Physician assistant joins Newton Clinic

Newton Clinic has added to its roster of nearly 20 health-care providers with the arrival of physician assistant Angela Nelson.

An Iowa native, Nelson received her biology degree, paired with a psychology minor, at Simpson College and her master’s degree from Des Moines University. She had known since her teens that being a physician assistant would be the best career fit for her.

“Growing up, I was regularly seen by a PA for my health care,” she said. “As I learned about that role, I fell in love with the idea of the work/life balance it could provide.”

Nelson has been in the workforce since graduating in 2012, working first at Exira Medical Clinic, affiliated with Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Exira, followed by an almost two-year stint at McFarland Clinic in Jefferson, One of the aspects she didn’t care for in her earlier positions was the high amount of provider turnover she was witnessing. Therefore, when she learned of the job opportunity at Newton Clinic, it immediately appealed to her.

“I was impressed with how large the clinic is,” she said, noting that the current providers — 13 physicians, three nurse practitioners, a podiatrist and a certified nurse midwife — have a combined history of more than 275 years at Newton Clinic. “I knew a practice that can retain its providers is a solid practice. That really appealed to me.”

“We are delighted and excited to have Angela join Newton Clinic,” Mark Thayer, clinic administrator, said. “Angela is highly trained, and we believe patients will be impressed with her knowledge, skills and care provided.”

Nelson’s role at the clinic will focus on urgent care. She will not be taking on a case load of regular patients but, rather, will start each morning with a blank schedule and will see same-day and walk-in patients for acute illnesses and injuries.

“I’ve always been drawn to urgent care within family medicine,” Nelson said. “It’s fast-paced and interesting, and it lets me help someone right away with the problem they’re experiencing at that moment.”

Nelson will be at the clinic Mondays and Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and one or two Saturdays a month from 9 a.m. to noon. This schedule, she hopes, will be a big boost to those patients needing to be seen right away, while also allowing for quality time with her husband, Josh, who works remotely for Iowa Student Loan, and their young daughters, 2-year-old Gwendolyn and 8-month-old Charlotte. When not working, the family enjoys attending University of Iowa football games (Nelson describes them as “diehard fans”) and summer outdoor festivals and concerts.

“I’m so excited to put down roots in this practice,” Nelson said. “This is exactly the sort of place I wanted for my career — a team environment with excellent support.”

To learn more about Newton Clinic, visit www.newtonclinic.com.