Rooted in Purpose, Growing with Heart

A Reflection on Where We Started, Why We Exist, and the Work That Still Lies Ahead

Every now and then, it is worth taking a step back to remember where we began. It grounds us. It gives context to the decisions we make, the work we do, and the people we serve.

Heritage Health was not born from convenience or profit. It was born from a need. It was sparked by a woman with a deep conviction that everyone deserves access to care - regardless of income, background, or circumstance.

Her name was Lidwin Dirne.

Lidwin was not interested in building a business. She was determined to build a lifeline. What started as a small free clinic in the 1980s - run out of borrowed space and sustained by donated time - grew into a trusted community health center that now serves thousands across North Idaho.

She did not do it alone. Volunteers poured in - nurses, doctors, neighbors, board members, and people from every walk of life who believed in the mission. They built something enduring with their hands, their hearts, and their time.

Our Mission: To Improve Life

We say it often: To Improve Life. It is not just our mission. It is our compass.

As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Heritage Health is commited to making affordable healthcare available to all - whether through primary care, dental, mental health, substance use treatment, or outreach. Our model is built on patient-centered care that is integrated, compassionate, and responsive to the real lives of those we serve.

We do not chase trends or status. We focus on what our community truly needs: access to care, delivered with dignity and respect. That means meeting people where they are - whether in a clinic, on the street, or through a mobile outreach team. It means caring for the whole person - body, mind, and heart.

We believe health equity is a right, not a luxury. That is not a slogan. It is a conviction that continues to guid our work, just as it guided Lidwin's.

Why This Work Still Matters

You might already know someone whose life has been changed by Heritage Health. A veteran struggling with housing. A child needing a dental checkup. A parent working two jobs and finally finding affordable healthcare. These are not rare stories. They are daily realities.

Nonprofit healthcare is more than a safety net. It is the foundation of strong, healthy communities. When someone has access to care, they are more likely to go to school, to work, to contribute, and to connect. When a community invests in health, it grows stronger - economically, socially, and spiritually.

We do this work because it changes lives. We do it because it is right.

Honoring Our Past, Shaping the Future

Our community-based healthcare services have grown. Our team has grown, although the mission has remained steady.

We are here for the single mother walking through our doors for the first time. We are here for the elderly man who needs someone to listen. We are here for those who do not know where else to turn. We are committed to being here, for as long as we are needed.

To the volunteers who gave their time, their energy, and their belief in the early days - thank you. You helped build this place. Your legacy lives on in every patient we serve and every life we improve.

To all who stand with us today - whether as team members, partners, patients, or supporters - thank you. You are part of this mission too.

Together, we carry it forward - delivering compassionate care to both rural and urban communities with purpose, dignity, and hope.

Mike Baker

CEO, Heritage Health