Haley Gleason is a board-certified advanced practice registered nurse who specializes in women’s health. She earned her master’s degree in nursing at the University of Cincinnati and her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Fort Hays State University.

Gleason chose to work in obstetrics and gynecology because of her background in family medicine. She has always loved treating conditions that are unique to women. She encourages her patients to ask questions and take an active role in making decisions that directly affect their health. She and her husband own a local business and have lived in Great Bend since 2017.

Karla Maharjan, PA, is a physician assistant who works as a hospitalist, a provider who cares for patients while they are in the hospital. She earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at Red Rock Community College and her Master of Medical Science at St. Francis University. Maharjan worked as a lab tech for 25 years before becoming a PA.

Maharjan has loved hospital work since starting as a candy striper at age 14. She loves the variety of general medicine and considers the hospital her “home.” Every day as she sees patients, she identifies their needs and what she can do to get them home safely. She and her husband have 2 sons, 1 dog and 2 cats. In her time off, she enjoys traveling and camping, reading, scrapbooking and other crafts.

Jessica Onken is a physician assistant who specializes in orthopedics. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Limestone University in South Carolina and her Master of Physician Assistant from Wichita State University.

Onken chose to specialize in orthopedics because of her background in sports, including playing collegiate volleyball. Orthopedics combines her love of sports and medicine. She is happy to practice in Great Bend, where she’ll have the ability to form relationships and provide more personalized care to her patients. When not working, she enjoys playing volleyball, spending time with her dogs and traveling.

Matthew Vopat, MD, is a sports medicine surgeon who specializes in pediatric and adult conditions of the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee. He earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita. He completed a sports medicine fellowship at the Steadman-Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He is a team physician for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard team.

Dr. Vopat wants to help motivated athletes and individuals of all levels get back to their way of life so they can achieve their goals. He grew up on a small family farm in central Kansas, which gives him a unique perspective on the importance of maintaining one’s physical and mental health.

E. Bruce Toby, MD, has practiced orthopedics and hand surgery for 35 years and was orthopedics chair at The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City for 22 years. Dr. Toby earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering at Purdue University. He earned his medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Wake Forest University. He completed a fellowship in hand surgery at Duke University Hospital.

He is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and has a hand surgery subspecialty certification. Dr. Toby has been a consultant for the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs and University of Kansas athletics. He is married and has two children and one grandson. When not working, he enjoys bird hunting with his dogs and competitive distance running. He has run several marathons.

Scott Schneider, APRN, is a nurse practitioner in the Emergency Department. Schneider earned his paramedic degree from Barton Community College and his associate degree in nursing from North Central Kansas Technical College in Hays. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing, and family nurse practitioner from Simmons University in Boston.

Before joining the health system, Schneider worked in emergency services for 32 years as a paramedic and flight nurse. He seeks to see every patient as an individual, engage in collaborative decision making and be worthy of the trust placed in him and his team. He is married to Jamie, and they have 4 children and 1 grandchild. When not working, he enjoys spending time at the lake boating, camping and fishing. He also enjoys shooting sports and riding motorcycles.

Thomas Dagg, MD, specializes in family medicine and sports medicine. He particularly enjoys working with patients of all ages, from babies to grandparents. His patient care philosophy is “one patient at a time” as he likes to get to know the person behind the patient. Dr. Dagg chose to add sports medicine training to work with patients who have pain or injuries that keep them from activities they enjoy.

Dr. Dagg earned his medical degree at Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech and completed his sports medicine fellowship at Ascension Via Christi in Wichita. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biomedical science at Texas A&M University. Outside work, he and his wife, Dr. Anna Dagg, enjoy cooking and traveling together. He also enjoys reading, running and doing just about anything outdoors.

Annie Dagg, MD, specializes in family medicine, caring for patients of all ages, with particular interest in obstetrics. She especially enjoys working with families through pregnancy, delivery and the newborn days. Dr. Dagg chose to specialize in family medicine because she loves the full spectrum of patient care.

Dr. Dagg earned her medical degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, Kansas, and bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and Spanish at the University of Arkansas. She and her husband, Dr. Thomas Dagg, chose to practice in Great Bend because of the kindness and hospitality they’ve experienced here. They have one daughter.

Erica Seger, DNP, APRN, is a family nurse practitioner at St. Rose Medical Pavilion. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice to become a nurse practitioner at Fort Hays State University, as a member of the first class of BSN to DNP students. She pursued her DNP to provide more independent care for her patients.

Seger is the patient’s advocate by assessing the patient’s whole system and finding the best treatment and most up-to-date care for them. Staying local is important to Seger, so she chose to join the team here in Great Bend, knowing that the health system provides great care everywhere.

Kristin Babcock, PA-C, is a pediatric physician assistant. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at Kansas State University and her Master of Medical Science Physician Assistant at St. Louis University.

She was born and raised in Great Bend and enjoys going to the lake, spending time with family including her husband, Wade, who is also a physician assistant, and their 6 children, watching her kids’ sporting events, kayaking and cheering on the Chiefs.

Maryann Hawkinson, APRN, is a family medicine nurse practitioner. She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Tabor College and her Master of Science in nursing at Maryville University in St. Louis. With more than 20 years of nursing experience as a certified nursing assistant, licensed practical nurse, registered nurse and now nurse practitioner, Hawkinson focuses on ensuring her patients’ understanding.

Hawkinson loves to work in family practice because of the variety of patients she sees. She believes “every patient is an opportunity to learn.” When not working, she enjoys fishing, attending sporting events and spending time with her two children.

Lisa Whitfield, APRN, FNP-C, is a family nurse practitioner who loves working in the emergency department because of its challenging nature and fast pace. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in nursing from Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She chose the family nurse practitioner track to treat patients of all ages in the emergency department.

Whitfield has 3 children, 2 boys and 1 girl. In her free time, she loves to travel, go to concerts, read and attend Kansas City Chiefs games. She chose to work in Great Bend thanks to her previous experience working in a rural emergency department. She enjoys working in a smaller community.

Lea Newman, APRN, FNP-C, is a family practice nurse practitioner at St. Rose Medical Pavilion. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Wichita State University and her Master of Science in nurse practitioner-family practice from Graceland University.

Newman moved to Great Bend with her husband, Jake, who is a youth pastor. They have been married 20 years and have 5 children.