MPCA News

Montana CHC's Welcome New Providers

Across Montana, growing Community Health Centers (CHC's) are successfully recruiting highly qualified family practice physicians and dentists. Highlighted below are just a few of the new providers making a difference in the health of underserved Montanans:

• Lincoln County Community Health Center, Libby: The addition of Dr. Jana Peters to the CHC in Libby has changed the clinical makeup of this frontier practice. A graduate of University of Washington School of Medicine, Dr. Peters did a 6-month rotation in a private practice in Libby as part of her family practice residency at University of Idaho. An avid outdoor enthusiast, she liked the area and upon completing her residency, took a full-time position at the CHC in Libby. Because she practices Obstetrics (OB) and Family Practice, the CHC has expanded to include the care of pregnant women and has expanded pediatric services, as well. She shares OB call with two private OB providers in Libby, so that the OB call requirement is now one in three nights and every third weekend, a factor that could increase retention of all three physicians. Additionally, she has advanced skills in Women's Health, and Libby area women who formerly traveled to Kalispell for more complex gynecological procedures, can now be treated at the CHC by Dr. Peters. She has interests in patient and community education, and during her time off, volunteers on the ski patrol at Turner Mountain near Libby. Executive Director Kimberly Rowse says that "Everyone loves having her in Libby - the staff, patients, and the whole community."

• Community Health Partners (CHP) has new providers at both of its clinic sites:
  
  Livingston: Dr. Ted Kulaga, dentist, has been in private practice in Livingston for twenty years. Through the submission of an innovative grant proposal, CHP received funding from the federal Bureau of Primary Health Care in 2003 for dental services which are provided by Dr. Kulaga in his office. "It's a place where public and private practice exist parallel to one another," commented CEO Laurie Francis. "It has required a lot of education for staff and patients, and lots of day to day problem solving in order to meld the two approaches." The program started by providing dental services one day per week and is now expanding. Francis credits Dr. Kulaga's dedication to public health dentistry and strong problem solving skills for the success of the new program.
  
  Rebecca Canner, M.D. has been filling in as relief medical staff for CHP for over a year. Recently, she signed on for half time. Dr. Canner received her M.D. from McGill University in Montreal and completed her residency in family practice at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine in 2001. Since then, she has focused her efforts in Emergency Medicine and locum tenens relief in Maine and then, Salmon, Idaho. Dr. Canner resides in Livingston and in addition to medicine, enjoys music, outdoor activities, pottery, and painting. She is very interested in mental health and women's health issues. "We are excited that Dr. Canner has joined us on a permanent basis," says Laurie Francis, CHP's CEO, "and we hope to convince her to move to full-time status soon."
  
  Bozeman: Jim Cleary, M.D., joined the Gallatin Community Clinic (GCC) staff recently and works part time there, providing family practice medical services. Dr. Cleary received his M.D. from Ohio State University and completed his internship at Charleston Naval Hospital. He graduated from the Family Practice residency program at Family Medicine of Southwest Washington in 2000. Before moving to Bozeman, Dr. Cleary worked in private practice in Vancouver, Washington. He is interested in chronic disease management and this will help the clinic's efforts to improve the health outcomes of their chronically ill patients. Dr. Cleary has resided in the Gallatin Valley for over a year, and worked at the urgent care center in Belgrade prior to joining GCC. According to GCC Clinic Manger, Buck Taylor, Dr. Cleary is an "all round great guy." "We are lucky to have Dr. Cleary on board," says Taylor, "he brings both practice experience and innovative ideas in disease management to our organization."

• Butte Community Health Center: A native of Deer Lodge, Montana, Dr. Glen Heaton, D.O., is a musician at heart and a physician by profession. He earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Montana. After receiving his medical degree at the College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pomona, California, he completed his family medicine residency and internship at University of Arizona Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona. He returned to the area where he grew up and joined the Community Health Center in Butte in 2003. "He's a great person and physician," says Executive Director Cindy Stergar. "His background and education fit in really well with the goals of our CHC."

• Cooperative Health Center (CHC), Helena: Dr. Will Snider graduated from the Montana Family Practice Residency program where he familiarized with the Community Health Center mission at the Deering CHC in Billings. After residency, he started medical practice at Cooperative Health Center in Helena. "Dr. Snider has been a great addition to our clinic," says CHC Executive Director Kate Wilson. "He is a strong proponent of our care model which involves a multi-disciplinary, collaborative approach. It is a strength which he now brings to the role of Medical Director." After two years as a staff physician, Snider will replace outgoing Medical Director Dr. Kenton Sanders, who is relocating out of state.

For more information regarding these or other MPCA activities, contact Jenifer Sheehy, 406-442-2750, or jsheehy@mtpca.org.

Montana Primary Care Association 1805 Euclid Avenue Helena, MT 59601 Phone: (406) 442-2750 Fax: (406) 449-2460