p to the very selective Hobart and William Smith Colleges where he obtained his BS degree in mathematics. Not one to shy away from adventure, he also experienced flying for the first time during this time and tandem jumped out of the plane on his first flight!

Following undergraduate college, he then earned his medical degree from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine in NYC and then completed his podiatric surgical residency in Denver, CO. Once this was completed, he followed with a rare fellowship in wound healing research and studies with Wound Healing in Aurora, CO. After a short time in private practice, he felt the need to fulfill his patriotic duty to the country and volunteered for service with the US Army. Stationed at Ft. Hood, TX, he served as Chief of Podiatry and earned, among others, the Meritorious Service Medal as well as surgical board certifications. He is also a veteran of Operations Desert Shield/Storm and remained in the Reserves for another 9 years obtaining the rank of Major.

Upon discharge, he and his wife, Judy relocated to Sidney. Numerous achievements have marked his career since then. At Sidney Health Center, he has served all medical staff office positions including Chief of Staff. He was appointed by former Gov. Martz and reappointed by Gov. Schwitzer to the Montana Board of Medical Examiners, where he held all offices to include being elected President, the first ever of his specialty. On the national level, Dr. LaPan served as President of the Federation of Podiatric Medical Boards and the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners. He has also passed the required surgical board recertification exams in 2002, 2012 and 2022.

An accomplished marathoner, Dr. LaPan continues to enjoy running, flyfishing, biking, skiing, and hiking among other sports and activities. Always one to keep his hands busy and creativity open, he enjoys building and art projects, especially oil painting. He is a lifetime member of the American Legion, Trout Unlimited (a non-profit dedicated to freshwater habitat conservation) and the Knights of Columbus.

Many people also know his wife, Judy, retired Executive Director of the Richland County Health Department. Together, they have provided over 50 years of service to healthcare needs in our community. More importantly, they are blessed with two grown sons. Matthew is an industrial engineer and Mark is a geoscience engineer – both proud Montana natives.