By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Family medicine nurse practitioners join St. Rose Medical Pavilion staff
Lea Newman
Lea Newman

Two certified family nurse practitioners recently joined the staff at The University of Kansas Health System St. Rose Medical Pavilion.

 Lea Newman and Kelsey Harris are caring for patients of all ages in the family medicine offices and Convenient Care Walk-in Clinic.

Meet Lea Newman

“I provide primary care for the management of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression and anxiety, to name a few,” Newman said. “I also care for patients with acute illnesses such as sinus or urinary infections. Again, these are just a couple of examples.”

Newman was attracted to the St. Rose Medical Pavilion location because “I was very impressed with the on-site laboratory, convenient care and all the specialty services. I came from a small rural health center where resources such as these were scarce.

“I also was taken by how warm and welcoming everyone has been,” she said. “My new colleagues have gone out of their way to ensure I am navigating the health system and processes comfortably. I really like the culture and the team-focused approach. This feels like a great place to build a long, successful career.”

Prior to moving to Great Bend from Arkansas City, Newman was a family nurse practitioner at Community Health Center in Cowley County, Winfield. Other previous employment includes health services coordinator at Cowley College in Arkansas City and registered nurse at both Accessible Home Health Inc. in Wichita and Hillside Medical Clinic in Winfield.

Newman earned her associate degree in nursing in 2011 at Dodge City Community College and bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2015 at Wichita State University. She completed her Master of Science-Family Nurse Practitioner at Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa, in 2019.

Newman and her husband have five children.

Kelsey-Harris-2021
Kelsey Harris

Meet Kelsey Harris

As Kelsey Harris splits her time between family medicine and convenient care, she also provides care and treatment for chronic and acute conditions.

“For chronic care, I can help patients manage their conditions and medications,” Harris said. “For patients with acute medical issues, I provide evaluation and treatment. While in convenient care, I also provide workers’ compensation evaluations and Kansas Department of Transportation physicals.”

Harris has been impressed with the team and services at St. Rose Medical Pavilion. She especially appreciates the amount of time she can spend with patients.

“Being able to spend the appropriate amount of time with each patient is so important,” Harris noted. “I have time to listen to their health concerns and get to know each one as a person. These relationships are vital.”

Harris said she “received a warm welcome by her new team. The administrator and other staff are cheerful and friendly, and providers are knowledgeable experts in their fields. I feel at home here.”

Originally from Kinsley, Harris earned her bachelor’s in nursing in 2018 and Master of Science-Family Nurse Practitioner at Chamberlain University in Downers Grove, Illinois, in 2019.

Her professional background includes employment as a registered nurse at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and Dillon Living Center in Hutchinson. She also served as a licensed practical nurse at Larned State Hospital and Medicalodge of Kinsley.

Harris and her husband have four children.