While growing up in Kearney, NE, Tanya saw people she cared about struggle with chronic illness and realized she wanted to help improve the lives of others. Tanya knew that if she could help people adopt healthy lifestyle habits, it would be protective against chronic diseases. She strongly commits to helping individuals and their families achieve optimal wellness through nutrition, exercise, and stress management.
Tanya graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a master of science in nursing from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She was trained to involve the entire family in medical care to create a patient/provider team. Family medicine is grounded in the timeless values of personalized, patient-centered care coupled with the application of new technologies and systems. She also believes in a holistic approach to medical care that considers the effects of mind, body, and spirit on a patient’s well-being.
An RN for over 20 years, Tanya has worked in various rural communities throughout the U.S. Her experiences with the lack of healthcare resources in these areas affected her and reaffirmed her commitment to providing care to those who might otherwise have difficulty obtaining it. She has experience in critical care, emergency, home health care, and wound management.
Tanya completed some of her graduate training at Glacial Ridge Health System and was impressed with the collaborative working relationship between the physicians and the nurse practitioners, along with their commitment to the community. She saw families coming from quite a distance to receive care, and that really spoke to the level of quality of care they were receiving. In September 2016, Tanya joined the medical staff at GRHS.
Tanya and her husband Bruce moved to the Starbuck area from the East Coast in 2010 to be closer to family, and they have three grown daughters. The abundance of lakes and outdoor opportunities in the area, combined with the small-town, welcoming community, made it an ideal place to call home. When she has time to relax, Tanya likes to hike, camp, travel, read, and garden.
