Dec. 12, 2005

BIGFORK VALLEY NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release

Oja joins Bigfork Valley

Bigfork Valley Hospital is pleased to welcome Kim Oja, RN/BSN/CNOR as Manager of Surgical Services. Oja will oversee the new surgery suites and procedure rooms opening in January 2006.

Oja comes to Bigfork after 23 years at Grand Itasca in Grand Rapids, where she worked in the obstetrics/gynecology, general surgery and operating room environments. She earned her nursing degree from the University of Evansville School of Nursing in Evansville, Indiana.

At Bigfork Valley, Oja will develop staff and procedures to provide quality service to surgical patients in the new facility.

Oja and her husband Gary live north of Grand Rapids.