Holdrege, NE, August 20, 2018 – Family Medical Specialties’ (FMS) team is growing with three new physicians to better serve the patients throughout the southwest and south central Nebraska and northern Kansas. The new physicians include: Jacob C. Peterson, MD, Krista M Stoecker, MD and Kathryn C. Thelen, DO.  Dr. William Sandy stated, “I am glad to have some new faces to serve our patients. Our communities and their need for health care services have grown over the years, and our new physicians, their specialties and their special interests will fit in with our current team of providers and meet the needs of our communities. I am looking forward to see our practice grow with these additions.”

Dr. Peterson grew up in Atkinson, NE and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology Health Professions with a concentration in neuroscience from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. He received his Medical Doctorate at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha. He completed his residency training in the Primary Care Program also at UNMC, and as part of this program, Dr. Peterson trained for two years each in internal medicine and family medicine.

Dr. Peterson will start October 1, 2018 and will provide family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics, sports medicine, intensive care and endoscopy and office procedure services to Family Medical Specialties’ patients.

Dr. Stoecker received her Bachelor of Science with a major in Nutrition Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She earned her Doctorate of Medicine from UNMC of Omaha. Dr. Stoecker was part of the Primary Care Program and completed her residency divided between the UNMC in Omaha and Grand Island, Nebraska.

Dr. Stoecker will begin her practice at FMS on September 10, 2018, and she specializes in Family Medicine with special interests in pediatrics, obstetrics, women’s health and end-of-life care. Dr. Stoecker is also trained in cesarean births.

Dr. Kathryn Thelen, DO completed her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and earned her Master’s in Bioethics and her Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from the Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences. Dr. Thelen performed her residency with Lincoln Medical Education Partnership for Family Medicine. Dr. Thelen’s husband, Dr. Zachary Egger, will be joining the Phelps Medical Group practice and also provide some coverage at the Family Medical Specialties clinic on some Saturdays.

Dr. Thelen will start her practice in the ER on September 1 and will start her practice at FMS on September 4, 2018. Dr. Thelen’s specialties include family medicine, women’s health, obstetrics (OB), pediatrics, and geriatrics. In addition, Dr. Thelen also practices osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMT) which can aid with back pain, tension headaches and other musculoskeletal issues. Dr. Scott Ehresman stated, “I look forward to how Dr. Thelen’s experience of OMT will benefit our patients. Back pain is a common symptom with several of my patients.”