By public health principles, Pate means “basic infection control measures, basic epidemiology, basic infectious disease” science. These are things “that most every expert in the world agrees about,” he said.

“If I was finding a board member for the St. Luke’s Health System, I probably wouldn’t select somebody who has a religious or philosophical belief that you shouldn’t take treatments from the medical profession,” he continued. “If that was your philosophy, that’s probably not a good role for you … .”

How much do Idaho health boards know about public health, and how much influence do they have on it?

Several of Idaho’s health districts have an additional medical professional on the board alongside the required physician. But in every district, medical professionals lack the numbers to outvote their non-medical expert counterparts.

Members of the health boards can seek advice or input from medical experts. Central District Health’s board members heard from experts from St. Luke’s and Saint Alphonsus during its July 7 and July 14 meetings. Both times, the medical professionals stressed the importance of face coverings and social distancing.

“I felt like it was really important for us to hear them, as a board, to hear their perspective,” said Diana Lachiondo, Ada County commissioner and Central District Health board member, in a phone interview ahead of the July 14 vote.