities have to caring for their own.”

While the impact she envisions isn’t tied to a specific title, she knows it involves partnership-building, long-range strategy and strengthening systems — all to help rural hospitals remain viable and community-focused.

“I’m deeply motivated by work where the mission matters just as much as the margins, and where thoughtful collaboration can meaningfully improve access and patient outcomes,” Cushman said. “If I can use the perspective I’ve gained to help rural organizations thrive rather than simply survive, that’s right where I want to be.”

If she could give her younger self one piece of advice, Cushman said, it would be to have the courage to trust her instincts sooner.

“There are so many moments in life when the right decision is quiet, uncomfortable or misunderstood,” she said. “Make it anyway. Integrity compounds, and your reputation, character and peace of mind will matter far more in the end than anything else. Decisions made in alignment with your values will always carry you through.”