Brook Roberts, CRNA, is a certified registered nurse anesthetist who earned his master’s degree in nurse anesthesia at Missouri State University. He also holds bachelor’s degrees in nursing from Bethel College and chemistry from Tabor College. Roberts has been interested in anesthesia services since he was a teenager, when he knew an anesthesia provider and experienced anesthesia during surgery. His focus is on providing patients with a safe and personal anesthesia experience during their surgeries.

Roberts has lived in Kansas most of his life and enjoys living in a smaller town, where he lives near his grandchildren. He is married with 4 children and 5 grandchildren. When he is not working, he enjoys woodworking, hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.

Katie Patterson, CCC-SLP, is a certified speech and language pathologist. As a member of our therapy care team, she will be working in our orthopedics office at 1514 NW K-96 Highway in Great Bend. Patterson earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication sciences and disorders at Fort Hays State University. Her specialty training includes several pediatric courses, such as melodic-based communication therapy and natural language acquisition.

Patterson has a special interest in autism, aphasia, dysphagia, complex communication needs and apraxia of speech. She enjoys working with patients of all ages and their families to improve all aspects of speech, language and swallowing. Patterson tries to always consider and balance her expertise with a patient’s preferences to make informed treatment recommendations. She is married to Bryant, and they have 2 daughters. When not working, she stays active with yoga, tennis and playing with her children.

Jules Whiteman, MD, is a board-certified radiologist with a special interest in breast imaging, ultrasound-guided biopsy and MRI. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin and his medical degree at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Dr. Whiteman completed a radiology residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center and a fellowship in breast imaging at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.

Dr. Whiteman enjoys working in radiology because it touches on nearly every other specialty. He continues to study so he can stay up to date on the latest in radiology and other services, which helps him provide his patients the best possible care. When he is not working, Dr. Whiteman enjoys playing the guitar, playing golf,  reading and traveling.

Kristen Yarmer, APRN, is a nurse practitioner in the Emergency Department. She earned her associate degree in nursing at Barton Community College, her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Fort Hays State University and her Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner at Post University. The majority of Yarmer’s nursing experience has been in the Emergency Department, and she loves the fast pace, never knowing what will come next. Yarmer says her experience in the ED helped her build a strong foundation as an advanced practice provider.

Yarmer grew up in Great Bend and is raising her family here. She enjoys working in the community she lives in and providing care to people she knows. Yarmer is married to Jason, and they have 3 children. When she’s not at work, she enjoys watching her children’s sports, riding all-terrain vehicles at the river, bonfires and being outdoors.

Dana Jackson, PA, is a physician assistant who specializes in orthopedics. She earned her Bachelor of Science in allied health at Doane College in Lincoln, Nebraska, and her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at Union College, also in Lincoln.

Jackson has always enjoyed orthopedic care. As her children have gotten older and more involved in athletics, she has developed an increasing interest in sports medicine. Jackson believes the most important part of her job is to educate patients about treatment options, then support their decisions. She is married and she and her husband have 2 sons. They like to spend their spare time outdoors and enjoy swimming, fishing and tubing on the lake in the summer.

Aimee Wyant, APRN, FNP-C, is a nurse practitioner working in the Convenient Care Walk-In Clinic at St. Rose Medical Pavilion. Wyant earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Fort Hays State University and her Master of Science degree in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, from Clarkson College. Wyant loves educating her patients and teaching them ways to improve their health.

Wyant was raised in rural Barton County and is committed to providing quality care in her community. She and her husband, Dustin, are happy to raise their 3 children in the same environment she grew up in. Wyant spends her free time keeping up with her children’s sports and activities and spending time with their large extended family.

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.