Dr. Kris Kuper, MD, FAAP, CPE

Media Releases

Serving children of all ages, Dr. Kuper is a personable, enthusiastic pediatrician, one who always goes the extra mile for families and colleagues. She enjoys patient-centered, full spectrum pediatric care, including attending deliveries and continuity of care if the child ever needs to be hospitalized. She works up complex medical problems in a detailed fashion, educates the patient/family on the diagnosis and treatment plan, and keeps meticulous, timely records so as to maximize efficiency and provide the optimal patient experience. For those patients who need to see a specialist, those thorough records then serve to assist the consultant to continue further treatment, after which time, Dr. Kuper enjoys co-managing the problem in her local community. She considers it a great way to stay current on best practices.

Her most recent position was as a straddle physician: working 50% time as a pediatrician and 50% as the Chief Medical Officer of Kaniksu Health Services in Sandpoint, Idaho. She had to go on medical leave in January of  2019 to address two serious medical conditions, with which she is still battling. She is not currently working but hopes to return when her health improves.

Academically, Dr. Kuper graduated with her medical degree from Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver, University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1993. She completed her residency in pediatrics at the University of Minnesota in 1996.

A Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP), she attained board certification in pediatrics through the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) in 1996. The mission of the ABP is to advance child health by certifying pediatricians who meet standards of excellence and are committed to continuous learning and improvement.

Subsequent to her medical education, Dr. Kuper pursued formal leadership training through: 

• The Studer Group in 2008;
• The Montana Medical Association, Physician Leadership Effectiveness Program in 2014;
• The American Association of Physician Leaders in 2016, culminating in becoming a Certified Physician Executive (CPE) in 2019;
• The Happy MD, Physician Burn-Out Certificate in 2020

Her Leadership Philosophy is based on the core values of:

–          Authenticity,

–          Integrity,

–          Emotionally Intelligent Communication,

–          Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)

Her Vision is to create a healthy organization where all employees are actively engaged in meaningful and fulfilling work.  All voices are heard, contributing and working synergistically at the top of their licenses to find new solutions. “Together, we strive toward becoming a highly reliable organization, and achieving the Quadruple Aim with a stable financial future.”

Her Leadership Style is a combination of Servant, Democratic, and Transformational Leadership.

On a more personal note, Dr. Kuper lives with her husband on their dream horse property in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Recommended Articles

• What Is Chickenpox?

  The causing factor of chickenpox and the ways of transmissionThe causing agent is a virus called varicella-zoster, which is an airborne and really contagious germ. It can be spread while coughing and sneezing, with little droplets of the mucus thrown from the nose and throat. Another way of catching...

• What Are the Causes and Symptoms of the Measles?

  Measles, or rubeola, is a viral infection that mostly affects children, but can be seen at any age. This contagious infection is characterized by rashes that spread all over the body. Measles are now able to be contained via vaccination. The disease can be fatal for small children under the age of...

• Autism: Why Does Oxytocin Treatment Help Only Some Children?

  For parents, treating their children is the most important task possible. However, it can often be immensely confusing when certain treatments and medications are saviors for some children while hardly affecting others. Oxytocin is one of these treatments that has seen a wide range of responses...

• What Are the Factors that Contribute to Autism?

  The causes of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are still unclear. Even though research shows that genetic factors are predominate, they are not the one and only cause. In fact, it’s much more likely that there are multiple causes rather than just one.1. Genetic FactorsThere are multiple studies...

• Breastfeeding Children Can Reduce Their Risk of Developing Infections

  Babies who are exclusively breastfed have fewer and less severe infections, when compared to babies who are partially breastfed or not breastfed at all, according to a study published in, Archives of Disease in Childhood. This protection is regardless of the healthcare and vaccinations provided to...

• Taming Your Child's Temper Tantrum

  Temper TantrumsTemper tantrums have been defined by experts as an unplanned display of anger or emotions by children.  Children will often whine, scream, or cry during a tantrum. They may hold their breath or widely swing their arms and legs. Children between the ages of one and four experience the...