2022 DOCTORS’ DAY MARCH 30, 2022
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE
Investing in the future of medicine
When Elleigh Fisher was in the 6th grade, she was hit by a car while crossing the street to school. “The driver didn’t see me–they ran over my foot,” said Fisher. At Great Plains Foot and Ankle Clinic, Dr. Josh Wray treated her. “I had to wear a boot for a few weeks,” explained Fisher, “but the injury caused plantar fasciitis. I had to have surgery later on.” Through her years of treatment, Wray noticed that Fisher was extremely interested in medicine. “I asked if there was a pre-med club she could join at school,” said Wray. When she said there was no such club, he suggested she start one. Fisher, a young woman with confidence and natural leadership ability, accepted the invitation, and in January 2020, the North Platte High School (NPHS) pre-med club had its first meeting. “Elleigh [Fisher] did all of the legwork,” Wray said. “It was important that the club was student led, with physicians available to help when needed. I gave her advice on how to set it up, and she did the rest.” “The club leadership plans activities for students,” explained Fisher. “For example, one week we did CPR certification. We were able to certify 25 people. We have also done casting, suturing, ultrasound, and saw bones. The purpose of the club is to give students hands-on experience, and I think so far we have been able to accomplish it.” Dr. JoshWray
Dr. Nathan Jacobson, orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Great Plains Health, has also volunteered his time and talents to the pre-med club. “We brought in a scope and let the kids try moving coins around just to give them a feel for what it is
Dr. Nathan Jacobson
like doing surgery,” said Jacobsen. “It’s very rewarding to help out. Investing into the next generation of healthcare providers is one of the best things we can do. The more exposure students have to medicine, the better,” said Jacobson. The club members’ favorite activity is what Fisher referred to as “speed dating.” “We brought in lots of different medical professionals,” said Fisher, “[and] not just doctors. We had a
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Elleigh Fisher - NPHS Student
dentist, a nurse, an occupational therapist, and an administrator, just to name a few. Students rotated between different stations and had a set amount of time to ask questions.”
“is that 25 percent of kids attending aren’t necessarily interested in becoming a doctor. We have kids who want to be teachers, lawyers, and marketing specialists. Whether they end up in healthcare or not, the experiences they have in pre-med will give them life skills. The students run the club–they ask the doctors and other professionals to help. They learn responsibility.” When asked why he was willing to sacrifice his time to help students at NPHS, Wray said, “I like to mentor young people. Personally, it took me a while to
One physician who shared her expertise during the speed dating activity was Dr. Wendy Gosnell, at Gosnell Family Medicine. “I have known Elleigh [Fisher] since she was born,” said Gosnell. “I have not only seen her as a patient; she has also shadowed me at the
Dr.Wendy Gosnell
office. When she asked me
decide what I wanted to do with my career. Originally, I wanted to work with large animals as a veterinarian. I think if I would have been given opportunities to try other things, I might have been able to avoid wasted time, classes, and student loans.” Fisher, who graduates this spring from NPHS, was accepted into the Rural Health Opportunities (RHOP) Program. “I have learned a lot from shadowing Dr. Wray and Dr. Gosnell,” said Fisher, “and serving as the founder and president of the pre-med club has really solidified my desire to become a physician.”
to participate, I was happy to do so.” During the activity, Gosnell shared with students what being a family practice doctor is all about. “Family practice is care for all family members, no matter their age,’’ said Gosnell. “Other specialties focus on a specific group. Often when young people say they want to be a doctor, they haven’t considered that there are many different types of physicians. I think it was valuable to students to have conversations about these different specialties. Hopefully it helped them narrow down their choices and find what felt like a good fit.”
“It’s very rewarding to help out. Investing into the next generation of healthcare providers is one of the best things we can do. The more exposure students have to medicine, the better,” said Jacobson. –Dr. Nathan Jacobson
When asked what advice she has for young people looking for a career in
Jacobson, who was also a panelist at the speed dating activity, said, “People see nurses and doctors and see those as very divergent pathways–and in some ways they are; but they have the same concept: medicine. If you look at healthcare, there is going to be an area you will find you like and fit in. It has a place for just about anyone. You don’t have to be a physician with long years of schooling. Scrub techs, OR techs, nurses–they get to be in the operating room every day. Committing to medical school isn’t the only way to work in medicine.”
medicine, Gosnell said, “Explore all options. Try to get out there and see as many physicians in their job and specialty as possible, and ask a lot of questions.” “Shadow someone–find a program at a hospital, nurses, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, and physicians,” added Jacobson. “Don’t limit yourself to one field–you might find out there is a better fit somewhere else. And when you find what clicks, take it with both hands and run.”
“One of the coolest things about the pre-med club,” said Wray,
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DR I VE AND DETERMINATION
Ever since she was young, Dr. Olivia Necola, hospitalist at Great Plains Health, knew she wanted a career in medicine. “It was never a question,” said Necola. “I knew I wanted to help people, and the path for me was healthcare.”
Dr. Olivia Necola
Although Necola didn’t have close relationships with anyone who worked in the medical profession, she didn’t let that stop her from pursuing her dream. “When I was 15, I wanted to do some volunteer work,” she explained. Rather than volunteering at a hospital, Necola wanted to be in a clinical setting. “In a hospital, volunteers end up doing things like serving meals,” explained Necola, “and that wasn’t what I was looking for. I wanted hands-on experience.” Necola, who lived in New York City, picked up the yellow pages and started calling clinics. “I called 35 different clinics before I found one willing to take me,” she said. That summer, before her junior year in high school, Necola spent her entire vacation working full time for Dr. Aristotelis Sakellaridis. “In the clinic, there was only one doctor, one nurse, and one receptionist,” she said, “I learned to help out in every area and experienced what it was like to see and work with patients every day.” Necola learned everything from taking a patient’s history, to taking vitals, to drawing blood. Sakellaridis was so impressed with Necola’s skill and work ethic that by the end of the summer, he offered to hire her. “He actually gave me the keys to the office,” said Necola. From then on, Necola would go work at the clinic after school and during school breaks. When working with patients, Sakellaridis would introduce her as a future doctor. “It meant the world to me that he believed in me,” said Necola. When asked what advice she would give young people who are interested in a career in medicine but don’t know where to start, Necola said, “There are opportunities out there if you have the determination to go after them. We need good physicians, and there are many professionals willing to help if you have the courage to ask.”
“It was never a question. I knew I wanted to help people, and the path for me was healthcare.” -Dr. Olivia Necola
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A passion for others
When Dr. Benjamin Klug, North Platte Ob- stetrics and Gynecology, isn’t seeing patients or delivering babies, he can be found on the sidelines, coaching his kids’ sports teams. Klug is a married father of three. “I love being out there with the kids,” said Klug. “It is so fun to see them grow and develop as play-
Klug not only coaches his sons’ football team, but has also coached swimming, basketball, and baseball. Although Klug’s work sched- ule is busy, and often includes being on call at the hospital, he finds it important to volunteer. “My wife and I want to be involved in our kids’ lives,” said Klug. “Family is incredibly important to us.” Klug also had a wonderful example from his own father. “My dad is a physician,” said Klug, “and he always coached my teams. He made time for me, and some of my best memories are the times we had on the field. I want to create those same memories with my kids.”
Dr. Benjamin Klug
ers.” Klug, a former athlete, played football on a collegiate level at Hastings College. “I played cornerback for four years,” said Klug. “Football is definitely a passion of mine.”
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The medical staff of Great Plains Health
ANESTHESIOLOGY
CARDIOLOGY
BRAIN & SPINE
Vitaly Buza, MD
Saleh El Dassouki, MD
Olena Dotsenko, MD
Rick Heirigs, MD
Leslie Makohoniuk, MD
Daniel Menendez, MD
Forrest Ragland, MD
Lee Warren, MD
DERMATOLOGY
EMERGENCY MEDICINE
CARDIOLOGY
Daniel Mosel, MD
Renee Engler, MD
Marc Hyde, MD
Todd Jensen, MD
Julie Query, MD
Georgy Kaspar, MD
Azariah Kirubakaran, MD
Ramez Smairat, MD
EMERGENCY MEDICINE
FAMILY MEDICINE
ENDOCRINOLOGY
Jim Smith, MD
Paul Travis, MD
John Mihailidis, MD
Kent Allison, MD
Jeffrey Brittan, MD
Jason Citta, MD
Jesse Dunn, MD
Tyler Felton, MD
FAMILY MEDICINE
Douglas States, MD
Kali Rubenthaler, DO
Wendy Gosnell, MD
Emily Jones, MD
David Lindley, MD
Shawn Murdock, MD
Michael Nelson, MD
Jon Swanson, DO
FAMILY MEDICINE
HAND SURGERY
GENERAL SURGERY
HOSPITALIST
Praveena Vantipalli, MD
Jerry K. Seiler, MD
Michael Simonson, MD
JacobWiesen, MD
Kasia Wolanin, MD
Amulya Abburi, MD
Renu Kadian, MD
Michael Joyner, MD
HOSPITALIST
Krishna Pallamala, MD
Olivia Necola, MD
Alexandra Nunez, MD
Norbert Alex Seidenschwarz, MD
Jovanka Vuksanovic, MD
JiashanWang, MD
Neethu Pitta, MD
Meena Sherpa, MD
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
INTERNAL MEDICINE
MEDICAL ONCOLOGY/HEMATOLOGY
Eduardo Freitas, MD
Kartik Anand, MD
Benjamin George, MD
Paolo Romero, MD
Arafat Tfayli, MD
Loretta Baca, MD
Raymond Carlson, DO
Kshitij Gupta, MD
OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
OPHTHALMOLOGY
ORAL SURGERY
NEPHROLOGY
NEUROSCIENCES
Pushkar Kanade, MD
Anil Kumar, MD
Michael Bianco, MD
Chris Johng, MD
Benjamin Klug, DO
Amy Short, MD
Kristen Burwick, MD
Steven Hinze, DDS, OMS
ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY
OTOLARYNGOLOGY
Evan Correll, MD
John D. Hannah, MD
Nathan Jacobson, MD
Raymond B. Kessler, MD
Mark McKenzie, MD
Aaron Morgenstein, MD
Mandip Singh, MD
Elaine Fitzpatrick, MD
OTOLARYNGOLOGY
PAIN MEDICINE
PATHOLOGY
PEDIATRICS
Nitya Prabhakaran, MD
Jean Thomsen, MD
Philip Fitzpatrick, MD
Roger Simpson, MD
Stephanie Marcy, DO Aleeta Somers-Dehaney, MD
Kathy Lopez, MD
Melissa Mosel, MD
PEDIATRICS
PODIATRY
PSYCHIATRY
Soogandaren Naidoo, MD
Grishma Parikh, MD
Richard Raska, DPM
JoshWray, DPM
Christopher A. Alfonzo, MD
Alex Ding, DO
Narayana Koduri, MD
Geetanjali Sahu, MD
PULMONOLOGY/ CRITICAL CARE
PHYSIATRY
RADIATION ONCOLOGY
RADIOLOGY
Imanual Somers-Dehaney, MD
Caroline Sorenson, MD
Guido Molina, MD
Todd Hlavaty, MD
David Hatch, MD
Jed Hollingsworth, DO
Ladd Lake, MD
Bradley Mattson, MD
RHEUMATOLOGY
SLEEP MEDICINE
UROLOGY
WOUND CARE
James Brown, MD
Jose de Guzman, MD
Clinton Schafer, DPM
Millie Erickson, MD
Nadia Elias, MD
Kristin Lake, MD
Jefrey Start, DO
As a high school student, Dr. Jesse Dunn from Midlands Family Medicine, attended career day. “There were different professionals there to talk to the students,” said Dunn. “I spent some time chatting with a local doctor and thought, That would be a great career. That was really the first time I felt an interest in working in medicine.” After high school, Dunn served a two-year mission for his church. Nearly a year after he returned home, while attending college, he met his wife, Jessica. “We married young,” said Dunn, “and our life was very busy between school and work.” Not long into their marriage, Jessica started feeling sick. “She lost 30-40 pounds in a month,” said Dunn. “She looked skeletal.” One day she called her mother-in-law from work; she was experiencing vision problems and couldn’t drive. “My mom took her to the hospital right away,” said Dunn. Jessica was immediately admitted and spent six days in intensive care in diabetic ketoacidosis. Throughout her hospitalization, Dunn was impressed with the physicians who worked tirelessly to help his wife. “That was what lit that fire again for me,” said Dunn. A few years later, when Dunn complete his bachelor’s degree, he applied to medical school with It’s never too late to chase your dream
the support of his wife. “We had two young kids at the time, so we knew it would be challenging,” said Dunn, “but we decided to go for it.” When asked what advice Dunn would have for anyone considering becoming a doctor, he said, “It’s never too late to chase your dream. Some people are intimidated by medical school. I was 30 years old with a wife and two kids when I started. It isn’t easy, but it is definitely possible. You can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it.”
Sahu makes lifelong ambition come true
Growing up in India, Dr. Geetanjali Sahu, child psychiatrist at Great Plains Behavioral Health, had a close-knit family. “One of my aunts married an orthopaedist,” said Sahu. “I had always felt an interest in medicine, and he became a mentor to me.” Sahu’s uncle took her under his wing, encouraging Sahu to pursue a career in healthcare. “In high school, he let me observe his surgeries,” said Sahu. “I found it very interesting.”
“but psychiatry also fascinated me.” Combining the two, Sahu found what suited her best. She was in an online group with other physicians headed overseas when she met her husband, Dr. Kartik Anand. “It worked out well–we did our fellowships in Houston and then got jobs at the same hospital in North Platte. We moved here a few years ago with our twin sons, and we love the community here.” (Anand works as an oncologist at Great Plains Health.)
Sahu attended medical school in India and then decided to specialize and practice in the US. “Initially, I thought pediatrics,” said Sahu,
“Although it is difficult being away from family in India, they are able to visit often,” said Sahu. “They sacrificed, both financially and
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Healthcare becomes passion
Dr. Kathy Lopez, pediatrician at Great Plains Pediatrics, always felt a desire to work in healthcare. “Growing up in Indiana,” said Lopez,
Lopez began volunteering at a children’s hospital and decided to go back to school to become a physician. Lopez attended medical
“my friend’s father was a doctor, and that career always felt interesting to me.” As a teen, Lopez volunteered at a local hospital. “Back then we were known as the candy stripers,” said Lopez. “We wore red-and-white striped uniforms and assisted the nursing staff with patient needs. We would refill water and ice, take books and magazines to rooms, or assist nurses by taking vital signs. We did whatever needed to be done.” Lopez’s father, a child of the Great Depression era, encouraged Lopez to get a four-year degree with a stable income. “My parents
school at Northwestern and completed her residency in Pittsburgh. She had been working at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for six years when she was approached by a recruiter. He told her about an opportunity somewhere she had never heard of: North Platte, Nebraska. Lopez went to North Platte for an on-site visit. “After I met Dr. Perry and Dr. Shepherd, I knew it would be a good fit,” said Lopez. When asked if she regrets her time spent in accounting rather than medicine, Lopez said, “I’m glad I had experience in both. I think having more experience in different areas makes me a better provider.”
valued education,” said Lopez. “They wanted to make sure we could always support ourselves.” Lopez earned her degree in accounting, working at one of the top accounting firms in Chicago. Lopez was assigned to work on healthcare audits, and her interest in healthcare sparked once again.
For those who have taken a different path but are considering a career in healthcare, Lopez said, “It is never too late to try something different. Lots of people change careers, and if it is your passion, you should go for it.”
emotionally, so I could be where I am today. I feel lucky to have their constant support. They are so proud of what I have achieved.”
When asked what advice she would have to anyone considering a career as a doctor, Sahu said, “The whole process of becoming a physician is tough and stressful, but it is also very rewarding. You constantly learn new things−about yourself, about medicine, and about people. That is what makes the work so exciting. Dig deep and make sure it is what you want−and then go for it!”
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Celebrating dedication to our region: Physician years of service 20 Years
Jason Citta, MD........................................ Family medicine Wendy Gosnell, MD. ................................ Family medicine David Hatch, MD...................................... Radiology 10 Years Grishma Parikh, MD................................. Pediatrics Soogandaren Naidoo, MD....................... Pediatrics Narayana Koduri, MD............................... Psychiatry 5 Years Michael Joyner, MD.................................. Hand surgery Jose de Guzman, MD............................... Urology Stephanie Marcy, DO................................ Pain medicine Guido Molina, MD. .................................. Pulmonology/Critical Care Katarzyna Wolanin, MD. .......................... General surgery Jacob Wiesen, MD.................................... General surgery
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2022 Doctors’ Day
We celebrate Doctors’ Day onMarch 30 to honor the physicians who care for the health and well-being of our community. At Great Plains Health, we are thankful and appreciative of the many fine physicians who serve our region. This special publication pays tribute to our doctors, who spend countless hours making an impact on the health of our community. We are grateful for the commitment to exceptional medical care that our physicians provide and for the many miles they travel to ensure that the people of our region receive quality care as close to home as possible.
increasing regulation, reimbursement reductions, and change, the healthcare industry has become a highly complex environment. Our physicians work tirelessly to stay in step with these changes while keeping patients at the center of care, always. Our physicians not only care for local residents but are also community leaders, neighbors, soccer coaches, and friends.We applaud these fine men and women, who dedicate their careers tomaking our community stronger. As we carry out our mission to inspire health and healing by putting our patients first—ALWAYS—and “continue tomove forward on our vision” to be the region’s most trusted healthcare community, we are honored to partner with the physicians of the North Platte region.
The medical field is always evolving, yet our physicians stay abreast of change and innovation. In an age of COVID-19,
Thank you to the doctors of Great Plains Health.
Ivan Mitchell, FACHE, MHA, MPA Chief Executive Officer Great Plains Health
Ladd Lake, MD Chief of Staff Great Plains Health
In the family
Great Plains Health welcomed Dr. Saleh El Dassouki, interventional cardiologist, in 2021. Dassouki has lived all over the world. He spent his childhood in France. At the age of 10, he and his family moved to Lebanon. “My father is a surgeon,” said Dassouki, “so I feel like a career in medicine was programmed into me at an early age. I was observing surgeries at the age of 13.” Dr. Saleh El Dassouki
career,” said Dassouki. “When I lost that opportunity, I turned my focus to medicine.”
Dassouki attended medical school in Lithuania and came to the US for his residency and fellowship. “I speak five languages: French, Arabic, Lithuanian, English, and Spanish,” said Dassouki. In 2019, Dassouki was married to his wife, Hadil, in Lebanon. “The pandemic hit,” said Dassouki, “and she wasn’t able to come to the US. We lived apart for two years.” Finally reunited, Dassouki and his wife are happy to be living in Nebraska. “We both like it here in North Platte,” said Dassouki. “We like the smaller town, and the people are really nice.”
As a teenager, Dassouki, a gifted swimmer, had his sights set on competing in the Olympics. “I suffered a leg injury that ended my
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Thank you to our visiting specialists
Omar Abdul-Rahman, MD, genetics Chandrakanth, Are, MD, surgical oncology Casey Burg, MD, pulmonology Jeffrey Cloud, MD, gastroenterology Cynthia Ellis, MD, developmental medicine Sean Figy, MD, plastic surgery Abbey Fingeret, MD, surgical oncology Nancy Foster, PhD, Psychology Kalpesh Ganatra, MD, pulmonology Rudolph Lackner, MD, cardiothoracic surgery Quan Ly, MD, surgical oncology William Lydiatt, MD, surgical oncology
Mac McLaughlin, MD, neurology Jennifer McWilliams, MD, psychiatry/telepsychiatry Oleg Militsakh, MD, surgical oncology Howard Needelman, MD, developmental medicine Marco Olivera-Martinez, MD, hepatology James Padussis, MD, surgical oncology Bradley Reames, MD, surgical oncology Fedja Rochling, MD, hepatology Jessica Shank, MD, surgical oncology William Shear, MD, gastroenterology Richard Thompson, MD, cardiothoracic surgery Rana Zabad, MD, multiple sclerosis clinic
601 W. Leota St. | North Platte, NE 69101 | 308.568.8000 | gphealth.org
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