Exceptional Doctors, Nurses & Care Providers
Dr. Jacob Beecher, DO
Dr. Beecher was born in Englewood, CO. He graduated High School from Medicine Lodge, KS and from there he completed medical school at Kansas City University of Medical and Biosciences. Dr. Beecher attended Via Christi Family Medicine Residency in Wichita, KS following his medical degree training.
Dr. Beecher loves family medicine and he is very passionate about the chance to build relationships with his patients and their entire family. He sees patient care as a two-way street. Dr. Beecher appreciates the ability to make a decisions about care with his patients instead of for them. Outside of work Dr. Beecher loves spending time with his family, traveling, and watching sports.
Dr. Ryan Woodruff, MD
Dr. Woodruff was born in Wichita and spent the majority of his childhood in Shawnee, Kansas. He graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest and then went to Pittsburg State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Dr. Woodruff attended the University of Kansas in Wichita and followed his medical degree with training in the Family Medicine specialty at Via Christi in Wichita. He decided to become a doctor in the third grade but ultimately joined the medical field to care for and love his neighbors. His passion for Direct Primary Care stems from his desire to take care of the whole person- mind, body, and spirit. Dr. Woodruff loves finding local adventures with his wife, Sarah, and their two dogs. He is also passionate about traveling the world to experience the beauty of creation.
Megan Nelson-APRN-C
Megan has been a Nurse Practitioner since 2017 and a nurse since 2004. She has primarily worked in the ER and in a pre-hospital setting where she has gained a broad amount of experience in her roles. As an APRN she provides DOT and routine physicals, acute visits and covers Emergency Room call. Her favorite areas include women's health and the Emergency room.
Megan was born and raised in Zenda, KS and attended Pratt Community College for her Associates of nursing degree and Chamberlain University for a Bachelor of Science degree. She graduated with honors and a Masters in Nursing from Walden University in 2017. During this time she did one of her clinical rotations in Medicine Lodge. Between this and transports out of the facility as a flight nurse, she fell in love with the patients, staff and overall practice here at MLMH.
Megan is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Megan is a proud mom to son Brenden and daughter Brilynn. In her free time she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Kelli J. Swayden, ANP-BC, FNP-BC
Kelli is a dual certified Adult and Family Nurse Practitioner. She was raised in Medicine Lodge, KS, where her family still resides. After graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Fort Hays University, Kelli worked as a nurse at University of Kansas Medical Center on the Urology, Neurology, and ENT Unit and then in Neurosurgical ICU as a critical care nurse and Stroke Team Responder. After completing her Master of Science in Nursing in 2009, she worked in Internal Medicine for eight years, providing outpatient healthcare to the diverse population of urban Kansas City. In 2017, she returned to her critical care and small-town roots as a travel Nurse Practitioner for Rural Emergency Medical Providers. When a full-time position became available in her hometown hospital, she was thrilled to be able to bring her breadth of knowledge and experience back to her community.
Kelli primarily works in the ER and Inpatient settings but does cover several clinic days each month. She is a certified aesthetic injector and provides Botox services in addition to primary care on her clinic days.
Her experiences in the urban, rural, outpatient and inpatient settings have motivated her to become an advocate for better patient care and improved processes for navigating the healthcare system. She is also a proponent of the importance of generalized wellness in achieving optimal health and wellbeing.
In her spare time, Kelli enjoys spending time with her family and traveling the world.
Patty McNamar, DNP, APRN, NP-C
Patty has been an RN since 1976 and a Nurse Practitioner since 2005. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the then West Chester State College. After seeing a need in her rural community, Patty pursued her master's degree in nursing as a Nurse Practitioner from St. Louis University in 2005 and finished her Doctorate in Nursing Practice, also from St Louis University in 2012. Patty is certified in family practice.
Starting her career in a large metro hospital in Washington, DC, Patty has worked in a variety of settings. These settings include home health in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kansas and hospital nursing in Harper and Kiowa, KS. She continues to volunteer with meals on wheels and occasionally at the Barber County Health Department.
As a nurse practitioner, Patty provides evidence-based primary care in ambulatory, acute and long-term care settings. She diagnoses and manages acute, episodic and chronic illnesses with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention to individuals, families and groups. Having worked in a rural community since 1985, Patty is well-versed in all aspects of rural healthcare and the need for improved healthcare delivery to this population. She has numerous professional affiliations and is an active member of the Kansas Maternal Child Health Committee, the South-Central Hospital Emergency Preparedness Committee and started an Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee that includes both hospitals in the frontier county.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Patty has made her home in Barber County, KS since 1985. She is married to Jerry and has two adult sons, Matthew of Medicine Lodge and Kenneth of Kiowa.
Hope Hewitt, APRN, NP-C
Hope was raised in Greensburg, KS. She earned her Associates degree in Nursing from Pratt Community College in 2006 and worked at the hospital in Hutchinson while completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Kansas. She worked on the Medical-Surgical Unit and in the Emergency Room there as an RN while working toward her Master of Science in Nursing from Fort Hays State University, which she finished in 2017. She then transitioned to the Hutchinson Clinic and worked in the family practice department until moving to Medicine Lodge.
Hope is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the Kansas Advanced Practice Nurses association. She is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and specializes in acute and chronic illness as well as health promotion and wellness.
The small town atmosphere and being closer to family are what drew Hope and her family to Medicine Lodge. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Dustin, and their 3 children, Camryn, Landon and Maddyn. In her free time she also enjoys cooking and reading.
Discover skilled healthcare providers at Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital. Call us today at 620-886-3771.