Micala knew she wanted to care for others as a child, inspired by her mother’s career as a nurse and nurse educator. After earning her bachelor’s in nursing from the College of St. Benedict / St. John’s University, she joined the Army as a commissioned officer and served on active duty for four years. Her experiences in the Army – from caring for patients and training new nurses in her unit to completing an OB/Gyn nurse specialty course – confirmed her interest and aptitude for OB/nursing and instructing.
Following active duty, Micala worked in St. Cloud Hospital’s Family Birthing Center. She joined Glacial Ridge Hospital as an RN in 2006, and shortly after, she also began teaching in the Associate Degree (RN) Program at Alexandria Technical and Community College. At the same time, Micala earned a master’s degree in nursing with an emphasis in nursing education from Minnesota State University in Moorhead. For 12 years, Micala enjoyed the best of both worlds – caring for patients in the hospital as well as sharing her knowledge and skills with students to help them become nurses.
Micala earned her Family Nurse Practitioner certificate from Winona State University and transitioned from the hospital to Glenwood Medical Center, merging two professions again to continue being a nurse educator. She began seeing clinic patients part-time in December 2021 and became full-time in September 2024. She has many medical interests, including obstetrics, women’s health, newborn care, dermatology, adult disease prevention, health promotion, and mental health care.
The slogan “Heartfelt Care” means so much to the community, and Micala knows it is the foundation for the care staff provides. She feels a sense of community among staff, providing excellent patient care at each interaction, and is glad to be part of it!
Micala was raised in rural Alexandria. She and her husband, Nick, have five children – high school through young adult. In addition to being at their kids’ sporting events and playing sports with them at home, Micala likes helping Nick on their farm near Lowry – moving cattle, caring for calves, and driving tractors. Off solid ground, the family enjoys pontooning on Lake Minnewaska and taking their pontoon to Lake of the Woods on a fishing trip.
