06/19/2026
Celebrating Mike Birkinbine and his retirement!
St. Luke’s McCall’s Supply Chain Manager Mike Birkinbine has retired after 44 years in healthcare. He has spent the last 19 years serving the McCall team and community, leaving behind a legacy defined not only by professional expertise, but by quiet acts of service, deep relationships and an unwavering commitment to his community. His last day was June 12, 2026.
Birkinbine began his healthcare career in 1982 as a service engineer with Treasure Valley X-Ray, later transitioning to Merry X-Ray. Over the years, he worked closely with healthcare facilities across Idaho, including St. Luke’s Meridian, Wood River and McCall Memorial Hospital, providing medical imaging equipment, supplies and services.
Birkinbine was born and raised in Boise and his family had long-standing personal ties to the McCall area since 1974 and spent much of his youth at his family’s McCall vacation home.
In 2004, he and his wife, Renee, purchased property in the area as an investment and planned to eventually move to here full time. Shortly after Renee, a medical imaging technologist, started working weekends at Cascade Medical Center and later at a clinic at Tamarack Resort, followed by landing a job at McCall Memorial Hospital.
They built their new home on their property and relocated in 2006. Birkinbine continued to work in Boise and spent the weekends at their new home.
When a purchasing director position opened at McCall Memorial Hospital, Renee submitted an application on her husband’s behalf. While she shared this with him, he was surprised to receive a call to schedule an interview,
At the time, he had been preparing to retire from Merry X-Ray and take some time off before moving into consulting work. Instead, he accepted the offer and began almost immediately, after just one weekend off.
“Getting a job at McCall Memorial wasn’t easy,” Birkinbine recalled. “Openings didn’t happen very often, usually someone died or retired.”
He officially joined the hospital on Dec. 3, 2007, as Purchasing Director.
His background in healthcare operations, leadership and supply management, combined with his expertise in contract negotiation and management, made him a perfect fit for the role.
He quickly became instrumental in reviewing and managing vendor contracts while improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and eliminating waste.
Birkinbine’s contributions extended far beyond purchasing. He played a key role in supporting the expansion of services such as general and orthopedic surgery, the wound care program and the Coumadin clinic. He also contributed to some of the most significant milestones in the hospital’s history, including joining St. Luke’s Health System in 2010, the implementation of the medical center’s electronic medical record system, construction of the new hospital and the opening of the St. Luke’s Health Sytem’s Consolidated Service Center.
“When I drive by the hospital, I think, ‘I helped build that,’” he said. “And I’m really proud of my contribution to that.”
While Birkinbine’s professional accomplishments are significant, it is his everyday acts of kindness that his colleagues remember most.
Whether clearing snow off coworker’s cars after a shift, helping patients safely into their vehicles or personally driving to Boise to pick up critical supplies when delivery timelines fell short, Birkinbine consistently stepped in wherever he saw a need.
“I always enjoy helping people and wanted to make it a better place and make a difference in people’s lives,” he said.
He also played a critical role in supporting hospital safety before full-time security services were established on campus. During busy seasons, like the Fourth of July and Winter Carnival, he would often stay overnight at the hospital to ensure supplies were available and operations ran smoothly and the team felt safe. He earned certification in the Management of Aggressive Behavior to help support staff and ensure regulatory compliance.
That commitment did not go unnoticed. In 2019, Birkinbine was honored with the St. Luke’s President’s Award for outstanding service.
Though not a clinician, Birkinbine felt deeply connected to the work of healthcare.
“I’m not a clinician, but I know how the healthcare system operates. This allowed me to be a part of it,” he said. “This is my heart and my family.”
When contemplating retirement Birkinbine is driven by his desire to spend more time with his wife of 33 years, their family, kids and grandchildren, and traveling.
Reflecting on the future of healthcare, he acknowledged the challenges ahead for Critical Access Hospitals, noting the need for creativity and resilience in an evolving landscape. At the same time, he expressed confidence in St. Luke’s and the team he leaves behind.
“St. Luke’s is one of the strongest healthcare organizations I’ve worked with and for. There is a good team in place, and they will get us to where we need to go.”
“The thing about McCall is it’s a family, and we back each other up,” he said.
That philosophy, of stepping in, pitching in, and always doing what’s needed, perfectly captures Birkinbine’s career and the legacy he leaves behind.
