Specialties: Family Practice
Areas of Interest: Preventative Care and Holistic Care
Graduate School: University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL
I am originally from Sioux City, Iowa; raised in a split family, I also spent time in nearby Merrill, Iowa. When I married my husband Michael, I moved to Howard, South Dakota. During graduate school, I did my clinical rotations at Interlakes Medical Clinic. During this time, I was offered employment and, upon accepting the offer, my family and I moved to rural Madison, and I began my career.
I am passionate about caring for the whole person throughout their life. I want to encourage my patients that positive lifestyle changes can prevent chronic illnesses. As a nurse, I cared for patients of all ages; I was a pediatric ICU, pediatric flight nurse, and an adult ICU nurse and often floated to the Neonatal ICU. Caring for all stages and ages of life has always been very rewarding. Being a Certified Nurse Practitioner was always my goal. As a newborn, I was diagnosed with a heart defect and was followed closely by the University of Iowa Clinic. While in high school, I met a CNP at the pediatric cardiology clinic and became very interested in that role.
The advice I like to give my patients is small and daily changes can help prevent chronic illness and improve quality of life. Walking 15 minutes 3 days a week and working toward 30 minutes of moderate exercise 5 days a week is a journey but well worth the rewards. Eating the salad instead of the mozzarella sticks may not be as tasty to some but helps prevent serious illnesses and diseases in the long haul.
To help my patients feel comfortable, I always try to make a personal connection with them. Whether we talk about “which Reisch are you?”, growing up in a farming family, or we discuss children, running, camping, or showing cattle, I like to make a personal connection to help them feel at ease.
When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two daughters. We appreciate all things outdoors camping, boating, gardening, and I even walk the fields pheasant hunting. I also enjoy cooking and baking.
My favorite quote is one my grandmother has framed in her home, and it makes me smile every time I read it. It reads, “Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels.” –Faith Whittlesey