K'ima:w Medical Center

08/28/2026

✨ LIVINGWORKS safeTALK Training ✨

Thursday, September 3, 2026. 10 am to 2 pm. Yurok Tribe Weitchpec Office

08/27/2026

08/27/2026

Our Outreach Department staff that assisted the community during the MP18 Fire emergency 🔥

Thank you all for stepping up when your community needed you most 🙌

08/25/2026

Message from the CEO:

To All KMC Staff,

During the emergency declaration for fire and smoke, your due diligence, resilience, and steadfast determination allowed KMC to remain fully open and continue serving our community when it needed us most.

I recognize that this was not easy. Several members of our team had homes in the path of the approaching fire, yet still came to work each day and gave their all to care for others. That level of commitment is extraordinary.

Emergencies like these place immense pressure on our personal lives, our families, and our work. Yet they also reveal the strength, compassion, and unity within our organization. I am deeply proud of the way KMC staff rose to meet this commitment and the many lives we were able to reach through your service.

Thank you for the exceptional work you do every day and especially for the care, courage, and dedication you demonstrated during this challenging time.

08/24/2026

🔥 From Nurse to Leader: Melissa Kane Rises to the Challenge

When Melissa Kane, RN, accepted the position of K’ima:w Medical Center’s Outreach Manager, she probably didn’t expect to be stepping into leadership just days before the Mile Post 18 Fire.

But when the community faced hazardous smoke conditions and an evolving emergency, Melissa and her team stepped up.

From coordinating with Tribal departments to checking on vulnerable patients, providing safety education, and helping identify and deliver more than 190 air purifiers, KMC’s Outreach Department worked tirelessly to make sure community members had the support they needed.

Melissa’s experience as an Outreach Nurse gave her valuable insight into the unique needs of KMC patients, but it was her leadership, compassion, and ability to adapt under pressure that truly stood out.

As KMC CEO Ryan Zumalt said, Melissa stepped into her new role with “confidence, compassion, and determination.”

Now, as KMC looks back at its response to the fire and prepares for future emergencies, the information gathered by Melissa and her team will help identify gaps, improve preparedness, and strengthen the way KMC serves the community.

We are proud to recognize Melissa Kane and the entire Outreach team for the work they continue to do for our community. ❤️

Read the full story: From Nurse to Leader: Melissa Kane Rises to the Challenge in this week's Two Rivers Tribune!

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08/24/2026

🔥 WHEN CRISIS CALLS, LEADERSHIP ANSWERS 🔥

When the Mile Post 18 Fire began impacting the Hoopa Valley, K’ima:w Medical Center’s Leslie Risling III didn’t wait for someone to tell him what needed to be done—he stepped up.

From coordinating departments and Tribal entities to managing resources, pursuing outside funding, developing data-collection systems, working with emergency agencies, and helping prepare KMC for future emergencies, Leslie has taken on a role that reaches far beyond his title as Assistant Project Manager.

But his commitment didn’t stop at KMC’s doors. Leslie and his family also opened their property to firefighters, providing a place to camp, rest, do laundry and recharge before returning to the fire line.

In just two weeks, Leslie logged more than 175 hours supporting the fire response—but the hours only tell part of the story.

His leadership has helped KMC respond to the current emergency while building stronger systems for whatever comes next.

As KMC CEO Ryan Zumalt put it, Leslie’s “ability to lead across the organization, remain composed under pressure… and bring people together during a difficult situation has been invaluable.”

❤️ This is what community leadership looks like.

We invite you to read the full story and learn more about the employee who stepped up when his community needed him most in this week's Two Rivers Tribune.

When Crisis Calls, Leadership Answers: KMC’s Leslie Risling Rises to the Challenge.

08/20/2026

KMC Pediatrician Dr. Shannon Shea, MD would like to share this message of how to protect yourself and your loved ones from the hazardous effects of wildfire smoke. Please take a moment to watch this informative video!

Stay safe, and seek help when necessary!

08/20/2026

Thank you, TEPA, for keeping the community informed throughout this wildfire event! Your commitment and dedication to the Hoopa Valley has not gone unnoticed, we appreciate you all 💕

08/19/2026