Michael Nowling, president of the Heart Institute of Spokane, says he has resigned from that post, which he has held for 10 years, to pursue other business opportunities.


Nowling, whose last day at the Heart Institute was Feb. 14, remains coy about his future plans. He says he wont be able to discuss for another month the opportunity he plans to pursue. He adds, however, that his intent is to remain in the Spokane area because he and his family love it here.


Meanwhile, Spokane cardiologist Ralph Kunkel, who is chairman of the Heart Institutes board of directors, has stepped in to fill Nowlings position until a new president has been selected, says Jim Weaver, a spokesman at the Heart Institute.


Weaver says its unclear when the Heart Institutes board will conduct a search for Nowlings successor. He says that the job description for that position is being evaluated and could be changed slightly, so a search wont begin until the job description has been finalized.


Nowling, who has led the Heart Institute since it opened its doors here in 1991, also serves on the board of directors of the Spokane Intercollegiate Research & Technology Institute (SIRTI).