Hentges Appointed To Montana Board Of Medical Examiners

Gov. Greg Gianforte has appointed Sierra Hentges, PA-C, of Wolf Point to the Montana Board of Medical Examiners, recognizing a career defined by military service, emergency medicine and a deep commitment to rural healthcare in Montana.

Hentges, an Army veteran and practicing physician assistant, officially began her term on April 14, and will serve through July 1, 2030. Her appointment places her among the healthcare professionals responsible for helping oversee medical licensure and standards across the state.

Before becoming a physician assistant, Hentges served in the United States Army as a Healthcare Specialist — commonly known as a combat medic — with Charlie Company, 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. During her military service, she deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, providing frontline emergency medical care while also helping maintain the medical readiness of soldiers in a battalion of approximately 500 service members.

The experience, she says, shaped both her approach to medicine and her commitment to service. “Military medicine teaches you how to stay calm under pressure, lead with compassion, and make critical decisions when people are depending on you most,” Hentges said. “Those lessons have guided me throughout my career and continue to influence the way I care for patients and serve my community.”

Following her honorable service in the Army, Hentges returned home to Montana and continued working in emergency medical services with Northeast Montana Health Services. As an EMT and later EMS Site Supervisor, she responded to emergency situations across rural northeastern Montana while helping oversee personnel, operations, and ambulance readiness in communities where access to healthcare resources can often be limited.

Her years in emergency medicine eventually inspired her to pursue advanced medical training. Hentges earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Psychology from Rocky Mountain College before completing her Master of Physician Assistant Studies in 2022. Her clinical training included rotations in emergency medicine, family practice, pediatrics, surgery, psychiatry, internal medicine, and women’s health throughout Montana and North Dakota.

Today, Hentges practices at Daniels Memorial Healthcare Center in Scobey and also works with DEMI Medical Group, which staffs Northeast Montana Health Services. In these roles, she provides comprehensive patient care ranging from diagnosis and treatment to emergency and preventative services while continuing to advocate for quality rural healthcare access across eastern Montana.

Colleagues describe Hentges as someone who brings both discipline and empathy to medicine — qualities forged through military service and strengthened through years caring for patients in rural communities.

Her appointment to the Montana Board of Medical Examiners comes at a time when healthcare access and workforce challenges continue to impact many rural areas across the state. Hentges says she hopes to bring the perspective of both a veteran and frontline rural provider to the role.

“Rural communities deserve strong healthcare advocacy and providers who understand the realities patients face every day,” she said. “It’s an honor to represent physician assistants and serve the people of Montana in this new capacity.”

The Montana Board of Medical Examiners oversees the licensure and regulation of healthcare professionals statewide and plays a central role in maintaining professional standards and protecting public health.