Specialty Care

Kait O'Day, APRN, earned her undergraduate degree in nursing at the University of Alabama and her masters in nursing from Graceland University. She is a board-certified adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner and perioperative nurse.

Tiffany Kinnison, APRN, earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Western Governors University and her Master’s Degree in Nursing from Rockhurst University.

Alka Hudson, MD, earned her undergraduate degree from Brown University and her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She completed her internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center.
Board certified in both internal medicine and gastroenterology, Dr. Hudson is also a diplomat of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. She began practicing gastroenterology in the Kansas City metro in 2010 and joined Lawrence GI Consultants in 2024.
Dr. Hudson has been recognized multiple times by Castle Connolly, receiving the honor of Top Doctor in Gastroenterology in Kansas City and being named to their Exceptional Women in Medicine list.
Dr. Hudson chose gastroenterology because it perfectly blends clinical and procedural medicine.
“One of the things I enjoy most about my work is the diversity of patients I see. Being part of my patients’ journeys—whether through preventative screenings or treating chronic diseases—allows me to make a meaningful impact in their lives and the broader community.”
Fluent in Spanish, Dr. Hudson is also the mother of two vibrant children who keep her busy outside of work.

Kara Joice, PA-C, earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and her master’s degree from Wichita State University.
“I want my patients to be informed of the different treatments and options available to them and make sure they chose the decision that is right for them.”
Kara chose LMH Health because of the level of care and highly-qualified physicians who work for the hospital. Being a community hospital, she believes her patients will love the familial feel and care LMH Health provides.
She is a board-certified physician’s assistant and has been with LMH Health since 2009. Kara worked in the Emergency Department and at OrthoKansas before joining the team at Lawrence GI Consultants in 2021.

Toni Pittman, MD, is a clinician working in the LMH Health Emergency Department and at Lawrence Vein Specialists. She earned her medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Pittman completed her residency at the Indiana University School of Medicine, working at Methodist Hospital Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center and Wishard Memorial Hospital. Her areas of interest include clinical emergency medicine, pre-hospital care, mass gathering medicine, phlebology and shock/trauma medicine.

Amanda Colgan knew she wanted to be a physician at a young age.
“I was five or six when I knew that I wanted to be a doctor. I really enjoyed science and figuring out how things work,” she said. “When I got into med school and saw how I could help patients, that’s when it really hit that I was taking care of them and making them feel better.”
Dr. Colgan grew up in Topeka and earned her undergraduate degree from Washburn and her medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She completed an internal medicine internship at Virginia Commonwealth University and a residency in anesthesia at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she was exposed to pain management.
“I had a wonderful mentor. He helped me see that taking care of patients and getting them back to their quality of life and diminishing their pain was really important,” she explained.
That experience led Dr. Colgan to complete an interventional pain management fellowship at the University of Vermont. She now specializes in chronic pain management.
“Chronic pain can be difficult to treat. I really want to understand what’s going on with my patients and what’s going on with their pain so we can come up with the best plan to help them get back to doing what they enjoy.”
Dr. Colgan is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiology, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine and the Kansas Society of Anesthesiology.

When Kathy Ramirez was in nursing school at Washburn University, she found her calling the day she spent a clinical rotation in the operating room. 
“I fell in love right away. I was in an eight-hour surgery and I was upset when it was time to leave. I knew that I wanted to start my nursing career in the OR.” 
And Kathy got lucky enough to do just that, spending the first 18 years of her career working in the operating room, recovery and pre-op at LMH Health. She returned to school at Washburn to earn her master’s degree in nursing and transitioned to a new career as a nurse practitioner. 
“I had a special interest in urology after working with one of the surgeons, and that’s where I landed. It’s been such a great fit. I love urology and helping people with all of their urologic issues.”  
Kathy is passionate about caring for women. She spends half of her time at Sunflower Pelvic Health where she sees women living with incontinence, prolapse and other female specific issues.  
“These are problems that impact your quality of life and get worse when you don’t treat them. It’s important to remember that you’re treating a person that could be your mom, your sister, or your best friend. The joy I get from helping people improve their quality of life is immense. That’s why I do this.” 
Kathy wants her patients to know that while she can’t turn back the hands of time, she can help improve your symptoms. But it’s important to remember that it will take time. 
“Don’t expect us to be able to alleviate all of your issues within one visit. Some of these issues may have been going on for years, and it may take us a while to identify the true issue and come up with a great plan for you. We want to help improve your quality of life.” 

Medicine wasn’t always the career path that Vance Burns thought he’d follow, but whatever he did, he wanted to be in a career where he met people. 
“I grew up on a farm and I wanted to work in a field where I could combine meeting people with fixing things. I am blending science, humanities and the arts, and I want to stay connected to people and patients. Those connections are important.” 
Dr. Burns was serving in the United States Air Force on September 11, 2001, and was soon deployed overseas. That experience helped solidify his interest in pulmonology. 
"During that time, I was working as an internal medicine doctor. Part of that was running ventilators and life support, working with combat wounded and critically ill people. After I got home, I pursued a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care at the University of Kansas.” 
Why should patients get care at LMH Health? Dr. Burns said that’s easy – it's a health system where your providers know you.  
“As a patient, I want to go someplace where they know me by memory, not what’s typed on my chart. LMH Health is just the right size. When there’s a place that’s too big, you start to lose connections. It it’s too small, you start to lose technical ability. LMH is just the right mix of both.” 

Amy Arthington was 10 years old when her grandfather had knee replacement surgery. That’s when she knew nursing was her calling. 
“He was my hero and I didn’t like seeing him in the hospital bed. On the way home, I told my grandmother that I wanted to be a nurse. She questioned how that could be since I’d been so uncomfortable. I told her it was because I couldn't fix him and I wanted to be able to help.” 
Arthington earned her undergraduate degree from Fort Hays State University and has been a nurse for more than 30 years. She worked with oncology and pulmonology patients for nine years and was ready to help people in a more advanced way, so Arthington earned her master’s degree from Maryville University and became a nurse practitioner. 
“I’ve dedicated my life to nursing. I thrive having one on one contact with my patients and watching them make progress over time. I love being able to make a difference every day.”

Kelli Crabtree-Wilson, MD, earned her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from Lehigh University, a Masters of Health Science from The Johns Hopkins University and a Doctor of Medicine from the University Of Kansas School Of Medicine. Crabtree-Wilson was the first female to graduate from the Kansas University Neurosurgery residency program. She is a member of the American Board of Neurological Surgery, Congress of Neurological Surgery and the Midwest Neurosurgery Society.
“I chose to become a Neurosurgeon at a very young age after my grandmother suffered a stroke and ended up needing extensive rehabilitation. This sparked my interest in the neuro-system and its ability to heal itself in certain areas.”
Crabtree-Wilson began her career working in neurosurgical care. She specializes in minimally invasive treatment of degenerative disorders of the spine and traumatic and benign neoplastic disorders of the brain and spine.
“My favorite thing about being a physician is being able to help somebody at one of the most difficult times or a crisis point in their lives which is limiting their actives and being able to get them on the road to recovery.”

Amy Watkins, PA-C, earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and graduated from Wichita State University with a Master of Physician Assistant degree.

Dr. Kye Evans didn’t set out to become an emergency medicine doctor. He fell into it by accident.
“I was working as an undergrad in the ER and they sent me to an Emergency Medical Technician course. I loved the constant change and excitement, and I knew this is where I should be.”
After earning his medical degree from the Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completing emergency medicine residency at the Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, Dr. Evans spent a number of years working in the emergency department. That’s where you can really see an overlap with wound and vein care.
“We see a lot of wounds and injuries in the ED that result in bad outcomes. One of the things we try to do in wound is limb salvage, trying to prevent loss of limb and limb amputations. It made a lot of sense for me to continue in that field and provide comprehensive care for those patients.”
Dr. Evans has worked at the LMH Health Wound Healing and Vein Center since 2011 and serves as the clinic’s medical director. The clinic specializes in caring for diabetic foot wounds, allowing patients to maintain their normal lifestyle.
“The care you receive in our clinic is unique. You have the same nurse with you the entire time throughout your visit. They stay with you through your procedures, follow you through your care, and you really develop a relationship.” 

“I’ve never thought of anything else other than being a physician. Even as a little girl, playing with my dolls and I had a clinic I named ‘The Little Corner.’ I’ve always wanted to care for people.”

Dr. Sonia Castillo was born and raised in Nicaragua. She earned her medical degree from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua before completing an internal medicine residency and a pulmonary/critical care fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

She pursued pulmonology during her residency after seeing the pulmonary and critical care program firsthand.

“The physicians in the pulmonary program are compassionate and treat patients as a whole. Seeing that modeled and evaluating patients holistically is what really attracted me to pulmonology.”

Dr. Castillo treats patients living with a variety of pulmonary diseases, from the most common such as emphysema, COPD and asthma to less frequent ones.

“I thrive with procedures, and I love explaining to patients what we’re walking into and what we’ll do with the results. I also love working with point of care ultrasound. With new technology, we can do those right at the bedside and show patients what you’re seeing.”

What should patients expect from Dr. Castillo? It’s important that they know she wants to meet them where they are.

“First appointments can be nerve-wracking, because you don’t know how it’s going to go. This is going to be a long-term relationship, and I genuinely care about my patients. I want to get to know you, your family and make sure you feel that you’ve been heard. I’m here to help and provide you the best care I can.”

Anna Marshall is an advanced practice registered nurse and board certified family nurse practitioner. Anna received her bachelor's degree in nursing and her master of science in nursing degree from the Washburn University School of Nursing in Topeka. She began her nursing career as a certified nursing aide at the hospital in Winchester, which is named for her grandfather, F.W. Huston. She previously worked as an RN in the emergency, IV therapy and medical units at LMH Health. 

Dr. Osbern received her internal medicine training at the University of Kansas Medical Center. During her internship and residency, she annually received the Outstanding Intern/Resident Award. Medical students honored her with the Jayhawker M.D. Resident Teacher Award. She received the American Lung Association Fellowship Award annually during her pulmonary fellowship at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake. Dr. Osbern is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. She is a fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and the American College of Physicians. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine.

When Aya began her healthcare career as a radiology technologist, she spent a lot of time in the operating room. That experience sparked her interest in becoming a physician assistant.
“I got to see physician assistants working in surgery and was intrigued by the field of neurosurgery itself, as well as the scope and role of the PA overall,” she said.
Aya earned an associate’s degree in radiology technology from Metropolitan Community College and a bachelor’s degree from Central Methodist University. She earned her master’s degree in physician assistant studies from the University of Pittsburgh.
“I enjoy neurosurgery because it is a field where you can typically appreciate outcomes immediately.”
Aya wants her patients to know that she’s an open door and wants to help guide them through their care.
“I want patients to feel comfortable asking questions during their visit," she said. "I focus on both clinical and non-clinical aspects of their lives, as I think a holistic approach leads to better outcomes.”

Dr. Oertel, is a lifelong Kansan and avid Jayhawk fan.  He completed his higher education at the University of Kansas, his undergraduate studies, as well as his medical degree, internal medicine residency and endocrinology fellowship. Dr. Oertel is board certified in internal medicine and endocrinology.  He has been practicing in the Lawrence community since 2013.

Brooke Bennett, PA-C, BC-ADM earned her undergraduate degree from Kansas State University and her master’s from Marywood University in Scranton, PA. Bennett is board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and is an active member of the American Society of Endocrine Physician Assistants.
She wants her patients to know that the first time you go to see her she really wants to get to know you and understand the care you need. At the end of the day, her goal is to help her patients get to a better place of health.

Maureen Yost, APRN, earned her undergraduate degree from Emporia State University and her master’s degree from Washburn University in Topeka, KS.
“I like to establish a rapport with my patients and get to know them. Having a relationship and everyday conversations alongside focusing on their healthcare is one of the more rewarding aspects of my job. I like to focus on individualized care to meet the specific and unique needs of my patients.”
Maureen is board certified and is an active member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Dr. Brooks is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology.  He earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, where he completed his residency training in internal medicine.  He completed a Fellowship in general internal medicine at the University of Kansas and a Fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.  He is a member of the American Gastroenterology Association and the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 

Caring for the residents of McLouth is important to nurse practitioner Melissa Norris. It’s in the area she’s proud to call home.
“I’m excited to work in McLouth because I live in a small town nearby,” she said. “I enjoy getting to create a bond with my patients, getting to know them and them getting to know me. That allows me to help them be healthier and gain the skills and knowledge to do that.”
Norris graduated from Wichita State University with her undergraduate degree in nursing and from Maryville University with her master of science in nursing.
She worked at Stormont Vail in the pediatric intensive care unit and pediatric behavioral health, then as a director of nursing at F.W. Huston Medical Center before joining LMH Health. Norris also continues to work alongside the team at the LMH Wound Healing Center. Her passion lies in providing primary care for patients at all ages and stages of life.
“I grew up in a small town and we only had a community hospital, so the doctors and nurses we saw there were within our community,” she said. “I’m excited to be able to offer services in McLouth so patients don’t have to drive into the city or travel far away to get care. I have the support of LMH Health, its providers and resources at my fingertips.” 

Dr. Klingler was born and raised in Manhattan, Kansas. He earned his medical degree at the University of Kansas, then completed a one-year surgical internship at Rush Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. He completed his urology training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and practiced urology in Dallas until he moved back to Kansas and joined Lawrence Urology Specialists. 

Patti Ranjbar, APRN, earned her undergraduate degree from Missouri Western State University and her master’s from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Ranjbar is a Family Nurse Practitioner, Neuroscience registered nurse. She is also a member of American Nurses Association and the National Institute of First Assisting.
“I knew that I wanted to be a nurse at a very young age. It was a natural progression to become a nurse practitioner. I wanted to be able to have more in-depth relationships with patients and an active role in their care.”
Ranjbar began her career in the intensive care unit before working in oncology and neurosurgery.
“What I enjoy about being a nurse practitioner is the one-on-one relationship I get to build with my patients. It is rewarding to be able to listen to their needs and specialize their care, so that they can return to doing what they love.”
In her free time, Ranjbar enjoys traveling and doing home projects. Most importantly, she loves to spend time with her husband and children.

Hemil Maniar, MD, completed his orthopaedic spine surgery fellowship from Northwestern University and an orthopaedic trauma surgery fellowship from the University of Louisville. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, North American Spine Society, Lumbar Spine Research Society and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association.
Dr. Maniar describes himself as easy-going and family-oriented. He enjoys spending time outdoors or watching movies.
“I really like to fix things around the house. Sometimes I do a really good job at it and other times I have to call in the experts.”
Dr. Maniar completed his orthopedic training in India before deciding to move to the United States to complete two-fellowships to specialize in orthopedic spine surgery and orthopedic trauma surgery.
“I realized that I wanted to learn more about how to help patients with complex fractures and spine issues,” Dr. Maniar explained. “The orthopedic trauma came naturally to me, as I really enjoy working with my hands and fixing things that are broken. However, what drew me to spine was the knowledge that a lot of people in the community do not know that they can return to routine daily lives with appropriate treatment.”
After working at a busy Level I hospital in Central Pennsylvania, he relocated to Lawrence with his wife and son.  His clinical interests include both non-operative and operative treatment of conditions such as cervical disc herniation, lumbar disc herniation, degenerative spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, radiculopathy, myelopathy, spinal cord compression, spinal deformity, spinal trauma, etc. with conventional and minimally invasive surgery as well as upper and lower extremity fractures and dislocations.
One of Dr. Maniar’s favorite parts of being a physician is the ability to meet people from diverse backgrounds, learning from them about their lives and working with them to provide personalized care. He believes that taking a cookie-cutter approach to treatment can lengthen and limit recovery.
“I value the trust my patients place in me by coming to me. I want them to know that I will do everything I can to solve their problems while being honest about the treatments available to them.”

Patrick Harper, MD, received his bachelor’s degree in respiratory care from the University of Kansas and earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He completed his residency in anesthesiology and his fellowship in pain management at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Harper remembers being interested in the medical field in elementary school. He was fascinated by the science of it and wanted to do something to help other people.
Dr. Harper is excited to be back in the Lawrence community and in Jayhawk nation. He is a member of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, North American Neuromodulation Society and American Society of Anesthesiologists. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, sailing and spending time with his wife and three children.

James W. Kim, MD, earned his undergraduate degree at the City College of the City University of New York and his medical degree from the College of Medicine at SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse. He completed his residency through the Brown University program in internal medicine and his fellowship at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Dr. Kim is board certified in gastroenterology and is an active member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Dr. Kim chose to work in medicine after being introduced to a medical program by a group of friends and working in a hospital during high school. His passion for patients and GI has led to a career that spans over 20 years.
“After doing a GI rotation, I realized all the different ways I could help my patients. All those ways excited me.”
His special interests include various esophageal disorders including GERD, eosinophilic esophagitis, achalasia, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer screenings, celiac disease, Hepatitis B and C, and Crohn’s disease.
Prior to joining LMH Health, Dr. Kim worked at Saint Luke’s. He wanted to be where patients and a community really needed a GI specialist, such as a community hospital.
“I want to be able to talk to my patients on a first name basis and assure them that procedures are being done as a preventative measure.”

Dr. Beck earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Kansas in 1990 and a doctor of medicine degree from Dartmouth College Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire in 2003.  He completed a residency in internal medicine at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, CA in 2004 and a residency in neurology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center/Bethesda Naval Hospital in 2007.   Dr. Beck completed his service in the U.S. Navy in 2013 as a lieutenant commander.  He is board certified in neurology.  

Jamie Madl earned her master of physician assistant degree in 2014 from Wichita State University.  In 2012, she graduated with distinction from the University of Kansas earning a bachelor of science degree in education with an emphasis in exercise science.  Before joining Lawrence GI Consultants, She worked for  two years as a physician assistant in the LMH Health Emergency Department and one year as a physician assistance at OrthoKansas.  She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. 

Becoming a physician is something that Ryan Didde knew he wanted to do since he was young. He found inspiration close to home.
“My grandfather was a general practitioner and I was inspired by him. He passed away from a urologic related cancer, and that piqued my interest in urology as a specialty.”
Dr. Didde earned his undergraduate degree from Creighton University and his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He completed his urology residency at the Creighton University School of Medicine.
“The medical conditions that I treat in urology are things that impact people every day. When I can make a difference in their lives, it’s really meaningful.”
He wants patients to know that they can receive the whole spectrum of care, right here in Lawrence. 
“It can be intimidating to go to a large center and wonder how it will be versus coming to a place that you know and can really feel comfortable. I’ll listen to you and address your specific concerns. I find that explaining to you what’s going on can be the most important thing to help us move forward with the treatment that’s best for you.”

Jeremy Strom, MD, earned his undergraduate degree at Graceland College in Lamoni, IA, and his medical degree at the Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, West Indies. He completed his internal medicine and pediatrics residency and a pulmonary/critical care medicine fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He is a member of the American College of Physicians, American College of Chest Physicians and the Society of Critical Care.

Dr. Kumar received a medical degree from Patna Medical College and Hospital, Patna, India.  He completed an internal medicine internship at Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island and a three year neurology residency with Seton Hall University at JFK Medical Center, New Jersey Neuroscience Institute.  He completed fellowships in clinical neurophysiology at the University of Kansas Medical Center and has an interest in treating patients with movement disorders.  Dr. Kumar is board certified in neurology and clinical neurophysiology. 

As he was growing up in Lawrence, Dr. Jon Heeb felt a tug toward medicine.  
“I was in junior high when I began thinking I wanted to become a medical missionary. I had a calling to care for people,” he said. “My grandfather gently talked me out of that, telling me that I had a beautiful community in Lawrence and there were a lot of people who needed help here. That resonated with me.” 
Dr. Heeb earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. It wasn’t until medical school that he really understood urology as a specialty, and he found that it fit his personality. 
“I’m a surgeon at heart, meaning that I like to be active in care, doing things and helping to solve problems.” 
After earning his medical degree, Dr. Heeb completed a surgical internship at St. Luke’s Hospital and specialty training in urological surgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center.  
“Kidney stones are a big part of my practice. Many people have them and need help sooner rather than later – it can’t wait. We deal with a lot of bladder and urinary problems. I also have a special interest in women’s health, especially when it comes to prolapse and bladder issues.” 
Dr. Heeb understands that urological problems are very personal, and it can be hard to talk about them with a stranger. He wants his patients to know that he’s ready to listen. 
“One of the most important parts of getting a diagnosis is listening to my patients, understanding their problem and how it’s affecting their life. A lot of my patients come in and think they’re the only one in the world with this problem, and that’s just not true. I want you to know that you're not alone.” 

Tamara Zey, APRN, earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Central Missouri and her masters from Graceland University. Zey is a member the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
“I choose to become an APRN because I wanted to advance my ability to help my patients and education.”
Zey began her APRN career in an allergy, asthma and immunology clinic. She enjoyed working with patients to improve their breathing. After witnessing a family member’s encounter with pulmonary care, she was influenced to enter pulmonology. Zey specializes in providing asthma care.
“What I enjoy about being an APRN is getting to know the patient and working with them to understand the treatment plan and next steps.”
Outside of work, Zey enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids.
“I understand what it’s like to have a family member with chronic respiratory ailments. If someone doesn’t pay attention to you in the medical field, it can feel like you are on your own. Because of my professional experience and with my family, I know it is important that I empower my patients to advocate for themselves as well as advocate for them.”

Dr. Joy-Ann Tabanor-Gayle earned her medical degree from the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, where she was honored as valedictorian of her graduating class. She completed her internal medicine residency at the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in New Jersey and served as Chief Resident for the program. She then completed her rheumatology fellowship at the University of Connecticut. She is board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology.
She is a member of the American College of Rheumatology, American College of Physicians and American Medical Association.
“I chose to become a physician out of a lifelong interest in the complexity of the human body and the desire to be in a career field that requires lifelong learning, as well as playing an active role in community health.”
She knew she wanted to work in rheumatology after interacting with her first patient in medical school who had lupus.
“What I love most about being a rheumatologist is being able to witness the impact that a correct diagnosis and instituting a treatment plan can have on a patient’s life.”

She is a board-certified internist and Gastroenterologist, and she focuses her practice exclusively on gastroenterology.  She completed her medical degree, residency and fellowship training at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.