Our Providers

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Although originally seen on a wall of the General Post Office in New York City, this motto is uniquely appropriate for Challis Area Health Centers Medical Director, Dr. Richard Paris. A familiar and welcoming sight in Challis, Dr. Paris always arrives at the Clinic with a smile on his face and a spring in his step. Dr. Paris was named Medical Director for the Challis Clinic in 1999. Since then he flies, or drives, the 2+ hours to Challis twice a month to see his ob/gyn patients, complete administrative duties and confer with other Challis healthcare providers about local patients.

Dr. Richard Paris was born in Minnesota but grew up in North Dakota. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. However, his need to help others drove him to attend Medical School, which he did in Rochester, New York. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson, Arizona. He then worked for a year as an Emergency Department physician in Missoula, Montana before starting his Family Medicine Practice in Hailey, Idaho in 1981. He and his wife, Dr. Kathy Woods, are well established in the Hailey area. They have three young adult sons.

Grace received her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at Idaho State University – Meridian in 2020. She actually served one of her rotations in Challis, which is when she fell in love with the community. She feels grateful and privileged for the opportunity to have returned and be in service to it through the health center. She also received her Master of Public Health from George Washington University, Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics from UCLA, and worked for 14 years as a Medical Assistant in Urgent Care, Gynecology, and Allergy & Asthma.

In her free time, Grace enjoys being outdoors, traveling, eating pasta, listening to country music, and rootin’ on her Dodgers. 

Matthew “Chad” Banks is an Idaho native raised in Shelley, Idaho. After graduation from High School Chad went on a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to Tulsa, Oklahoma. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from BYU-Idaho in Rexburg, Chad went on to pursue his medical training at Touro University Nevada in Las Vegas and received his Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies in 2011. Chad has spent the majority of his career working in Primary Care in Northern Nevada and has a passion for Rural Medicine.

Chad and his wife Lisa have 6 beautiful children, three boys and three girls. Outside of work Chad enjoys spending time with his family, especially exploring the outdoors. Chad is thrilled to be back in primary care.

Max Smith is a Physician Assistant who joined our practice in May 2018. Max relocated here from Las Vegas, Nevada where he spent over 6 years working in a busy family practice office. Max’s post-secondary education began at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where he earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience. Upon completing his Bachelor’s Max attended Touro University Nevada in Henderson, where he earned his Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies. He is currently certified by The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

Max also served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for two years in Mexico City. He is fluent in Spanish and loves Mexican Cuisine. Max loves helping his wife raise their three children. He enjoys past times of camping, fly fishing, fixing and driving remote control cars, swimming, and watching college football.

Gay Miremont was born, raised, and lived most of her life in Louisiana. She graduated with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and Master in Social Work from Louisiana State University. She worked in both fields until 2008, at which time her focus became Behavioral Health. Gay and her husband, George Martin, DVM, moved to Bellevue, ID in 2000, and have loved living in the mountains of south-central Idaho. Gay has extensive social work experience in both hospital and clinical settings, completing internships at CPC Meadow Wood Hospital and Baton Rouge General Hospital in Louisiana and working for St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center for 14 years. Knowing and working with Dr. Paris lead Gay to the Challis Area Health Center to integrate Behavioral Health into the primary care practice.

Gay and George enjoy skiing, hiking, four-wheeling, and fishing with their “dog family”. In 2017 they bought a home on the Salmon River, making work at CAHC a reality. They have one adult son, James Miremont, who lives and works in Colorado. “The staff at CAHC are wonderful and the Challis community has been so welcoming! I am very happy to be here and look forward to developing this resource for Challis.”

Marla Andrews grew up in the Challis area and graduated from Challis High School. She attended the University of Idaho, majoring in Psychology, where she received a Bachelor of Science. In 2008 she received a Master of Counseling from Idaho State University. Since 2008 she has worked in the Idaho Falls school district with middle school and high school students as a school counselor. She has a passion for working with teens and supporting them as they navigate through adolescence. Marla and her husband Craig are excited to return to the Challis area to raise their two boys. The family loves to get outside and go hunting, fishing, and camping.

Crystal Smalley is a Licensed Master Social Worker who joined our practice in June 2025. Prior to joining our practice, she worked with the Challis School District during the 2024-2025 school year, as a Behavioral Specialist working primarily with elementary students.

Crystal relocated here from Winnemucca, Nevada where she had worked with the Sixth Judicial Court helping adolescents in overcoming substance use disorders and working towards motivation for change. Crystal has social work experience in the hospital setting working with both adults and adolescents; additionally, she has past experiences in the clinical setting as a School Based Therapist working with adolescents.

Crystal completed her undergraduate degree at Oregon State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Science. Upon completing her Bachelor’s, Crystal completed her graduate degree at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she received her Master of Social Work degree.  

In her free time, Crystal and her husband Robert enjoy spending time with their children, being outdoors, fishing, hiking, hunting, camping, rock hounding, traveling, and online gaming. She enjoys being in nature and learning about dinosaurs, sharks, space, reptiles, and animals of all kinds.