Personal Information
Dr. Kassandra Tricola was born and raised in the “heart of the Columbia Basin” in Othello, Washington. In May of 2010, she earned her undergraduate degree in Pre-Med Science from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. Here she earned the WSU President’s Award for service and leadership and graduated with highest honors. By August 2010 she started medical school at in the University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM) in Seattle, Washington. In 2013, during her 3rd year, she came to Palouse Medical for a special 6 week long rural clerkship rotation working with Dr. Stephanie Fosback. She was thrilled to be back in Pullman and volunteered to attend Sunnyside Elementary’s Career Day to help inspire future healthcare providers. Dr. Kassie graduated from UWSOM in 2014 and went on to complete her Residency at Tacoma Family Medicine, where she ended up serving as Chief Resident.
Coming from a small, rural community, Dr. Kassie witnessed the invaluable and critical role of the patient-provider relationship and set the foundation for the type of Physician she aspired to become. While under the watchful care of their family’s Primary Care Provider (PCP), she shared that over the years her family received outstanding care meeting wellness needs and helping them navigate minor injuries, and illnesses. As life progressed, they became even more grateful for the history they had established and care continuity they experienced, as their PCP was able to help diagnose, treat, and manage several life-threatening health conditions. No matter the reason for the visit, their PCP always demonstrated compassion, and provided high-quality, timely, and medically informed care along every step of the way. As a patient, she shared that she still cannot fully express how significant it was to have a provider who respectfully invested in the wellness of everyone in their family as individuals. These experiences fueled her desire to become a physician and return to a similar community where she could offer full-spectrum care, providing that same depth of relationship, addressing health and wellness in the context of the whole person. She couldn’t be more thrilled that she will be establishing her practice in Pullman!
Outside Of Work
Outside of work, Dr. Kassie enjoys spending as much time as possible with her husband and family! They enjoy staying busy, so whenever opportunities provide for them to be active outdoors they can be found participating in a wide variety of activities like hiking, kayaking and even running. They enjoy traveling, spending time with family, friends and of course–cheering on the Cougs! Community life is incredibly important, so the Tricolas enjoy finding ways to take part in local events, working with non-profit organizations and serving their neighbors. Dr. Kassie loves to relax with yoga or find an excuse to throw on her apron and bake in the kitchen!