Episodes
Reading the feed…
Reading the feed…
Meet Lake Region Healthcare's newest sports medicine physician, Dr. Don Hamm—an athlete-turned-doctor bringing "SEC level care" in non-operative orthopedics, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and concussion management to Fergus Falls. He also share practical tips on safe training, rest and recovery, strength and mobility, and focusing on the fundamentals: sleep, exercise, nutrition, and hydration.
This "Apple a Day" episode introduces Dr. Adam Pettigrew as the newest member of our provider team, joining the internal medicine and wound care departments in Fergus Falls. Dual board‑certified in internal medicine and infectious disease, he brings years of experience caring for adult patients, managing complex infections, and providing specialized wound care. Listen in for more on his background, the services he’ll provide in the clinic and wound care center, and some tips for avoiding infections.
The episode features optometrist Dr. Sarah Myron discussing summer and year‑round eye health, especially sun protection. Our eyes need sunblock just like our skin and Dr. Myron explains why, who is most at risk, what to look for in sunglasses, and how eye exams play a vital role in early detection of eye conditions.
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease - early signs, care for patients and caregivers, and protecting brain health Our guest for this episode is Missy Koehl, AG-PCNP. She's a nurse practitioner specializing in adult gerontology, who joins us to discuss Alzheimer's disease and brain health. She explains Alzheimer's as a progressive type of dementia, details its early signs, and explains the diagnostic process, addresses common misconceptions, the typical progression of the disease, and current treatment options aimed at slowing progression and improving quality of life. She also provides practical
Today we get to meet the newest provider at Lake Region Healthcare, Jordana Miller, NP. She is joining Dr. Chesley Johnson in the Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Department to help Dr. Johnson’s patients post-op and to provide aesthetic services including botox and laser treatments. She shares her background, her care philosophy, and a health tip based on her wound care experience in this quick “get-to-know-you” interview.
May is High Blood Pressure Education month and Dr. Dustin Sperr, primary care physician in our Elbow Lake and Evansville clinics joins us today to talk about the importance of understanding and managing blood pressure. We discuss knowing your numbers as well as the significant health risks associated with uncontrolled high blood pressure, such as heart disease, stroke, and dementia. You’ll also hear about management strategies, starting with foundational lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, and when medication becomes a necessary intervention. Dr. Sperr also shares some tips for proper te
Laura Knopp, a licensed mental health therapist with the LRH Senior Life Solutions program joins us to discuss the critical importance of mental health, particularly for older adults, in observance of Mental Health Awareness Month. Laura debunks some common myths about aging and mental health and describes the strong connection between mental and physical wellbeing. She also offers practical, accessible tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), such as managing negative thoughts, using the cognitive triangle, identifying thinking mistakes, and understanding emotions with the feelings whee
Chaplain Aaron Christensen is our guest on this episode of Apple a Day. He joins us to discuss the importance of healthcare directives in observance of National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16th. We cover who needs one, how to make one, when to update it, things to consider when choosing your healthcare agent, and more. Listen in to learn more or visit our website to access an easy-to-use template for creating your own healthcare directive.
Mick Siems, the program coordinator for Rock Steady Boxing at Lake Region Healthcare joins us to share more about the program during April, Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Rock Steady Boxing is a non-contact boxing exercises to help people with Parkinson's disease fight its symptoms. Mick shares examples of how it improves physical strength, balance, and movement, while also providing a vital community and support network for participants.
On today’s episode we get to know Dawn Dahlgren Roemmich, a Certified Nurse Midwife joining the women’s health team at Lake Region Healthcare this month. Dawn shares her background in nursing and midwifery and her philosophy of care, which emphasizes treating patients like family and providing holistic, personalized support. Dawn also explained the scope of a nurse-midwife's practice and highlighted her special interests in natural childbirth, waterbirth, and functional medicine.
The Story of Buzzwell - Lake Region Healthcare’s New Mascot Lake Region Healthcare introduced Buzzwell to the community earlier this month and Kate Bjorge joins us today to share more about the story behind the new mascot. Listen in for a fun conversation about what sparked the idea, why a bee was chosen, how the name was picked, and where you can expect to see Buzzwell out and about promoting health & wellness and spreading joy & generosity across the region.
Heart Health Month - February is heart health month and Kayla shares some practical heart-healthy tips for prevention of heart disease, the nation’s leading cause of death among men and women. She also gives background on the benefits of cardiac rehab for those who have experienced a cardiac event and previews the new “Intensive Cardiac Rehab” program coming to LRH later this spring.
January is a time for resolutions as we seek a "reset" after the holidays. Natalie Knutson, Director of Wellness Lake Region Healthcare's Unity Wellness Center, joins us for a two-part series focused on lifestyle medicine as a basis for a new year reset. In this first episode, the pillars of nutrition and physical activity were the focus. In the second episode of the series, Natalie continues to explain the remaining four pillars of Lifestyle Medicine - restorative sleep, managing stress, avoidance of risky substances, and social connections - as an evidence-based approach to health along with
January is a time for resolutions as we seek a "reset" after the holidays. Natalie Knutson, Director of Wellness Lake Region Healthcare's Unity Wellness Center, joins us for a two-part series focused on lifestyle medicine as a basis for a new year reset. In this first episode of the series, Natalie shares some background on Lifestyle Medicine as an evidence-based approach to health and takes a closer look at two of the six pillars of health: nutrition and physical activity.
Join us as we get to know Lake Region Healthcare’s newest member of the women’s health team, Dr. Marie Johnson, OB/GYN. Dr. Johnson shares her background in high-risk obstetrics and fertility care and how her personal experience with IVF fueled her passion for helping women with fertility. She also explains how practice will cover the full spectrum of women’s health from adolescent care and pregnancy to menopause, with a specialized focus on fertility treatments.
Get to know Lake Region Healthcare’s newest General Surgeon, Dr. William Schertzing. On today’s episode we talk with him about his philosophy for holistic patient care based on shared decision-making and the importance of clear, comprehensive patient education. He also shares how he specifically sought a rural practice in Minnesota to be closer to family and wants to keep his surgical practice broad to serve the community effectively, reducing the need for patients to travel for specialized care.
Our guest today is Nurse Practitioner Kayla Valdez from Lake Region Healthcare's neurology department, who shares expertise on the diagnosis, management, and treatment of headaches. The conversation covers the common types of headaches, particularly tension and migraine headaches, and the importance of proper diagnosis for effective treatment. It also touches on various treatment options from over-the-counter medications to prescription drugs, Botox and non-medication devices as well as the importance of lifestyle interventions, the risks of medication overuse, and the need to reduce the stigm
Meet, Keri Anderson, our newest physician assistant joining the emergency department at the Elbow Lake Medical Center. Keri shares her background, including her non-linear career path from nursing to cosmetology and back to medicine. She talks about her passion for the unpredictability of emergency medicine, her patient-centered philosophy of care, and explained the role of a Level Four Trauma Center. She also touched on her emerging interest in hormone therapy, her personal hobbies, and provided a health tip for listeners.
Paige Fritz is a Physician Assistant and is joining Lake Region Healthcare to serve as a Physician Extender for Dr. Dennis Gerold, Dr. Kristina England, and Susie Berg, PA. She's a Dalton, MN native and is excited to be back home to establish her PA practice here with these exceptional providers. Listen in to learn more about Paige, about the role of a Physician Extender, and to hear how Paige plans to use her background as a Medical Laboratory Technician to better serve her patients.
Today we welcome Dillon Boen, PA as the newest member of our growing medical staff. Dillon shares what led him to a career in medicine after growing up helping his parents run the “Bluebird Gardens” farm near Fergus Falls. He talks with us about his previous work in cardiology, his new dual role in internal medicine and cardiology at Lake Region Healthcare, and his patient care philosophy centered on listening and building relationships. He also shared his interests in preventive medicine and his personal hobbies, including coaching Brazilian Jiujitsu.
Today’s guest is Emily Janochoski, the newest nurse practitioner joining the family practice team at Lake Region Healthcare. Emily shares her motivation for becoming a nurse practitioner, her patient care philosophy, and the types of appointments she’ll be offering to patients of all ages. She also lets us in on one of her favorite hobbies, her dahlia garden and the hummingbirds it attracts!
Dr. Steven Moore from the LRH Urology department joins us for September, National Prostate Health Month, to discuss the symptoms, screening, and treatment of prostate issues including background on the controversy around PSA screening. He also emphasizes the importance of shared decision making between patients and providers as a crucial aspect of prostate cancer treatment and recognition.
Dr. Herold-Ordonez has returned to his home state of Minnesota to join the General Surgery team at Lake Region Healthcare. Listen in to hear more about his background, motivations for pursuing medicine and surgery, his patient care philosophy, the types of procedures he’ll perform, and his special interest in helping people find relief from hemorrhoid problems.
National Immunization Awareness Month: Addressing Vaccine Questions, Concerns & Misconceptions Dr. Ibrahim Khan, a primary care family medicine physician at Lake Region Healthcare, joins us for this discussion during National Immunization Awareness Month. We ask Dr. Khan about the most common patient concerns about vaccines, how he approaches these conversations, the evidence supporting vaccine effectiveness and safety, and his responses to specific claims about vaccine ingredients, natural immunity, and mRNA technology.
Today’s guest is Danielle Lesmeister, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who recently moved from her administrative role at Lake Region Healthcare to join the medical group and offer psychiatry services. She will see patients from infancy to older adulthood in both Elbow Lake and Morris. Hear about Danielle’s background in nursing, including work in home care and psychiatric nursing, and how her personal connection to mental health issues, having lost a close friend to suicide, inspired her to pursue this specialty. Danielle shares more about her practice’s holistic approach and he
