Eureka doctor is Montana Family Physician of the Year

A physician from Eureka has been selected as the Montana Family Physician of the Year — an award based on nominations from medical staff peers and leaders statewide, according to a press release from North Valley Hospital.

Dr. Edward Stein of Eureka Healthcare Primary Care, part of Kalispell Regional Healthcare, was selected from a large pool of nominees from across Montana.

Stein described the award as “a wonderful surprise and honor” and said it “recognizes what all of us do in rural communities with limited resources to care for our patients.”

Stein attended Carroll College in Helena and later went to the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. In 2000, he launched his career at the former Eureka Prompt Care and has officially been part of the Eureka community for two decades. He is board-certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Stein was nominated by multiple people, including some of his former students. One student wrote, “spending this much time in the community, he is able to treat a patient as an entire life, not just a single visit.” Another former student of Stein said he is “always able to put the patient first.”

Jay Erickson, assistant dean for Regional Affairs at the University of Washington School of Medicine, also nominated Stein.

“Dr. Stein has been the rock for health care in the Eureka community for the past 20 years. As many providers have come and gone, Dr. Stein has continued to be the main primary-care provider for this rural community,” Erickson said.