Melissa Merritt, RN, ARNP, is board certified in family practice by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She completed her advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) training at the University of Central Missouri. She has also completed extensive training specific to emergency care, including ER fundamentals, boot camp and procedures courses.
Melissa has been a registered nurse for more than 20 years and an advanced practice nurse for more than 10. Over the course of her career, she has had varied clinical experience in healthcare including Surgical/Burn and Trauma/Surgical Intensive Care at University of Missouri Hospital, as well as the Emergency Department at both the University of Missouri Hospital and Boone Hospital Center, all in Columbia, Missouri.
Since moving to Iowa in 2020, Melissa has been providing emergency care and hospitalist services as a traveling NP in several rural Iowa communities.
Megan Frederiksen ARNP, FNP-C is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). She provides family practice care for patients of all ages.
Frederiksen earned a Bachelor of Science from Luther College in 2007 and then completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Nebraska Methodist in 2009. During her nursing career at Cass Health, Frederiksen primarily worked in the Emergency Department, Obstetrics, and most recently, Cardiac Rehab. After more than a decade in nursing, Frederiksen returned to school and completed her Master of Science in Nursing at Clarkson College, graduating in August 2024.
Brandie Edgman, MSN, APRN-NP, FNP-C, provides Urology care in the Cass Health Specialty Clinic. Brandie is affiliated with Adult & Pediatric Urology and Urogynecology. She received her Master of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2023. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Midland University in 2014. Brandie is Board Certified as a Family Practice Nurse Practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
As a hospitalist, Michael Anderson provides care for patients in the hospital while also coordinating and communicating with the patient’s primary care physician throughout their hospital stay. Michael is board certified by the NCCPA and has worked as a Physician Assistant in Washington and Pennsylvania since 2013.
Beth Larsen, RN, WTA-C, provides wound, ostomy care in the Cass Health Specialty Clinic. Beth assists in the management of chronic, diabetic, non-healing and slow–healing wounds, as well as skin tears. She also provides ostomy education and support, and she provides screening for arterial blood flow. To make an appointment or for more information, contact the Cass Health Specialty Clinic.
Maria Hoegh is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Creighton University in 2021, and recently moved from Utah where she was practicing in a Family Medicine clinic.
Prior to the start of her career as a Nurse Practitioner, Maria’s nursing career began in 2013 after graduating with her BSN from Clarkson College. She has worked as a Pediatric Emergency nurse at Blank Children’s Hospital, and she also worked at the University of Iowa’s Children’s Hospital in both the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Medical Surgical Unit.
Maria is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
Dr. Pollpeter is a board-certified family medicine physician who joined Cass Health in the fall of 2024. Dr. Pollpeter received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Creighton University in May 2017, and her Doctorate of Medicine from the Creighton University in May of 2021. She then went on to complete her Family Medicine Residency at Unity Point Health Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines in June of 2024. Dr. Pollpeter provides the full scope of family medicine care, and her special interests include women’s health, procedures, and preventative medicine, with her main goal being to treat each patient as an individual and provide the care that will help them reach their health related goals.
Dr. Brines is a board-certified family medicine physician who joined Cass Health in the fall of 2024. Dr. Brines grew up in Leon, Iowa and received her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Northwest Missouri State University in 2017, and her Doctorate of Medicine from the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in May of 2021. She then went on to complete her Family Medicine Residency at Unity Point Health Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines in June of 2024. Dr. Brines provides the full scope of family medicine care, and her special interests include women’s health, rural health, and nursing home & geriatric care.
Kacey Peterson joined the Cass Health Senior Life Solutions (SLS) team in 2020. She graduated from Drake University in 2005 with a BS in Psychology and in 2010 with her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Kacey has experience serving various demographics. Prior to becoming Program Therapist for SLS, where she provides group and individual therapy services to geriatric patients, Kacey worked in private practice with children and families in both community and school settings. In 2015 Kacey was honored with the Professional Leadership to a State Chapter Award by the American Mental Health Counselors Association for her service as Board President and Legislative Committee Chair with the Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association. In 2019 she was recognized by Drake University’s School of Education with an award for outstanding leadership in her field, and in 2021 she was named Therapist of the Year for her commitment to the patients she serves at SLS. Kacey is licensed by the Iowa Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Dr. Caleb Miller is a urologist in the Cass Health Specialty Clinic. He is affiliated with Adult Pediatric Urology & Urogynecology in Omaha, Nebraska.