EPHRATA — Columbia Basin Hospital has appointed Dr. Lowell Allred to fill a vacant seat on its five-member Board of Commissioners, following the February resignation of Commissioner Catherine Snyder.

Allred brings decades of medical experience to the role. He worked as a primary care physician in private practice for nearly 30 years before joining Columbia Basin Hospital, where he practiced for another decade prior to retiring about three years ago.

Allred said he was encouraged to apply for the position by a former commissioner and saw it as an opportunity to stay involved in the medical community.

“I’ve not been doing anything with medicine since I retired, so I thought maybe I could get involved and see what’s going on. Maybe help in some way,” he said.

As he steps into the role, Allred said one of his primary concerns is the ongoing financial challenges faced by small rural hospitals like Columbia Basin Hospital.

“I’ve seen this hospital struggle financially,” he said. “I hope I can be an influence for good there and help with some financial decisions that won’t put them under.”

While he acknowledged that commissioners are not directly involved in day-to-day medical operations, Allred said he hopes his background in family medicine will allow him to provide valuable insight to board discussions and decisions.

“Maybe I can offer some insight or help them out because of my background,” he said.

Allred also emphasized the importance of maintaining strong healthcare services in the community and retaining qualified medical staff.

“I hope I can just help the hospital continue to offer the services we need in this community,” he said.

Allred encouraged continued support of the hospital and its staff. “I think the people in the community should trust the hospital — that we’re trying to do the best we can to help people,” he said.