Pediatrics

Phillip Archibald is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing at the North Logan clinic. He received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Phoenix. He was later accepted to Boston University School of Social Work, where he earned a Master of Social Work. Phillip sought several internship opportunities, including working with the Wyoming Department of Family Services, a concentrated program, and equine-assisted psychotherapy. Throughout his schooling, there was an emphasis on the impact of trauma upon the individual.

Following school, Phillip entered into community mental health care in Wyoming. He has worked with teenage male clients in the past, providing substance use treatment and dual diagnosis care.

Phillip loves working in an outpatient platform to provide a well-rounded basis of services. He has come to Health West to continue his work as a mental health counselor.

Phillip can be found outside of work enjoying time with his wife, one of his seven children, or entertaining his 13 grandchildren, all of whom he is proud of. He enjoys camping, hunting, fishing, and caring for his orchard and garden. Phillip is a retired United States Navy Seabee with a career full of achievements and deployment to a combat area.

Phillip is also licensed to provide virtual visits to patients in Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho.

Dr. Andrew Baker is a native of Pocatello, ID, where he grew up in a family of 10. He attended Pocatello High School and was involved in scouting, tennis, and choir. After high school, he served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Argentina, where he learned to speak Spanish and grew to love the Latino culture.

Following his mission, he attended Brigham Young University-Idaho, where he studied exercise physiology. He then received a master’s degree in medical health sciences from Touro University – Nevada. After a year of working in between school, he and his family moved to West Virginia to attend the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. They loved their time in the Appalachian Mountains but are excited to return to Pocatello to be close to family and friends. Dr. Baker loves helping others and is excited to assist patients in understanding and navigating their health concerns.

In his free time, he loves to spend time with his wife and four children. They love their pizza and movie nights, bike rides, hiking, reading/listening to books together, playing games, dance parties in the living room, and just spending time together. Dr. Baker will be training in Pocatello and Rexburg and feels excited and blessed to stay in Southeastern Idaho to practice family medicine.

Paul Bieniasz has been practicing medicine for 35 years. He received his education at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He started his career with Health West in the Lava Hot Springs location. Since then, he has practiced in Oregon, Montana, and Washington; he returned to Health West in 2010.

In his spare time, Bieniasz enjoys the beautiful outdoor activities that Southeast Idaho has to offer, from skiing to camping and fishing. Bieniasz is bilingual and speaks English and Spanish.

Cassandra is an LCPC currently working as a school-based psychotherapist with Health West. She loves working with kids to help them discover new coping skills and to learn how to build healthy relationships. In her free time, she likes to be on adventures with her family or in the kitchen baking treats for friends.

Dallen graduated from Idaho State University in 2016 with a Masters in counseling. He also played basketball for the University of Alaska and enjoys time with his family.

Shannon attended Idaho State University for an undergraduate degree in social work and received a master’s degree in social work from Boise State University. He has professional experience in the development and implementation of behavioral strategies at school and home for children with disabilities. His experience in teaming up with families to resolve struggles they may be having is the most rewarding part of his job. Since joining Health West, he has enjoyed helping individuals and families to find hope and identify solutions together.

Shannon is bilingual and speaks English and Spanish.

Brooke Buffat is currently employed as Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the Idaho State University College of Pharmacy, providing oversight of admissions, recruitment, and student support on all campuses. Dr. Buffat is also a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences and the Director of Continuing Education for the College. She earned her PharmD degree from Idaho State University in 2004 and completed an ambulatory care residency at the Southeast Idaho VA Outpatient Clinic in Pocatello in 2005, followed by a primary care pharmacotherapy residency at the Idaho State University Department of Family Medicine in 2006. She joined the Idaho State University Faculty in 2006.

Ryan Carr, PA-C, grew up in West Jordan, UT, before attending UVSC for his undergraduate degree. Later on, he studied at the University of Utah and Baylor College of Medicine in Texas for his physician assistant degree. Before joining Health West, Ryan worked at an urgent care facility in Page, AZ. He still enjoys the urgent care portion of family medicine and assists patients with their psychiatric needs. The main focus of his practice is preventative care and treatment of hypertension, diabetes, and other health concerns.

In his free time, Ryan enjoys a wide variety of activities. One of his favorite things to do is spend time outdoors, hiking, kayaking, and snowshoeing, with his wife and four daughters.

Ryan’s specialties include:

• Primary medical care
• Large joint injections
• DOT/CDL physicals
• Psychiatric care
• STD testing

Doty has worked in different areas of the social work field since 2006. She has experience working with substance abuse and addictions, dual diagnosis, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. She was more recently trained in alternative and complementary chronic pain treatments, as well as brief therapy techniques. Doty works with children, couples, families, and groups.

Currently, she is working alongside primary care providers to ensure that Health West patients are getting comprehensive, holistic care. When not at work, she loves the mountains and being outdoors, traveling, creative crafting, and spending time with family and friends.

Jacob Comstock was taught the importance of helping others at a young age and grew up wanting to be just like his dad. His dad worked three jobs to take care of his family; one of which was lawn care.  When he was 14, Jacob told his dad he didn’t want to mow lawns for the rest of his life. Rather than take offense, Jacob’s dad told him he’d better go to college and get better grades than he was at the time. Jacob took his dad’s words to heart and set himself on a path to go to school and find a way to help people, just like his dad.

Jacob earned his undergraduate degree in social work from Idaho State University and his graduate degree in social work from Walla Walla University. He enjoys helping patients make progress in their treatment and seeing them discover that they are capable of doing better. He primarily works within addiction, trauma, depression, and anxiety and utilizes modalities such as dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness, accelerated resolution therapy, and solution focus brief therapy.

Jacob grew up in Pocatello, ID and enjoys learning new things, playing video games with his children, listening to music, and spending time with his wife.

Alyssa Cruz is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Idaho. She holds a Master of Counseling degree from Idaho State University and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Universidad de Valladolid Yucatán.

Originally from Belize, Central America, Alyssa speaks both English and Spanish fluently. She holds previous experience working in both private practice with various mental health disorders, as well as in the non-profit setting working with underserved populations and clients with complex trauma histories. As a former high school counselor Alyssa enjoys working with teens and children and has training in both play therapy and TF-CBT.

Alyssa is passionate about making mental health accessible and bringing awareness to the importance of prioritizing our psychological and emotional wellbeing. The aspect she enjoys most about counseling is learning about each of her clients’ unique stories and helping them discover their inner strength to overcome the challenges they face and reach their personal goals.

In her free time Alyssa loves being cozy at home with a good book, playlist, video game, or movie. When not at home she loves to travel to new places, try new cuisines, and learn about different cultures.

Dr. Cody Cunningham was born and raised in Southeast Idaho. He went to Brigham Young University-Idaho for his undergraduate education and completed his medical education at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Washington. He and his wife have three children and enjoy camping, ATV riding, paddle boarding, movie nights, board games, and just spending time together. He is also an avid hunter, snowmobiler, weightlifter, and enjoys getting his hands dirty with some hammer, nails, and a big project every once in a while. Dr. Cunningham and his family are excited to join the Pocatello community. He is passionate about family medicine and plans to practice in a small Mountain West town. He speaks English and Spanish.

Dr. Marie Elwood knew she wanted to be a physician from the age of 14. Before medical school, she enjoyed working as an editor, a chocolatier, a CNA, a medical researcher and a stay-at-home mom for her 7 awesome kids! She was raised in Elko, Nevada, in a huge family, and she has lived most of her adult life in Billings, Montana. She attended the University Of Washington School Of Medicine where she completed the Targeted Rural and Underserved Health Track and the Native American Health Track. Her Bachelor’s Degree is in Psychology from the University of Southern California. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Entomology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Elwood is passionate about Women’s Health, Intimate Partner Violence Prevention, Rural Health Care, Suicide Prevention, Geriatrics, and Ethnobotany/ Traditional healing. She also has a special place in her heart for children and adults with autism and is an advocate for persons with disabilities. She enjoys spending time with her kids, reading, dining out, and clobbering her husband at Ping-Pong.

Speaks English and Spanish

Spencer is a native of Southeastern Idaho and grew up in Firth. His family camps every year in the mountains near Montpelier and the area has grown to be one of his favorite places on Earth. Spencer attended BYU-Idaho as an undergrad and Idaho State University for PA school. He learned Spanish while serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he enjoys using Spanish in his clinical practice. He has previous experience in Orthopedics. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his growing family hiking, camping, fishing, biking, and spending time on the water.  Spencer is excited to be in Montpelier and serve such a great community.

Zuzana’s scope of practice encompasses health promotion, disease prevention, and diagnosis and management of common as well as complex healthcare problems spanning from childhood through senior life.

Zuzana earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees at Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID and is certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Before becoming a nurse practitioner, she spent three years as a hospital-based registered nurse in various departments which included medical, surgical, and cardiovascular. Prior to joining Health West in February 2014, Zuzana worked part-time in the Pocatello Free Clinic as a volunteer nurse practitioner.

Among Zuzana’s greatest healthcare interests is guidance and treatment of patients with diabetes. She understands the complexity of the disease requires not only focus on treatment, but even more importantly, prevention. She is passionate about educating diabetics on how they can manage their condition. She is a member of the American Association of Diabetics Educators and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners

Zuzana was born and raised in Slovakia and has traveled extensively throughout Europe and the U.S. She moved to Pocatello, ID in 2007. She and her husband enjoy spending time playing golf, skiing, traveling, and enjoying outdoors in beautiful Idaho.

Emily Frasure provides therapy at Health West Chubbuck and integrative wellness care at Health West ISU. She graduated from Idaho State University with her master’s degree in social work and has lived in Southeast Idaho her entire life. Her hobbies include spending time with her dogs, all things outdoors, gaming, and spending time with her sisters. She has a variety of experience working with individuals in crisis and was drawn to Health West due to its mission to help the underserved and its emphasis on teamwork for patient care. She loves working with a wide range of people and needs.

Tina Guedes chose a career in medicine because she loves to help people and interact with them every day. She is a board-certified family nurse practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She earned her undergraduate degree from Advent Health University and her master’s degree from Frontier Nursing University. Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, Tina spent 20 years working as a registered nurse. She has diverse experience working in the ICU, ICU step down, the emergency room, the heart catheter recovery unit, and clinic nursing.

Tina grew up in Massachusetts, then moved to Florida with her family as a teenager. She moved to Idaho in 2013. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, hiking, and traveling. Tina is proud to work at Health West as she considers it a wonderful organization with many resources to offer patients.

Cory Gunn enjoys primary care because it gives him the opportunity to build relationships and help people make lasting beneficial health improvements. He focuses on providing evidence-based care and believes that a healthy body facilitates a healthy mind and that a healthy and balanced lifestyle is key to positive long term health outcomes.

Cory graduated with a bachelor’s degree in athletic therapy from Weber State University and a master’s of physician assistant studies from Northern Arizona University. His bachelor’s degree in athletic therapy offers patients additional perspective in orthopedic care. Cory can help with the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. He is also competent in doing therapeutic knee injections. During his training, Cory did an elective rotation in dermatology and enjoys doing basic skin procedures such as cryotherapy or biopsies for concerning moles and skin lesions.

Cory grew up in the south end of the Salt Lake Valley in Utah, and has lived in Oregon, Washington, and Arizona. He loves the outdoors, including camping, fishing, hiking, and hunting with his dogs. He is also an amateur musician and plays the bass, acoustic guitar, and ukulele.

Throughout her study of medicine, Brookelle Gunn has been amazed at what a miracle the human body is. She believes it can overcome a lot with its natural ability to heal, especially when health is a priority in someone’s life. Brookelle enjoys working with patients to make a plan to improve their health or treat conditions. There are times that medication is necessary, but overall, Brookelle believes our health can see magnificent changes when we put work into improving it.

Brookelle graduated from Weber State University with a bachelor’s degree in athletic therapy and from Northern Arizona University with a master’s degree in physician assistant studies. She is originally from Woods Cross, UT, but lived in the Philippines, Washington, and Arizona before moving to Pocatello. She enjoys spending time with her family, camping, hunting, fishing, and boating. She also enjoys playing sports, cooking, crocheting, and amateur photography.

Logan Higbee, PA, was born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho. He received his education from Alderson Broaddus College in West Virginia before moving back to the area. He has been practicing medicine since 2010

Logan enjoys working with Health West patients to improve their health and make an impact on their lives. Logan enjoys spending time with his family, football, ultimate frisbee, disc golf and the outdoors.

Bryce Hill is a licensed master social worker for Health West. He earned his master’s degree from Idaho State University.

Dr. Jess Hopkin, DDS has worked in dentistry for more than 25 years and was instrumental in opening and growing the dental clinic at Health West Rock Springs. He earned his undergraduate degree from Weber State University and graduated from the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University Dental School in 1997. After graduation, he moved home to Morgan, Utah and opened his own dental practice, which he operated for 20 years. After selling his practice, he decided to go into public health dentistry and moved to Washington before eventually moving to Rock Springs, WY to be closer to family. Dr. Hopkin has been married to his wife for 35 years and has completed more than 100 marathons and two Ironman triathlons.

Adam Hunsaker, FNP, has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Utah, a Master’s of Science in Nursing Education from the University of Utah, and a Master’s of Science from Georgetown University.

He grew up in West Layton on a produce farm where he worked 10 years – his favorite memories involve watermelons, corn and onions. He started learning Spanish working in the potato fields and learned more Spanish in Argentina. He has a wife (who loves to bake cakes) and five mostly normal kids. When he has spare time, he works in his small apple orchard, smokes meats, and raises sheep. He has worked for 10 years as a registered nurse in various areas, mostly in emergency medicine, also in neurology, home health and wound care. He taught nursing students for four years at Utah State University. He is a rabid Chicago Cubs fan.

Brandi Karroum, FNP, moved to Pocatello after only one visit to the area. Like all locals, after she discovered the mountains, the rivers, and the great people here, Brandi knew it was the perfect place to raise her family.

Brandi and her four siblings were raised by their single mom in the inner city of Seattle. She grew up “in the system” with public assistance, including WIC, welfare, and free lunches. Due to her impoverished upbringing, marked by limited opportunities, Brandi has cultivated a commitment to give back to those who may need extra help. That is what led her to Health West.

Health West stands for what Brandi believes in—healthcare that is available to all despite a patient’s ability to pay—so she is thankful to be a part of Health West’s provider team. Brandi earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Idaho State University and has been practicing for more than seven years. Her favorite part about being a family nurse practitioner is getting to know her patients along with their children, parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and, on occasion, their animals! However, Brandi only sees human patients from newborns to geriatrics.

Dr. Melissa Kjos serves as medical director for Health West and sees patients at Health West Pocatello. She attended Oregon State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with minors in history and chemistry. She completed medical school at Oregon Health and Science University and her medical residency at Health West ISU in Pocatello.

Dr. Kjos married her husband, Chris, in 2004 while he was serving as a military police officer. During his second deployment to Iraq, Dr. Kjos completed a three-month medical internship in South Africa. She worked in various day hospitals and with EMS services in Cape Town’s numerous townships.

The light of her and her husband’s lives is their daughter, a miracle preemie born at 24 weeks. Dr. Kjos says her daughter is the best teacher she’s ever had. Dr. Kjos enjoys traveling, camping, jogging, reading, and spending time with her family.

Dr. Greg Kostur champions a holistic approach to children’s healthcare, recognizing the intricate interplay of social, psychological, genetic, and physical factors. Committed to treating the “whole child,” he values Health West’s integrated behavioral health model, which places child psychologists directly within the pediatric clinic. This dedication extends to fostering early literacy; under his guidance, Health West Pediatrics has implemented a “Reach Out and Read” program, providing every child younger than six with a complimentary book at each well-child visit.

Dr. Kostur was born in Buffalo, New York and grew up in Florence, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He graduated from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1995. He then attended the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland and graduated with his MD in 1999. He completed a pediatrics residency at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi in 2002.

Dr. Kostur served in the United States Air Force until 2009 as a pediatrician at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and Keesler Air Force Base. He has been a PALS and NRP instructor. He received the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and was also awarded Medical Student Teacher of the Year for Pediatrics in 2006. He worked as a pediatrician in La Grange, Texas and San Antonio, Texas until 2019 before moving to Pocatello, Idaho in March of 2019. He left San Antonio because it was “too hot.”

Dr. Kostur has several hobbies but is always looking for new activities to experience. Currently, hiking, snowshoeing, backpacking, and alpine and cross-country skiing are his favorite activities. He is also planning on embarking on a long-distance backpacking trip of over a hundred miles within the next couple of years. He enjoys classical music and is endeavoring to become a cellist in the Idaho State Civic Symphony in Pocatello. He enjoys cold weather, especially if it makes his “nose hairs freeze!” With that in mind, he also plans to try ice fishing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, and winter camping.

Speaks: English and Spanish

Dr. Tyler Kunz was born and raised in St. Anthony, Idaho. His adolescent years were spent moving pipe, playing team sports in school, and making memories with his family. He served a two-year proselytizing mission to New York City where he learned Spanish and ultimately decided that he wanted to return to small town life and practice medicine. Tyler went to BYU-Idaho for his undergraduate degree, completed a master’s degree in Washington State, and attended medical school at Rocky Vista University in Ivins, Utah. Outside of the clinic or hospital, Tyler can be found with his three boys and wife in the mountains either hiking, mountain biking, or horseback riding. Tyler also enjoys smoking meat, dirt biking, skiing and golfing. He plans to practice full-spectrum family medicine in a rural mountain community with an emphasis on lifestyle and preventative medicine.

Speaks: English and Spanish

Dr. Paul Lacey is a family practice physician with an emphasis in obstetrics (OB). He loves OB and finds it central to family medicine.

Dr. Lacey was one of five boys raised on a farm in eastern South Dakota. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry with minors in biology, math, and physics from the University of South Dakota. He earned his MD at Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa before completing a family medicine residency at Idaho State University. He practiced family medicine and surgical OB for 13 years before returning to Pocatello to practice at Health West ISU.

Dr. Lacey met his wife while working for Habitat for Humanity via the AmeriCorps Program building homes in East Bay, California. They have three children and enjoy the outdoors and Pocatello’s opportunities for play. In his free time, Dr. Lacey enjoys going for walks with his wife, riding bikes and skiing with his kids, and spending time woodturning.

Naomi graduated with her MPAS from Elon University in North Carolina in 2020. Previously, she received a bachelor’s degree in community health education. She has a passion for preventative medicine and believes in integrating patients fully into their healthcare. Naomi strives to be a comprehensive general practitioner, treating her patients in every stage of life. She is excited to serve with the team at Health West as a physician associate.

Naomi’s specialties include:

• Suboxone
• IUD insertion and removal
• Nexplanon insertion and removal
• Large joint injections
• Pap smears
• Postpartum care
• Primary medical care
• STD testing

When Myrna Lee was a child, she had to translate for her mother when they went to the doctor. Her family is Puerto Rican and Myrna’s first language was Spanish. She knows firsthand that it is a privilege and an honor to be able to help people with illnesses and break through the language barrier that many have when dealing with providers. She is grateful to be of service to others and feels fortunate to be working for Health West.

Originally from Ohio, Myrna graduated from Idaho State University with her degree in physician assistant studies. She has a son who lives in Utah, and she enjoys spending as much time with him as possible. She also enjoys exercising, outdoor activities, reading, and hanging out with friends.

Dr. Andrew Lewis approaches medicine with lifestyle modifications — nutrition, healthy relationships, sleep, and exercise — as the pillars of health and disease prevention. He has a passion for continued education in obesity related diseases, food system difficulties, weight loss strategies, and fitness, strength and nutrition training. He also has a passion for mental health and wellbeing management through sleep hygiene, counseling/psychotherapy, and other mindfulness/meditation practices.

Dr. Lewis was born and raised in rural Utah. He attended Utah Valley University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in emergency services administration with a minor in biology. While attending UVU he also gained national certification as a firefighter and EMT-paramedic. During his training he was inspired by an emergency room physician to pursue further education and ultimately completed his Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine through Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona in 2017. He completed his Family Medicine Residency in 2020 from Idaho State University where he emphasized alternative medicine electives and preventative medicine. He has a wife and children and has grown to love life in the Pocatello area. He is an avid endurance athlete, zealous home cook, baker, sustainable gardener, and homesteader. He enjoys snowboarding, rock-climbing and mountain biking in the beautiful areas surrounding Pocatello.

Speaks: English and Russian

Michael Ludwig graduated from Idaho State University in 2004 with an undergraduate degree in social work. He received his master’s degree in social work from Walla Wall University in 2007.

Dr. Jon Malan has been providing primary care to underserved populations for 20 years in rural Northern California and now in Idaho. He believes in a team approach to making care decisions and that patients who are educated about their medications and conditions can make better choices about their health. Jon resides in the Pocatello area with his wife and four kids and enjoys spending time with family, cooking, and reading about new discoveries in science.

When Dr. John Mauric, DO was in 9th grade his best friend died of leukemia. He decided he wanted to do something so another family didn’t have to suffer with such a loss. That event coupled with his love for science inspired Dr. Mauric to become a healthcare provider.

Dr. Mauric’s approach to healthcare is to treat others as he would like to be treated. He believes compassion is the most essential quality for any healthcare provider. He emphasizes patient education on health, illness, and treatments, believing that a better understanding leads to a more effective treatment plan.

Dr. Mauric graduated from St. Louis University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and from Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. He works at Health West Brigham City and enjoys treating children and providing osteopathic manipulative therapy to fix musculoskeletal issues. His greatest reward is seeing his patients get results and achieve their goals.

Dr. Mauric enjoys all things outdoors, from off-roading in his Jeep to skiing, cycling, hunting, and more.

Lyn earned a double major in psychology and English literature at Emory & Henry College in Emory, Virginia. She then moved to Pocatello and attended Idaho State University, earning her MS in psychology in 2007 and then her PhD in clinical psychology in 2010. She practiced therapy and completed psychological testing in the area before joining the Health West team in 2013.

Lyn practices general clinical psychology, seeing clients with a variety of mental health concerns, including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, panic, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, PTSD and trauma-related disorders, personality disorders, relationship issues, and so on.  She is skilled in several forms of evidence-based practice including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, exposure-based therapies, interpersonal therapy, and emotion-focused therapy. While she primarily sees adults, she will occasionally see children recommended to her, particularly for anxiety and mood-based difficulties.

Lyn has a passion for connecting with others and assisting them in changing the ways they view themselves and their hopes for the future. While she treats many psychological diagnoses, she finds great satisfaction in helping individuals recover from traumatic experiences and anxiety.

Lyn was born and raised in rural Kentucky. She has lived in the area since 2003. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, reading, hiking, camping, and spending time outdoors.

Amanda is an LCSW and ACADC with Health West. She began her career here in 2015 and enjoys attending concerts when she can.

Dave began working with Health West in 2021 and is an LPC who works with elementary school patients in School District 25.

Steve started with Health West in 2022 and is a licensed professional counselor. He works with elementary and middle school patients in Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25.

Laurie Nate is a Southeast Idaho native having grown up in Bear Lake County. She earned her nursing degree from Idaho State University and worked as a registered nurse for 17 years. She later graduated from Graceland University with her family nurse practitioner license. After practicing in Kemmerer, WY for seven years, Laurie moved back to Idaho with her husband. She has experience in several healthcare settings including, clinics, emergency rooms, hospitals, home visits, and education. She enjoys living and working in rural communities and currently lives in Dayton, ID with her husband, dog, horses, cows, and chickens. During the winter she spends her free time inside doing handwork or studying, and in the summer she loves being in the great outdoors.

Born and raised in a small town in Tennessee, Dr. Jesse Noe has a deep fondness and passion for rural medicine. He graduated from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. He loves family medicine because he enjoys helping patients from all walks of life, from children to pregnant mothers to the elderly. In his free time, Jesse loves playing Mario Kart with his wife and kids, trying to get his 3D printer to work, and fighting MI6 secret agents as the Bond villain Dr. No.

Daniel Park is a 2007 graduate of Boise State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work. He graduated with his master’s degree in social work from Boise State University in 2013.

Amy joined the Health West team in 2023 as a licensed master social worker. Amy speaks two languages and is an Idaho State University alumna.

Speaks: English, French

Julia Phelps is a licensed professional counselor for Health West. She says she often hears patients say things like “I’ve never told anyone this before …” or “when I’ve tried to talk to other people about what’s going on, they don’t really understand.” Statements like these highlight the stigma around mental health. There are not many places that people feel safe speaking about their experiences in mental health and not many places that people feel understood. It is Julia’s mission to create a safe place for every patient to share their experiences and to always do her best to understand. She considers it an honor to work with patients and walk with them through their darkest and happiest moments while empowering them to grow.

Julia earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of Idaho and her Master of Counseling degree from Idaho State University. She is currently enrolled at Idaho State University working on her Master of Spanish Literature degree. She speaks both English and Spanish and is particularly passionate about mental health in rural and underserved communities. Julia is from Pocatello and enjoys spending time outside with family, friends, and her dogs. She enjoys cooking, baking, running, yoga, skiing, travel, knitting, and photography.

Speaks: English, Spanish

Dr. Colton Phippen started life in California but spent most of his time in Salt Lake City. He attended the University of Utah where he completed his undergraduate degree in comparative literary and cultural studies. During and after college, he worked as a psych tech and case manager at U of U’s Neuropsychiatric Institute. He went to medical school at Michigan State University and enjoyed engaging in neurodevelopmental research as well as providing healthcare to people experiencing homelessness in the area. He did his clinical rotations in Detroit, and after being in the Midwest for four years, is excited to be back in the Mountain West. He has a strong interest in mental health in the primary care setting as well as hospice and palliative care, wilderness medicine, and is passionate about serving underserved populations. He loves to rock climb, ski, fly fish, go canyoneering, skateboard, read a variety of books, listen to and play music, watch films (especially Swedish cinema), learn more about cultures and languages, and travel as much as possible. He speaks English and Spanish.

Jenna grew up in the small town of Midland, SD. She graduated from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion and commissioned into the US Army the same day. She began schooling with the Interservice Physician Assistant Program after being deferred for a year. She completed her course at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX and Fort Stewart in Hinesville, GA before eventually receiving her MPAS from the University of Nebraska Medical Center at the end of 2010.

Jenna worked as a medical service officer until enrollment in the IPAP program. After receiving her MPAS, she transitioned into a battalion provider at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX. She deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for eight months in late 2012. Leaving the military in the summer of 2014, she began working as a medical contractor with Luke & Associates at the Soldier Readiness and Resiliency Center.

Jenna has three children and is excited to work with the great people of Evanston, WY.

Jenna’s specialties include:

• Joint injections
• STD testing
• Diabetic care
• Primary medical care

Dr. Danielle Richner is a licensed psychologist providing therapy and psychological assessment services at Health West. She attended Idaho State University, earning her MS in psychology in 2019 and Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 2022. Dr. Richner began at Health West during her doctoral program, where she was a student extern for two years. She completed her residency at the Salt Lake City VA Healthcare System before returning to Health West, completing her postdoctoral fellowship in 2023.

Dr. Richner employs a variety of evidence-based treatments to best meet individual needs, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, solution-focused and brief therapies, interpersonal therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy, among others. She currently sees adolescents and adults for a wide variety of presenting concerns and has a particular interest in health-related interventions, trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders.

Dr. Richner was born and raised in Boulder City, NV. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. She then worked as a full-time ski instructor in the Lake Tahoe, CA area before moving to Pocatello for graduate school. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, and traveling. She can often be found in the mountains—biking, skiing, or running with her two dogs.

Verena Roberts, PhD, has been the director of behavioral sciences at the Idaho State University Family Medicine Residency in Pocatello since May 2015. Dr. Roberts also sees patients as part of the behavioral health team at Health West ISU, and she is the ISU site director for the Idaho Psychology Internship Consortium.

Dr. Roberts attended ISU as an undergraduate and graduate student and earned her doctorate from ISU. She then completed her internship at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan in Denver. She subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in integrated primary care psychology at the Colorado Health Foundation in Denver and later a second fellowship in behavioral science education. During her time in Colorado, Dr. Roberts worked for Denver Health and Kaiser Permanente in integrated primary care but missed Idaho and moved back in 2015.

Dr. Roberts strives to provide a welcoming and accepting environment. She addresses a variety of mental health concerns, including but not limited to, depression, anxiety disorders such as general and social anxiety, OCD, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and interpersonal and relationship issues. She also works with patients on behavioral health concerns around binge/overeating and behavioral management of other health issues including weight loss, sleep issues, etc. Dr. Roberts also supervises formal psychological assessments.

Dr. Roberts is well versed in a variety of therapeutic evidence-based techniques such as brief and solution-focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, exposure-based therapies, interpersonal therapy, and emotion-focused therapy.

When working with patients, Dr. Roberts enjoys getting to know each person and helping them grow and achieve their goals in a non-judgmental, supportive environment and ultimately help each patient live a fulfilled life. She recognizes that each person has the potential to grow and values the trust that is put into the therapeutic relationship. She focuses on developing specific goals and tools for each person’s needs.

Dr. Roberts grew up in Berlin, Germany. She enjoys traveling with her family and has traveled in Europe and the U.S. extensively. She also enjoys good food, spending time with her horses, and generally loves the great outdoors in Idaho.

Jacob Rodriguez, PA-C has a keen interest in primary care. He believes that the best patient outcomes stem from empowering patients through compassion and understanding; active listening and communication; and optimal treatment, education, and resources rooted in evidence-based medicine. His goal as a provider is to ensure every patient believes they are being truly heard and met where they are in hopes of treating the whole person and not just the symptoms. He views people as people and not as mere numbers or statistics.

Jacob majored in biology at Utah State University and attended PA school at Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Mass. While in PA school he was awarded the National Health Service Corps Scholarship, a highly competitive scholarship awarded to only 10% of applicants.

Jacob hails from Salt Lake City, UT and currently resides in Utah with his wife and two children. In his free time, he enjoys being with family and friends, reading, running, weightlifting, and being outdoors. He’s also an avid guitar player, having played for 20+ years, and is a coffee enthusiast! He looks forward to working collaboratively with the patients of Garden City to help them have the healthiest lives possible.

Melanie Rood, RDH, BSDH loves being able to help patients achieve a healthy mouth through dental hygiene. She believes that as a dental hygienist, she plays a critical role in helping patients achieve their homecare goals. She enjoys working one-on-one with patients to educate them about their oral health and strategies to prevent disease. Melanie has a bachelor’s degree in nutrition science from Utah State University, a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from Utah College, and is licensed to administer local anesthetic. Originally from Preston, ID, Melanie enjoys spending time with family, baking, crafting and learning new skills to complete home improvement projects.

Heather Schaper is a physician associate who graduated from Idaho State University in 2009 and has practiced family medicine in rural communities with Health West for her entire career.

Heather has a master’s degree in medical anthropology, and speaks Spanish fluently, as a result of 25 years working within the binational Hispanic communities of Southeast Idaho. Since 2017, Heather has also focused on expanding access to treatment for a variety of mental health conditions, drug and alcohol addiction, as well as Hepatitis C in the primary care context.

Heather enjoys working as part of a strong healthcare team, with the patient at its center.  Health West and Heather share a commitment to the patient-centered medical home model, where a patients’ pharmacy, dental, and behavioral healthcare needs can be met in one place, at as close to one time as possible.

Andrea was our very first Health West Dental employee and started in 2014. She is a dental hygienist and enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys traveling and attending her kids’ sporting events. Rumor has it she is the biggest Bon Jovi fan!

Brooke Simons, BSDH, RDH was born and raised in Pocatello. After 11 years as a dental assistant, she furthered her education and graduated from Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene. She believes in a gentle and compassionate approach to dental care and is committed to educating patients on the importance of achieving optimal oral health.

Outside of work, Brooke loves spending her time exploring the beautiful outdoors of Idaho with her family and dog. She enjoys hiking, camping, backpacking, golfing, live music and working out. She is the proud mom of one young son whom she adores.

Dr. Darya Skrenes comes to Health West ISU from St. George’s University School of Medicine. Darya grew up in remote British Columbia and has lived in various countries including South Africa, Ghana, Grenada, and Australia. With her love for full-spectrum medicine and a passion for travel, Darya hopes to work in underserved communities and work intermittently with Doctors Without Borders in Africa. She enjoys almost any sport, the outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and is an avid doubles beach volleyball player.

Dr. Ty Smith, DO earned an undergraduate degree from Idaho State University and his medical degree from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic medicine in Missouri. Dr. Smith did his residency training at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver, Colorado.

Ty was born and raised in Inkom, Idaho. He has been married to his high school sweetheart for 39 years, and, together, they have raised four children. He is also the proud grandfather of 10!

Dr. Smith went into healthcare because he wanted to be able to travel and help people. He came to work at Health West because he wanted to be back home in the area he loved. He loves to help his patients and sees value in treating complicated patients in the South Bannock Area. When Ty is not working in the clinics, you can find him working on his farm and with his horses.

Dr. Sterner, DO grew up in Pocatello and has always loved the American Falls area. As a kid he often went with his family to the reservoir, the fish hatchery, the river and the sand dunes. It is a beautiful place, and he loves it. He spent years in Paraguay and has traveled to multiple Spanish-speaking countries. He decided to go into healthcare because he loves solving hard problems but learned at ISU that he hated being in labs because there is not enough social interaction.

Dr. Sterner liked medicine because it combines hard problems with spending time with people. He got his bachelor’s degree at ISU and then decided to try something new and went to Las Vegas for medical school. He loved it there but was very happy to return to Idaho to complete residency. He is now a board-certified doctor in family medicine and is excited to also provide obstetrical care. He is very excited to become part of the American Falls community, and he hopes to be a part of it for many years to come.

Dr. Brock Stringam, DMD, has always loved working with his hands and helping people, so dentistry felt like a natural fit. He believes in collaborative, team-centered dental care that centers on effective patient-dentist communication.

Originally from West Jordan, UT, Dr. Stringam served a church mission in Mexico City, Mexico. He graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in health education and promotion, and from Roseman University with a Doctorate of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Stringam loves spending time with his wife and three girls, exploring the outdoors, golfing, camping, and doing handyman projects. He is an advanced Spanish translator and a member of the American Dental Association. He is excited to join the community and call Pocatello home.

Brianne is passionate about rural healthcare. She strives for high quality, compassionate care for patients of all ages. She enjoys caring for patients from pediatrics to older adults and encouraging a healthy lifestyle and disease prevention!

Brianne is a Missouri native who relocated to Wyoming in the summer of 2022. She graduated with her BSN from Central Methodist University in 2015, and obtained her MSN, family nurse practitioner, from Purdue University Global in 2021. She has more than seven years of bedside nursing experience, with a background in labor and delivery.

Brianne loves to spend time with her family outdoors. She enjoys camping, hiking, traveling, and staying active. She enjoys serving the Rock Springs area as a family practice healthcare provider.

Mark Taylor, FNP-C, has always been a nerd for learning about how the human body works and how to fix problems when things go wrong. He loves getting to know people and see them get excited when their health improves. Overall, he just loves helping people live happier, healthier lives.

Mark’s personal medical philosophy is to help people address the underlying cause of their condition whether that be through diet, exercise, stress reduction, or lifestyle. He believes any kind of medication or other treatment is really an adjunct to lifestyle factors. His clinical interests include addiction medicine, diabetes management, and holistic healthcare.

Originally from Ogden, UT, Mark attended Brigham Young University-Idaho for his bachelor’s degree in nursing and Chamberlain University for his master’s degree in nursing. He received the Daisy Award for excellence in patient service and care while working as a registered nurse. He enjoys playing the piano, running 5ks and half marathons, spending time outdoors, and hanging out with his wife and kids.

Languages: English and Spanish

Julie Torske, RDH is a registered dental hygienist at Health West’s Pocatello dental clinic. She loves patient education and focuses on helping each patient identify their unique conditions and concerns. She graduated from Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Science in dental hygiene and is excited to join Health West after working several years as a hygienist in Idaho Falls. Julie was born and raised in Idaho and enjoys camping, RZR riding, spending time with family and friends, and getting outdoors.

Cindy started her career as an LCPC at Health West in 2019. She works with women and children at our Women’s Health and Pediatric clinics. In her spare time, she enjoys kayaking and live music.

Stephen Walker is a licensed clinical social worker at Health West. He has experience working with adolescents and adults in addiction/substance use disorders, trauma treatment including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), depression, anxiety, and various other mental health struggles. He believes in every person’s capacity to heal and make changes to build a life and relationships that bring joy and fulfillment.

Stephen grew up in the Salt Lake Valley and graduated from Brigham Young University in 2013 with a master’s degree in social work. After graduating, he moved his family to Rock Springs, Wyoming. In his personal time, Stephen enjoys spending time with his wife and four children. He enjoys camping, playing at the park, gardening, and taking care of their many animals, including chickens, ducks, goats, fish, a parakeet, and a dog. He is also an avid reader and loves to expand his knowledge of helping others in the most effective ways possible. If you are lucky, you might even get him to sing.

Stephen is also licensed to provide virtual visits to patients in Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho.

Dr. Zachary Warnock is a family medicine provider specializing in obstetrics. He completed his medical degree at Albany Medical College in Albany, NY, and his residency at the Idaho State Family Medicine Residency where he is now an associate professor. This position allows him to contribute to the education of future family medicine providers while continuing to practice in his field of expertise. Dr. Warnock is married to a wonderful woman and has seven children. He loves being involved in the community and enjoys almost any outdoor activity.

Barbara has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Excelsior College in Albany, New York, a Master of Social Work from Eastern Washington University, and holds the advanced licensure of licensed clinical social worker. She continues to study the field of psychology to better assist her patients who are in distress or simply want to improve their quality of life.

Barbara is very curious about the human thought process. She has worked in a variety of areas and jobs which provide her with a rich level of life experience to draw from. Empathy and trust are important when working with patients who come to her for help. She enjoys working in small rural areas where she can help people get a better understanding of how our minds work.

Dr. Weinhold grew up in Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; graduating in 2008. She came west for her residency in family medicine at Idaho State University and has kept in close proximity to mountains ever since. After graduation, she practiced full-spectrum, rural family medicine (including surgical obstetrics) in northern California for more than five years, before returning to Idaho to teach in the Idaho State University Department of Family Medicine. She continues to have a wide scope of practice — outpatient, inpatient, pediatrics, and obstetrics — with additional special interests in clinical procedures, point-of-care ultrasound, and wilderness medicine.

Within ISU DFM, Dr. Weinhold is the director of rural programs, serving as program director for the two rural training programs in Rexburg and Rupert, Idaho; as well as associate program director for the core residency program in Pocatello, Idaho. She directs two specialized training tracks for residents: the Advanced Surgical Obstetrics Training Track and the Wilderness Medicine Area of Concentration, which she also developed. Recently she has created a Wilderness and Austere Medicine Fellowship, approved by the Wilderness Medical Society, and serves as fellowship director.

When she is not caring for patients or teaching residents, you can often find her outside hiking, kayaking, or alpine skiing — and often that is also in an official capacity as a volunteer ski patroller and medical advisor for the Pebble Creek Ski Patrol.

Dr. Wernick was born and raised in the open spaces and mountains of Wyoming. He graduated from the University of Wyoming with work in physiology. Life’s plan initially led him down the path of law enforcement. Over the span of five years, work as a peace officer provided him with skills he uses every day as a physician. Dr. Wernick transitioned into medicine with a perspective well suited to serve a primary care role. He set sail for the Caribbean and graduated medical school from St. George’s University. After much time away from the Mountain West, he is back home and thrilled to train and eventually practice broad-spectrum family medicine in outpatient clinic and emergency room settings along with engaging special interests in sports medicine. Outside of work, his pursuits and passions include snowmobiling, fly fishing, physical fitness, and plans for raising a family in the mountains.

Dr. Kendra Westerhaus, earned her doctorate in clinical psychology in 2012 from Idaho State University and was licensed the following year. She specializes in providing therapy and assessments for children and adolescents. Prior to working for Health West, Kendra spent six years in private practice at a local mental health clinic.

Dr. Westerhaus chose the field of psychology because she enjoys helping people become the best versions of themselves that they can be. Because children are still malleable, that is where Kendra believes she can make the biggest difference. Dr. Westerhaus is a past president of the Idaho Psychological Association and is an active member of the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Westerhaus was born in State College, Pennsylvania, and attended undergraduate school in Cleveland before moving to Pocatello in 2005 to work on a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at ISU. She has traveled extensively, including throughout the United States and Europe. She also visited Thailand a few years ago, where she took classes on Thai cooking. In her spare time, Dr. Westerhaus enjoys spending time with her family, singing in a community choir, crafts, and enjoying Idaho’s great outdoors

Dr. Mark Weston provides quality and experienced dentistry in a fun, relaxed, and family-friendly environment. He was in private practice for over 25 years in a small Wyoming town where he had a loyal patient base of all ages.

Dr. Weston has taken many hours of continuing education in the field of endodontics, pedodontics, oral pathology, implant dentistry, and restorative dentistry. He was a Star Valley Medical Center staff member for 20 years and has completed the EMT first responders’ course.

Dr. Weston is patient-oriented and often has parents comment that their children look forward to coming to the dentist. His older patients look forward to coming as well, either to chat about hunting, sports or hear the latest joke. Dr. Weston is an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He and his wife, Holly, are the parents of two children. Dr. Weston will see patients in the North Logan and Garden City clinics.

Jennifer Whitten, PCSW, is a Green River, Wyoming native who has recently returned to Sweetwater County after residing in Louisiana for 15 years. She graduated from the University of Louisiana Monroe in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in social work and completed her Master of Social Work degree at Louisiana State University in 2021. She has experience working within the juvenile justice system, college wellbeing and accessibility setting, and in pandemic and natural disaster response. She believes that individuals are more than their experiences and that every person, given opportunity and support, can overcome adversity and deserves the chance to live their best life possible. She enjoys partnering with individuals to focus on the whole person in developing their strengths, overcoming challenges, and growing in their unique life experiences.

Jennifer resides in Green River with her three children. She enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, exploring and traveling, creating artistically, reading, and college football. She strives to be a lifelong learner and continuously explore and develop knowledge that will help others through both direct service and advocacy. She is excited to be back in the area and looks forward to serving her home county through offering caring, compassionate mental health services.

Brittany graduated with her Master of Social Work degree from Michigan State University in 2014 and her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Grand Valley State University. Brittany uses a wide variety of evidence-based therapy models, whichever best meets her clients’ needs and goals. Several common therapy models she utilizes include Adlerian psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), accelerated resolution therapy (ART), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), trust-based relational intervention (TBRI), and mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR). She also likes to consider whole health, meaning mind, body, and spirit. She is passionate about helping people achieve their goals and understands coming to therapy can be difficult or scary. Brittany strives to provide a supportive, open, and non-judgmental environment. Brittany enjoys working with adolescents, young adults, adults, and families with a variety of issues. Brittany is originally from Michigan but has been in Pocatello for more than six years and now considers it home. In her free time Brittany enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family/friends, and having fun whenever possible.

Nathan Zurcher is a native of Cache Valley, Utah. He graduated from Utah Valley University and then went on to graduate from the University of Utah with his Doctorate of Nursing Practice. He is specialized as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He has experience working in the mental health and substance abuse fields.

He is skilled in caring for individuals in all stages of life. He has a passion for genuinely connecting with others to help them live fulfilling lives. Nathan’s practice focuses on enabling mental, emotional, physical, and behavioral well-being by utilizing a recovery-based approach.

Nathan enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his family. Nathan practices at our Providence clinic and is also licensed to provide virtual visits to patients in Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho.