THE PROVIDERS
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Mellissa is a board-certified physician assistant with more than fifteen years of Emergency Medicine experience and over a decade of experience in Trauma and Critical Care at a level I trauma center. She has additional experience in Internal Medicine, Family Practice and Rural and Community Health.
Mellissa is a 1999 graduate of Wichita State University’s Physician Assistant Program.
She remains dedicated to providing the highest standard of patient care and has served on multiple committees. This includes the American College of Surgeons trauma re-verification team for a level I trauma system.
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Mellissa serves as a guest lecturer for the Wichita State University Physician Assistant program and is a clinical preceptor, mentor and clinical liaison for physician assistant students, medical students and residents.
Mellissa Simko​
Founding Partner
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Tirzah is a board-certified physician assistant with more than ten years of Trauma and Critical Care experience at a level I trauma center. She has additional experience in Family Practice and Emergency Medicine.
Tirzah is a 2004 graduate of the Wichita State University Physician Assistant Program.
In 2012, she graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine with a Master of Public Health degree. Her research interests include health disparities and end-of-life care in the trauma population, and she is dedicated to improving the quality of trauma care and prevention at the individual and population levels.
She has actively served on both process improvement and protocol development committees at a level I trauma center.
Dedicated to education, she continues to support the Wichita State University Physician Assistant Program as a guest lecturer and clinical preceptor, as well as serving as a mentor and clinical liaison for medical students and residents.
Tirzah Rice
Founding Partner
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Deanna is a board-certified physician assistant with over a decade of experience in Trauma and Critical Care. She continues to play a vital role in the program development of a level I trauma center.
Deanna is a 2001 graduate of Wichita State University’s Physician Assistant Program and has additional experience in Orthopedics and Emergency Medicine.
She is involved in disaster management and preparedness and serves as a member of the National Disaster Medical System at a state level. She has also been a part of the United States Federal Critical Care Evacuation MAC Strike Team since 2010.
Deanna has served on multiple quality and process improvement committees. She is a strong advocate for practice improvement that includes open communication with front line staff leading to a higher quality of patient care.
She remains committed to educating and mentoring physician assistant students, medical students and residents as a clinical preceptor.
Deanna Parsons​
Founding Partner
Providers
Mike Ziser PA-C, MPAS
Mike attended Southwestern College in Winfield, graduating in 2002 with a degree in Biochemistry. He graduated from Wichita State University’s Physician Assistant program in 2005 and has worked in the fields of emergency medicine, trauma, critical care, cardiology and family medicine.
Staci Nelson MS, PA-C​
Staci is a 2007 graduate of Kansas State University where she earned her BS in Biology and Minor in Leadership Studies. She went on to obtain her Masters of Science in Physician Assistant from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, Illinois in 2010. Staci’s experience includes adult and pediatric trauma, critical care and cardiology.
Calder Young MPA, PA-C
Calder attended the University of Central Arkansas where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology. He went on to earn his Master of Physician Assistant from Wichita State University in 2017. Calder has experience in emergency medicine, trauma, critical care, orthopedics and family practice.
Lori Ridder, MPA, PA-C
Lori graduated from Wichita State University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. Following a 13-year career as a critical care RN, she returned to WSU and obtained her Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies in 2008. Her experience includes family practice, emergency medicine, trauma and critical care.
Hillary Bennett, MHS, PA-C
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Hillary is a native Oklahoman transplanted to Kansas. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Southwestern Christian University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Health, P.E. and Sports Management. She earned her Master of Health Science from the University of Oklahoma Physician Assistant Program. Hillary is board certified with experience in both adult and pediatric critical care and trauma. Dedicated to the development of our profession, she is active in PA organizations at both the state and national levels.
Madison Garver MPA, PA-C
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Madison earned her undergraduate degree from Kansas State University in 2017 where she graduated with a BS in Kinesiology and a secondary major in Gerontology. She earned her Master of Physician Assistant from Wichita State University in 2019. During her clinical training, she obtained experience in family medicine, trauma, critical care, general surgery and emergency medicine. She began her career at a level 1 trauma center and is a great addition to the group.
Stephanie Oakman APRN
Stephanie is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner in family practice specializing in emergency medicine. She graduated with her BSN from Southwestern College in 2005. After eleven years as an RN in pediatric intensive care and trauma, she went on to complete her Master’s of Science in Nursing from Wichita State University in 2010.
Jennifer Powell MPA, PA-C
Jennifer is a Physician Assistant with experience in emergency medicine, urgent care and family practice. Jennifer graduated from Pittsburg State University in 2011 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. After 8 years as a paramedic, she went on to complete her Master’s in Physician Assistant from Wichita State University in 2015.
Jennifer Garrett APRN
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Jennifer is a board-certified nurse practitioner. She began her emergency room career decades ago, first as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician in the mid-1980s. She worked as a unit clerk as she continued her healthcare career path earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2009 from Wichita State University. Returning to WSU, Jennifer went on to earn her Family Nurse Practitioner Degree in 2012.
Rebecca Snyder PA-C, MPA
Rebecca is a Physician Assistant with an emphasis in orthopedics, emergency medicine, cardiology, family medicine and pediatrics. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Wichita State University in 1999. She went on to obtain her Master’s in Physician Assistant degree from the University of Nebraska Medical. Having completed advanced leadership training, Rebecca has actively served on the PA Professional Standards Board and Ethics committees and serves as a media provider through the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sean DiPaola MPAS, PA-C
Sean attended the University of Oregon where he obtained his Bachelor of Human Physiology degree in 2011. He went on to attend Wichita State University earning his Masters of Physician Assistant in 2017. Sean currently practices rural and urban emergency medicine with additional experience in trauma, orthopedics, and family practice.
Nathan Kastings MPA, PA-C
Nathan began his healthcare career as an OR Assistant. He went on to earn his EMT where he was a part of the McPherson County EMS service. He earned his Exercise Science degree from Wichita State University in 2012. Nathan then obtained his Master of Physician Assistant degree from WSU in 2017. Nathan’s experience includes emergency medicine, trauma, critical care, orthopedics and family practice.
Nathan Kastings MPA, PA-C
Nathan began his healthcare career as an OR Assistant. He went on to earn his EMT where he was a part of the McPherson County EMS service. He earned his Exercise Science degree from Wichita State University in 2012. Nathan then obtained his Master of Physician Assistant degree from WSU in 2017. Nathan’s experience includes emergency medicine, trauma, critical care, orthopedics and family practice.
Nathan Kastings MPA, PA-C
Nathan began his healthcare career as an OR Assistant. He went on to earn his EMT where he was a part of the McPherson County EMS service. He earned his Exercise Science degree from Wichita State University in 2012. Nathan then obtained his Master of Physician Assistant degree from WSU in 2017. Nathan’s experience includes emergency medicine, trauma, critical care, orthopedics and family practice.
Valerie Aouad MPA
Valerie is a board certified Physician Assistant specializing in emergency medicine. She completed her BS in Biology in 2002 from Newman University. Valerie went on to obtain her Masters of Physician Assistant degree from Wichita State University in 2009. She has additional experience in family practice, general surgery, cardiology and orthopedics.
