Our “Find a Provider” tool assists you in finding care provider in your community. We currently have clinics in Idaho. We will soon have locations in Wyoming and Utah.
Jill is an LMSW providing therapy at Health West Pocatello. She graduated with her master’s degree in social work from Boise State University in 2022. She uses a variety of evidence-based therapy models such as Polyvagal Theory (PVT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to meet patient needs and help them through a wide variety of issues they may face in an open and non-judgmental environment. She works with adolescents and adults. Jill was born and raised in Pocatello and enjoys skiing, mountain biking, reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Logan Anderson attended medical school at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He was born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho. He studied at Utah State University where he received a Bachelor’s of Science in human biology and met his wife, Francesca. Prior to completing his undergraduate studies, Dr. Anderson spent two years living in Southern Chile where he learned Spanish and an appreciation of foreign cultures. He plans on practicing full-scope family medicine in a rural community where they can enjoy easy access to the great outdoors and all of its recreational opportunities. He and his wife love the outdoors and during their free time can often be found camping, hiking, swimming, or white-water rafting.
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 Cache Valley Community Health Care 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.
Meet Dr. Taylor Augustine! She is part of our OB/GYN team! Dr. Augustine is originally from Pennsylvania and completed medical school at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, and residency in Buffalo, NY. Taylor loves the OB/GYN specialty, as she is provided with the opportunity to work with women of all ages, through wellness visits, surgery, pregnancy, and menopause. She enjoys spending most of her free time outside hiking, camping, kayaking, and visiting local art and antique shops. She is now accepting new patients so call and schedule an appointment today!
Dr. Andrew Baker is a native to Pocatello, Idaho where he grew up in an awesome 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 studied and 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 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 future patients understand and navigate through their health concerns. In his free time, he loves to spend time with his wife and 4 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 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 our Lava Hot Springs location. Since, 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.
Paul is bi-lingual and speaks English and Spanish.
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.
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.
Kelsey is and RDH and started her career with Health West in 2016. She has two children and enjoys time with her family and traveling.
Shannon attended ISU 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 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 have 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. solutions
Shannon is bi-lingual and speaks English and Spanish.
Brooke Buffat PharmD, BCPS 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 a 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 Idaho State University Department of Family Medicine in 2006. She joined the Idaho State University Faculty in 2006.
Kristin Buys, Physician Assistant, grew up in Driggs, Idaho. She graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho and Utah State University before earning her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Idaho State University. Her practice interests include family medicine, urgent care, and preventative medicine.
Kristin and her husband are excited to be back in Cache Valley and for Kristin to be part of the Bear Lake Community Health Centers team. They enjoy spending time in the outdoors doing everything from hiking and hunting to snowboarding and snorkeling.
Kristin practices at our Garden City clinic.
Kristin’s specialties include:
Ryan Carr, Physician Assistant, grew up in West Jordan, UT, before attending UVSC for his undergrad. Later on, he studied at the University of Utah and the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas for his Physician Assistant degree. Before joining Cache Valley Community Health Centers, Ryan worked at an urgent care facility in Page, AZ. He still quite enjoys the urgent care portion of family medicine and assists patients in 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 spending time outdoors with his wife and four daughters, doing activities such as hiking, kayaking, and snowshoeing.
Ryan is a provider at our Providence clinic.
Ryan’s specialties include:
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 been trained in alternative and complimentary 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 treatment. When not at work, she loves the mountains and being outdoors, traveling, creative crafting, and spending time with family and friends.
Jacob Comstock is a 2005 graduate of Idaho State University with an undergraduate degree in social work. He graduated from Walla Walla University with a master’s degree in social work in 2008.
Dr. Cody Cunningham was born and raised in Southeast Idaho, 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, weight lifter, 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 Pocatello community. He is passionate about family medicine and plans to practice in a small Mountain West town.
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
Zuzana earned her undergraduate and her master’s degree at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. She 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 also worked part-time in the Pocatello Free Clinic as a volunteer NP.
Zuzana’s scope of practice encompasses health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis and management of common as well as complex health care problems spanning from childhood through senior life.
Among Zuzana’s greatest healthcare interests is in guidance and treatment of patients with diabetes. She understands the complexities of this disease requiring not only focus on treatment but even more important, prevention. She is passionate about educating diabetics on how they can manage their condition. She is a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Zuzana was born and raised in Slovakia yet has traveled throughout Europe and the US extensively. She moved to Pocatello, Idaho in 2007. She and her husband enjoy spending time playing golf, skiing, traveling and enjoying outdoors in beautiful Idaho.
Tina Guedes, FNP-C is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She is certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She received her undergraduate degree in nursing from Advent Health University. She received her master’s degree in Family Nurse Practitioner from Frontier Nursing University. Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, she spent 20 years working as a registered nurse. She has diverse experience working in ICU, ICU step down, Emergency room, heart catheter recovery unit, and clinic nursing. Tine choose a career in medicine because she loves to help people and interact with them every day.
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 friends, reading, hiking, and traveling. Health West is a wonderful organization that has so many resources to offer patients. Tina is proud to work here.
Graduated from Northern Arizona University Aug 2022, Speak English and Tagalog, enjoys family time and Outdoor activities. Joined Health West April 2023.
Speaks English, and Tagalog
Dr. Jordan Hammon graduated from Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences. He was born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho with two brothers and one sister. After high school, he studied microbiology at the undergraduate and graduate level with Idaho State University. Teaching undergraduate students in microbiology is where his love to educate others was fostered. He is the lead author of six journal articles in immunology on his research with the covertly infectious fungal organism Blastomyces Dermatitidis. He then attended medical school at Pacific Northwest University in Yakima, Washington. He intends to remain close to family and practice full-spectrum family medicine in Idaho. He enjoys weight training, hiking, camping, kayaking, and spending time with family.
New LMSW providing therapy at Health West Chubbuck and integrative wellness care at Health West ISU. I’m a recent Master of Social Work graduate from ISU and I have lived in Southeast Idaho my whole life. My hobbies include spending time with my dogs, all things outdoors, gaming, and spending time with my sisters. I have a variety of experience working with those in crisis. I was drawn to Health West for their mission to help the underserved and their emphasis on teamwork for patient care. I love working with a wide range of people and needs.
Dr. Nicholas “Nick” Henrie was born and raised in Lewiston, Idaho. He graduated from BYU-Idaho with a Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and attended medical school at the University of Utah. He married a farm girl from the Magic Valley and together they are raising two boys. They all share a passion for the state of Idaho and plan on settling in a rural part of the state where she can coach basketball and he can practice broad-spectrum family medicine with inpatient, outpatient, acute care, and obstetrics. He is an avid dry fly fisherman, but also enjoys hunting, camping, and playing and watching football, basketball, and baseball.
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 recently graduated from Idaho State University and is an LMSW. Bryce works in our Preston, N. Logan, and Brigham City Clinics.
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.
Daniel Jeffrey earned his Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He is fluent in Spanish and has experience working in a newborn intensive care unit. He enjoys skiing, mountain biking, fly fishing, camping, cooking, and spending time with family in his free time.
Dan’s specialties include:
SueZan was raised in Cache Valley and is a true Aggie graduating from USU with a BS. She obtained her Masters of Social Work at the University of Utah, completing both the Clinical and Administrative tracks.
She has lived and worked in Cache Valley most of her life, where she has served on different boards in different organizations and has a great passion for working with people of all ages.
She has specialized training in trauma issues, children and youth, and all stages of life. She is the proud mother of 4 amazing children and grandmother of 7 incredible grandchildren. She enjoys travel, the outdoors, photography, and her family.
SueZan practices at our North Logan clinic and is licensed to provide virtual visits to patients at all of our Idaho and Utah locations.
Brandi Karroum, Family Nurse Practitioner, moved to Pocatello 9 years ago with only one visit to this 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 grew up in the inner-city of Seattle. She is the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants; and, she and her 4 siblings were raised by their single mom. Brandi grew up “in the system” with public assistance, including WIC, welfare and free lunches. Because of her sparse upbringing and the challenges related to reduced opportunities of childhood, Brandi has always had the desire to give back to those who may need extra help. This is what led her to our Community Healthcare – Health West, Inc.
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 has been a Registered Nurse for 5 years, and a Nurse Practitioner for 2 years. She earned both her Baccalaureate and master’s degrees at Idaho State University. Brandi’s 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 grew up in various small towns all over Oregon, with a short stent in Colorado, before she moved to Corvallis, Oregon to receive her undergraduate degree in Biology with minors in History and Chemistry at Oregon State University. She completed a 3-month medical internship in South Africa, working in various day hospitals and with EMS services in Cape Town’s numerous townships, prior to entering medical school at Oregon Health and Science University. She married her husband, Chris, in 2004 while he was a Military Police Officer. It was during his second deployment to Iraq that she went to Africa.
Melissa and her husband have a 3-year-old daughter, a miracle ex-24-week-old, who is the light of their lives, and the best teacher Melissa has ever had. Melissa enjoys traveling, camping, jogging, reading, and spending time with her family. She is excited to explore the beautiful outdoors surrounding Pocatello during her residency and experiencing a new area of the country.
Dr. Greg Kostur, Pediatrician 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 B.S. in Biology in 1995. He then attended the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland and graduated with his M.D. in 1999. He completed a Pediatrics Residency at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi in 2002.
He 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, 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.
His outlook on children is holistic, encompassing the social, psychological, genetic, and physical components of their health. He aims to treat the “whole” child. As such, he is pleased to be part of Health West because it offers integrated behavioral health in its clinics. The Health West Pediatrics clinic includes a child psychologist and other behavioral health providers in the same clinic. His interest in early literacy led to the Health West Pediatrics clinic starting a “Reach Out and Read” clinical site, where all children under 6 years of age get a free book at every well child check.
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 2-year proselyting 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
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 an inclusive general practitioner, treating her patients in every stage of life. She is excited to serve with the team at Cache Valley Community Health Centers as a Physician Assistant.
Naomi’s specialties include:
Dr. Lewis graduated with a degree in Osteopathic Medicine and began his career with Health West in 2019. Andrew speaks Russian and English and enjoys the outdoors and time with his family.
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 Walla University in 2007.
Jon Malan, D.O. 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 4 kids, and enjoys spending time with family, cooking, and reading about new discoveries in science
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 M.S. in Psychology in 2007 and then her Ph.D. 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 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.
Dr. Trevor Miller was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska and can’t help but love Husker football. He completed a Bachelor’s degree in biology from Concordia University, Nebraska before attending medical school at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in New Mexico. It is here he found enjoyment for many different areas of medicine naturally making family medicine a natural choice. After residency he plans on practicing rural broad-spectrum family medicine with an emphasis on obstetrics. In his free time, he enjoys being outdoors doing various activities such as fishing and golfing.
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 Health an LPC who works with elementary and middle school patients in School District 25.
“Laurie Nate is a native of Southeast Idaho, and grew up in Bear Lake County. She earned her nursing degree from Idaho State University and worked as an RN for 17 years; after which, she graduated from Graceland University with her Family Nurse Practitioner license. The rural community is her favorite area to work. After practicing in Kemmerer Wyoming for 7 years, Laurie moved back to Idaho with her husband. She has experienced various opportunities including: clinic setting, ER, hospital, home visits and education. Currently she is living in Dayton, Idaho 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 to be in the great outdoors.
Dr. Jesse Noe graduated from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. Born and raised in a small town in Tennessee, he has a deep fondness and passion for rural medicine. 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 beating his wife and kids at Mario Kart, trying to get his 3D printer to work, and fighting MI6 secret agents as the Bond villain Dr. No.
Tim started his career here at Health West in 2019 and he works with high school students in School District 25. Tim also enjoys music as well as playing golf.
Daniel Park is a 2007 graduate of Boise State University with a bachelor’s in social work. He graduated with his Master’s Degree in Social Work from Boise State University in 2013.
Amy recently joined the Health West team in 2023 and in an LMSW. Amy speaks 3 languages and is an Idaho State University Alum.
Dr. Cody Patterson, DO was born and raised in Saint George, Utah. He received an undergraduate degree from Southern Utah University in Human Nutrition, after which he attended Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine as one of the inaugural class members of the Southern Utah campus. He is excited to dive right into Idaho life where he can continue enjoying some of his passions such as hiking, backpacking, camping, and riding his mountain bike. In fact, he loves the outdoors so much that he fills his home with as many houseplants as possible to make him feel closer to nature. He looks forward to practicing outpatient Family Medicine after completing his residency training.
Speaks English and Spanish
Dr. Peery, DMD, grew up in Cache Valley. He received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Utah State University in Nutrition and Food Science. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Peery and his wife have three beautiful children. He enjoys hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing in his spare time. We are so excited to have Dr. Peery as one of our excellent dental providers.
Dr. James Petersen split his time growing up between Bryan, Texas and the middle of a wheat field west of Rexburg, Idaho. He is the oldest of five boys. Following graduation from high school, he lived in Ecuador for two years. Upon returning to Idaho, Dr. Petersen studied chemistry at BYU-Idaho. While there, he was a recipient of the Jack R. Wheatley Scholarship for leadership and academic excellence. He is also a two-time Idaho INBRE Fellow and participated in novel organic chemistry scaffolding research at the University of Idaho. Subsequently, he attended the University of Washington School of Medicine and participated in the university’s Idaho program. Dr. Petersen plans to practice medicine in rural America. He has an interest in obstetrics, endoscopy, dermatology, psychiatry, and pediatrics. In addition to English, he also speaks Spanish and a limited amount of Swedish. Dr. Petersen is married and has three children. In his spare time, he loves to hunt, fish, read, garden, and spend time with his family.
Speaks English and Spanish
Dr. Phippen started life in California but has spent most of his time in Salt Lake City, where he did undergrad at the University of Utah and studied Comparative Literary and Cultural studies. During and after undergrad, he worked as a psych tech and case manager at the 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 4 years, he’s pretty stoked 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 including refugees, migrant workers and LatinX communities. He loves to rock climb, ski, fly fish, go canyoneering, skateboarding, reading a variety of books, listening to and playing music, film (especially Swedish cinema) and learning more about cultures and languages and travel as much as possible.
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, 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 8mths in late 2012. Leaving the military in the summer of 2014, she began working as a medical contractor with Luke & Associates a the Soldier Readiness & Resiliency Center.
Jenna has three children. She is excited to work with the great people here in the Evanston area.
Jenna’s specialties include:
Joseph Neil Ragan, M.D. is a board-certified family physician who graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and completed internship and residency training at Naval Regional Medical Center San Diego, CA, and Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, CA, respectively. After doing full-spectrum family medicine for 26 years in the U.S. Navy, Ragan returned to his small hometown in northeast Arkansas where he did emergency medicine and hospital inpatient work for a few years before relocating for family reasons to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Dr. Ragan is Medical Director at the Health West Pocatello Family Medicine residency clinic where he sees patients and teaches in the residency program. He has a special interest in under-served populations, including ensuring comprehensive and sensitive care for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people.
Dr. Danielle Richner is a licensed psychologist providing therapy and psychological assessment services. She attended Idaho State University, earning her M.S. in Psychology in 2019 and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2022. Dr. Richner began at HealthWest 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 HealthWest, 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 particular interest in health-related interventions, trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders, and working with LGBTQ+ populations.
Dr. Richner was born and raised in Boulder City, Nevada. She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology from 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, is the Director of Behavioral Sciences at the Idaho State University Family Medicine Residency in Pocatello, Idaho 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 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 hence moved back in 2015.
Dr. Roberts strives to provide a welcoming and accepting environment working with individuals from all backgrounds including the LGBTQIA population but mainly focuses on adults to geriatrics. She will occasionally see teens for anxiety and depression related issues only. 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, interpersonal and relationship issues, etc. as well as 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 patient’s needs.
Dr. Roberts originally grew up in Berlin, Germany. She enjoys travel with her family and has traveled in Europe and the US extensively. She also enjoys good food, spending time with her horses and generally loves the great outdoors in Idaho.
Dr. Jessica Rolynn graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine as a TRUST Scholar in the Targeted Rural and Underserved Track. She is an Idaho native who attended Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology, minoring in Chemistry and Theatre. Her experience growing up in rural Idaho, as well as becoming a young mother, military spouse, and first generation college student, gave her a unique perspective as she pursued her degrees. She developed a strong passion for teaching while volunteering and working with at-risk students in various settings, and found that passion continued as she developed relationships with her patients in underserved populations. Dr. Rolynn and her family are excited to join the Pocatello Community; they plan to spend lots of time exploring the hills, local arts, and theatre troupes. She has a strong interest in Broad Spectrum Family Medicine, including advocacy, community health, and LGBT+ medicine. She looks forward to a long career in Rural Medicine.
Jaden Bingham, a Sweetwater County native, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She has over 11 years of experience as a Registered Nurse with a background in ICU care, oncology, home health care, leadership, and hospice care. She completed her undergraduate degrees at Laramie County Community College in 2009 and then later obtained her BSN from the University of Wyoming in 2016. Jaden continued her education in graduate school at Walden University in 2018 and graduated with her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner degree in November of 2020. She will focus her practice on family medicine, including all groups from pediatric to adult and basic women’s health, holistic care, and urgent care. Quality and compassionate patient care is her goal when serving patients and their families.
Jaden lives in Rock Springs with her fiancé and son. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, cooking, crafting, camping, fishing, concerts, watching football, weightlifting, and riding side-by-side, exploring the beautiful outdoors.
Jaden’s specialties include:
Caroline Sassetti came to Pocatello with her children from Georgia, where she lived and worked in rural primary care. She grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago and attended DePaul University’s School of Nursing. In Atlanta, she attended Emory University’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program. She also did additional training in Emory’s Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program. Caroline has experience in labor and delivery, infectious disease, pediatric intensive care, pediatric hematology and oncology, and pediatric primary care. She has a special interest in zoonotic infectious disease and worked in both animal and human medicine simultaneously. She is currently working towards a Pediatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner board certification and Doctor of Nurse Practitioner. Outside of work, she has three teenage children and two dogs. Together they are usually hiking, skiing, hunting, fishing, or a combination of these activities.
Speaks English and Spanish
Heather has been with Health West since 2004, She has an undergraduate and master’s degree medical anthropology. Heather also graduated from Idaho State University in 2009 with her PA degree and speaks Spanish. She enjoys traveling, her community, and spending time with her family.
Andrea 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 is a Dental Hygienist and started with Health West in 2018. She enjoys spending time with her family and fur babies.
Dr. Darya Skrenes comes to 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 passion to 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. Katrina Spangenberg was born and raised in the Texas Hill Country. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, earning a B.A. Honors in International Relations and Global Studies. This naturally led her to study medicine at the Medical School for International Health in Israel. She has a heart for caring for underserved communities and intends to take the expertise gained through the broad-scope family medicine training at ISU to work towards increasing healthcare access to underserved people groups and to provide quality, comprehensive, culturally sensitive care, domestically and abroad. Outside of medicine, she enjoys exploring the beauty of Idaho and being outside. You may find her running on a trail, swimming in the Portneuf river, skiing Pebble Creek, or hanging out with family in Utah. She is excited and grateful to be a part of the ISU Family Medicine community.
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 love it. He had 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. Angela Teige, was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. She completed her undergraduate degree in Bellingham, Washington. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she completed medical school in Kansas City, Missouri. During her medical training, she fell in love with obstetrics and gynecology and dedicated herself to pursue this speciality. She loves the continuity of care in healthcare and has a passion for women’s health. After medical school, she completed her residency training in Dayton, Ohio. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, being outdoors, riding horses, and spending time with her family.
Ian Troesoyer, DNP, APRN, FNP-C Ian graduated with his Doctor of Nursing Practice from Idaho State University. Before becoming a nurse practitioner, Ian worked in a local public health department as a clinical services director, a staff epidemiologist, tuberculosis program coordinator, and a registered nurse.
During his time in public health, Ian completed a year-long health informatics program (ITIPP) through a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO).
Ian provides primary care for families and individuals across their lifespan. He is passionate about preventive care, population health, and helping people live their happiest and healthiest lives. Ian loves hanging out with his family, playing music, and spending time outside. He is very excited to be a part of the Bear Lake Community Health Centers team!
Ian’s specialties include:
Cindy started her career and as an LCPC here at Health West in 2019. She works with women and children at our OB/GYN and Pediatric Clinic. In her spare time she enjoys kayaking and live music.
Stephen Walker currently practices at the Evanston Community Health Center. 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. Stephen has worked in the mental health and substance use disorder field for the past six years. Stephen 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 helpful changes to build a life and relationships that bring joy and fulfillment.
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.
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 human thought processes. She has worked in a variety of areas and jobs which provide her 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 over 5 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 everyday 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 BA 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 & 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 in 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.
Mark is a psychologist and has been part of the Health West team since 2021. Mark enjoys his favorite podcasts with an inquisitive mind open to new ideas.
Brittany graduated with her Master of Social Work from Michigan State University in 2014. She uses a wide verity of evidenced-based therapy models, whichever best meets her client’s needs and goals. She is passionate about helping people achieve their goals and understands coming to therapy can be difficult or scary. Brittany enjoys working with adolescents, young adults, adults, and families with a verity of issues. Brittany is originally from Michigan but has been in Pocatello for over six years and now considers Idaho home and loves the outdoors.
Brittany graduated with her Master of Social Work from Michigan State University in 2014 and Bachelor of Social Work from Grand Valley State University. Brittany uses a wide verity of evidenced-based therapy models, whichever best meets her client’s needs and goals. Several common therapy models 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 take into account 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 verity of issues. Brittany is originally from Michigan but has been in Pocatello for over 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.
Dr. Youssef was born and raised in Cache Valley. After graduating from Sky View High School, he attended Utah State University, where he studied Pre-Dentistry and received a bachelor’s degree in business management. He was a member of the USU Football Team and has been a lifelong Aggie fan.
He and his wife, Karolina, are high school sweethearts. They have a daughter and two sons. After graduating from USU, Dr. Youssef and his wife moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he attended Nova Southeastern University School of Dental Medicine and graduated in 2001.
After the unfortunate tragedies of 9/11, Dr. Youssef decided he wanted to serve his country and joined the Army National Guard. He was deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2005, where he served as a Captain in a medical infantry unit supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. He is currently a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve.
When he’s not at work, his favorite hobbies are hunting and fishing. During their time living in Florida, he and his family have frequently visited Utah to relish the beauty the state offers. He’s ecstatic to call Utah home again and feels as if he never left.
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.
Health West, Inc. is a non-profit health center located in Southeast Idaho. We currently have twelve locations and offer a wide variety of services that include Dental, Medical, Behavioral Health, and more.
This health center receives HHS funding and has Federal Public Health Service deemed status with respect to certain health or health-related claims, including medical malpractice claims, for itself and for its covered individuals.
