Livingston HealthCare’s Board of Directors

Denis Prager, PhD, Chair

Denis Prager is president of Strategic Consulting Services. From 1983 to 1994, he was director of the health program at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. From 1978 to 1983, Dr. Prager was associate director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He began his career in 1960 as a research scientist at the National Institutes of Health and has also served as a U.S. Public Health Service Fellow at Stanford University, where he received his PhD in physiology.

Kristen Galbraith, Secretary

Kristen Galbraith was raised near Glacier National Park in northwest Montana and continued her post-secondary education at Montana State University, obtaining a high honors dual degree in Business Marketing and Accounting. Her diverse career resume includes jobs as a retail salesperson, waitress, wrangler, administrative assistant, project manager, grant writer/administrator and business owner. Since 2009, she has concentrated efforts as a full-time grant writer and special projects administrator, raising more than $24 million for different communities and organizations throughout Montana and Colorado. Her sense of passion and creativity has enlivened her interest in making a concerted difference in communities, including a wide range of infrastructure, public safety and recreation improvements. She also shares pride, ownership and responsibilities associated with two successful Livingston businesses - The Obsidian Collection (since 1994) and Coffee Crossing (since 2008).

Kristen is one of three Montanans who is Grants Professional Certified (GPC) and serves as Board Chair of the Nominating Committee for the Grants Professional Association. She also serves on two local boards as chair of the Livingston Business Improvement District and secretary of the Livingston Youth Soccer Association. An avid outdoor enthusiast, she is often trail running, biking or hiking throughout Montana's off-road and mountain areas, most likely accompanied by her two children and canine friends.

Scott Coleman, MD

Scott Coleman, MD, is a Board Certified Family Medicine physician who practices family medicine and obstetrics at Livingston HealthCare. He was selected to fill the role of Medical Director for Livingston HealthCare in October, 2013, at which time he joined the Livingston HealthCare Board of Directors. Dr. Coleman received a degree in Microbiology from the University of Tennessee, followed by his MD from the University of South Dakota. After the completion of his MD, Dr. Coleman served as a Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy for six years and received the Navy Achievement Medal for Outstanding Performance as a Resident. In 2005, he moved to Park County to be closer to family. Dr. Coleman is presently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Medical Corp of the Montana Air National Guard.

Kyra Eddy Piñango, MD

Kyra Eddy Piñango, MD, a Livingston native, returns to her hometown as a family medicine physician with fellowship training in women’s health and obstetrics. Dr. Piñango studied at Walla Walla University in Washington state, transferring to and receiving her undergraduate degree from Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska. She earned her medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, in Loma Linda, California.

Dr. Piñango made the choice to become a physician after a year spent working at an orphanage in El Salvador while she was in college. She says coming home to Livingston was always part of her plan. “It is a privilege to care for my community as a physician, and of course, finally come home.” A welcomed addition to Kyra’s planned homecoming was bringing along her husband, Dr. Henry Piñango (Internal Medicine and Geriatrics) and their young son. Since coming home, they’ve had a daughter, born right here in the Family Birth Center at Livingston HealthCare.

Jeffry Lindenbaum, MD

Jeffry Lindenbaum, MD has been lead Radiologist at Livingston HealthCare since January 2013. Dr. Lindenbaum is licensed to practice in Montana and Wyoming and has more than 15 years of leadership experience in private practice and integrated healthcare delivery systems.

Laurie Smith

Laurie Smith has been the Vice President of Hospital Operations and Chief Nursing Officer at Billings Clinic since April of 2016. She became a Certified Nursing Assistant at the age of 16 and has been working in the medical world ever since. Smith earned her certification as a Licensed Practical Nurse after high school, and went on to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees — both in nursing. She is married with two children, and says she is happiest when she’s camping or on a beach.

Michael Schaer

Michael Schaer is the sole owner and chairman of Computers Unlimited, and sits on the advisory board of First Interstate Bank, MSUB College of Business, and Billings Business Improvement District. In the past he has been a board member at the Billings Chamber of Commerce, Big Sky Economic Development Agency, Billings Clinic, and Downtown Billings Partnership. In addition to Michael's extensive involvement with advisory boards, he is the owner of the following Billings restaurants and hotels; McCormick Cafe, Cafe Italia, Carlin Hotel, Log Cabin Bakery and Catering, and Hotel Carlin Events Center.

Mary Ann Bearden

Mary Ann Bearden graduated high school in Dallas, Texas, in 1969, finished her B.A. in English Literature at Colorado State University in 1972, spent three years as a lineman for Chesapeake & Potomac Bell in the Appalachian Mountains, before starting law school at the University of Oregon in 1975. She graduated law school in 1978, passed the Bar Exam and went into private practice in Eugene, Oregon. After 20 years practicing law, she was appointed to the bench as a Circuit Court Judge in 1998, where she served until her retirement. The last ten years on the bench she served as the presiding judge for the second largest judicial district in Oregon. After retirement she moved to Park County full time in early 2017. She had been fishing here since 1969 and spent vacations here every year since 1990, building a home here in 2005.