Even though Heather Holaday has completed her postdoctoral fellowship, she is not saying good-bye to The University of Kansas Health System Pawnee Valley Campus. In fact, she is adding to the services she provides there.

As a nurse practitioner with her doctor of nursing practice degree, Holaday now offers wound care in addition to her services as a family-medicine provider.

She serves wound-care patients part-time at Pawnee Valley Campus, 923 Carroll, and HaysMed. Holaday also cares for local and area patients in the family medicine practice at Pawnee Valley Medical Associates, 713 W. 11.

“Wound care is crucial for people suffering from conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, venous or arterial ulcers, burns and non-healing surgical incisions,” the Central Kansas native noted. “Inpatient and outpatient wound treatments can prevent or address infection, ensure adequate healing and reduce the healing time associated with wound closure.”

In family medicine, Holaday cares for patients with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, anemia and depression/anxiety. Acute conditions include infections, lacerations and other injuries.

The doctor of nursing practice also has experience in workman’s compensation issues, women’s health, physical exams and well-child checks. Her fellowship training included work in urology, women’s health and wound care.

Holaday worked two of her seven years as a registered nurse at Pawnee Valley Campus.

“All of us are fortunate to have such amazing facilities here,” Holaday said. “A wide variety of services that benefit the overall health of the community are offered in our own backyard.”

In addition to family medicine and wound care, local services include pediatrics; geriatrics; women’s health; preventive medicine; lab work; imaging; physical, occupational and speech therapies; special nursing services; emergency care; specialty clinics; and swing-bed services.

“I could not have been more excited when offered the position at Pawnee Valley Campus,” Holaday commented. “To be able to serve the community where I was raised is such an honor. I look forward to caring for people that played such a big role in my life. The community’s overwhelming love and support has been heartwarming and appreciated.”

She also noted she is “extremely grateful for the University of Kansas fellowship. Being able to develop professionally in my hometown has been a rewarding experience.

“I want to stay here because I love the people I work with and want to support my local community,” she added. “I want to raise my family here.”

Jacob Woods is Holaday’s fiancé; Theo Woods is their son. Other family members live in Larned and Garfield. Holaday was born in Great Bend and raised in Garfield. She attended Larned schools.