UI president stable following heart attack

University of Idaho President Timothy White is recovering at Sacred Heart Medical Center after suffering a heart attack Friday morning.

White, 56, was awakened by chest pains and was taken to Gritman Medical Center in Moscow, university officials said in a news release. Doctors there determined White was suffering a heart attack and gave him anti-clotting medication. He was transported to Spokane about 5 a.m. Friday.

“He maintained his alertness and sense of humor through the episode,” said the release.

Karen White, the president’s wife, said surgeons inserted a stint into his coronary artery. As of Friday afternoon, he was listed in serious but stable condition and remained in intensive care.

Harold Gibson of the university communications office said the past few days have likely been stressful for the president.

Gibson said Friday morning that doctors had given no indication of how long White will be kept in the hospital.

White suffered what was called a mild heart attack in December 2004, about four months after taking over as president.

The former Oregon State University provost underwent quintuple bypass surgery in May 2004, delaying his scheduled July 1 installment as Idaho president until August 2004.