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.
Whitney Schafer, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C provides care to patients at Atlantic Medical Center. Schafer is board-certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners to care for patients of all ages.
Schafer graduated from Clarkson College with her master’s degree. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2014 from the University of Iowa and has been a registered nurse since 2010. Her previous nursing experience includes inpatient care, specialty care, surgery, and five years of urgent care experience.
Dr. Adam Verhoef is a board-certified Family Medicine physician who provides the full spectrum of care including obstetrics and c-sections.
Dr. Verhoef completed his undergraduate degree in Biology and Chemistry at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. He then attended the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, and he completed his Family Medicine Residency in June of 2021 at Prisma Health Richland/University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.
Obstetric care is a passion of Dr. Verhoef’s, so after residency he was accepted into a fellowship program to further his knowledge and skills. This summer he completed the Advanced OB Fellowship at Swedish Health First Hill Family Medicine in Seattle, Washington.
“You do a lot of good medicine in OB. You really have an impact on people’s lives, especially if you can give them a positive prenatal experience, a positive labor and delivery, and a positive post-partum experience,” he said.
Dr. Verhoef said that he chose Cass Health because it matches the type of medicine he wants to practice. “Rural health has always been my goal, and at Cass Health, it’s a great fit. I can provide meaningful care for my patients, and I can provide safe, comprehensive OB care.”
Emily Wittrock, an Anita native, is an advanced registered nurse practitioner in the Atlantic Medical Center. Being a board-certified family nurse practitioner, Wittrock provides care to patients of all ages. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the National Society of Leadership and Success. Previously, she earned a life-saving award from the Iowa Heart Association and is a DAISY Award Winner.
Emily graduated with an Associate’s of Science in Nursing in 2015 from Southwest Iowa Community College. In 2017, she completed her Advanced EMT training at Mercy College of Health Science. The following year, she graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Governor’s University. Most recently, she completed her Master of Science in Nursing from Clarkson College in 2021.
Susan Herr McDowell is a Physician Assistant at Atlantic Medical Center. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2014 from Iowa State University and her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Des Moines University in 2018. Susan is board-certified with the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Max Starlin, PA-C, provides family medicine care at Atlantic Medical Center. Max graduated from Des Moines University with his Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies. Max has several years of experience in Respiratory Therapy, healthcare administration, and cares for patients of all ages at the Atlantic Medical Center. Max is board-certified with the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
As a Physician Assistant, Mary Robinson provides general medical care at Atlantic Medical Center. She provides a broad range of services, including taking medical histories, performing examinations, ordering and interpreting tests, diagnosing, and determining treatments. She also provides diabetic care to patients as well. Mary joined Cass Health in 2009.
She received her training at the Union College Physician Assistant Program in Lincoln, NE. Mary is board-certified with the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Mary is also board certified in advanced diabetic management.
Elisha Hardy a Griswold Iowa native, is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program in the Atlantic Medical Center. She graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Creighton University. In 2016, Elisha graduated from Clarkson College with honors, with her Master of Science in Nursing and a focus on Family Nurse Practitioner.