BY KAREN BOSSICK
JP Prouty intended to become an engineer in the cattle industry. But, after shadowing a physician while attending Grinnell College in Iowa, he decided he’d rather work with people, rather than cows.
Now the Kansas City-born doctor is one of three new physicians working at St. Luke’s Wood River Family Medicine.
“I am thrilled to join St. Luke’s and work side by side with top-notch physicians to provide the full spectrum of care in a rural community that is also a wonderful recreational area,” said Prouty, who enjoys skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and kayaking, as well as baseball, golf, biking, tennis, grilling and working on cars.
Prouty, who was chief resident in the Family Medicine Residency program at Oregon Health Sciences University Cascades East, is joined by two other new providers.
- John Hatzenbuehler completed his Family Medicine residency at Maine Medical Center after obtaining his degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2004.
Born and raised in Pocatello, he said the allure of the ocean at the beginning of his residency was very special. But the pull of the mountains never faded.
“I have been coming to the Wood River Valley my entire life and could think of no better place to live and raise our 7- and 10-year-olds. I can’t wait to show my kids the world-class fishing, hiking, skiing and biking the Sun Valley area provides,” he said.
Hatzenbuehler, the son of teachers, said he was attracted to the medical profession in part because of the opportunity it offers him to teach others about health.
“Knowledge is power, which is particularly true when it comes to one’s health,” he said.
He concentrated on sports medicine because of his love for sports.
“Completing a fellowship in sports medicine has provided me not only with the extra knowledge to help athletes but to also promote healthy lifestyles for all patients,” he said. “I have found that exercise is medicine, and I try to help others embrace that philosophy, as well.”
- Tiffany Wohlwend is a master physician assistant with 13 years experience in emergency medicine, family medicine and dermatology. She moves to the Wood River Valley from Woodland, Calif., where she was Advanced Practice Clinicians Director in the Emergency Department of Woodland Healthcare.
She is bilingual in Spanish and English, having gotten a B.A. in Spanish from the University of California-Davis, in addition to her MPA at Samuel Merritt University in Oakland.
A Wilderness First Responder, she is licensed in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Swiftwater Rescue. She was previously head river guide for All Outdoors California and Mayuc Rafting Peru.
“Tiffany’s triage and urgent care background provides an additional resource for our community in accessing care,” said Cody Langbehn, St. Luke’s Wood River CEO.