Nurse Practitioner Joins Deer Creek

 Grinnell Regional Medical Center welcomes a new primary care provider, Jessie Collum, ARNP, to Deer Creek Family Care in Toledo. Collum will join the clinic in late February and begin seeing patient in the family practice clinic in late March. She joins Sherry Parks, PA-C; Michelle Rebelsky, MD, FAAFP; and David Cranston, MD, at Deer Creek Family Care.

Prior to earning her advanced nurse practitioner degree, Collum worked nine years in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics as a registered nurse. She explains how her work in an intensive care unit provided a springboard to becoming an ARNP.

“In an acute care setting such as the cardiovascular ICU, we treat and care for patients with multiple, serious illnesses. At this level, many times the damage to a person’s health is severe and leads to lifetime complications. Through my experiences in ICU, I became interested in primary care and family practices. I enjoy educating patients and working with individuals on taking preventive measures to improve their health,” Collum says. “I not only want to assist patients in repairing and restoring their health but I also wanted to support them in making healthy lifestyle choices. I have desired a primary care practice because of the ability to build long-standing relationships with patients and their families. The benefits of preventive healthcare in the family practice setting area are endless and I believe I can be an asset.”

Collum is excited to join the Deer Creek Family Care staff. “This is a great fit. The facilities and staff are nice and the overall perspective of the clinic with a focus on health promotion and disease prevention matches the direction I wanted to go with my career. I enjoy multiple aspects of primary care, with women’s health being an interest of mine, but I truly like working with all age groups.”

Collum’s background in the cardiovascular ICU offers significant benefits. With high prevalence of heart disease and diabetes in the area, Collum is well experienced and passionate about working with patients on heart health measures and cardiac care.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Jessie to the GRMC medical staff. She brings advanced care experience as well as a strong desire to help patients improve their health,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “Jessie will welcome new patients as well as provide care to the patients who already choose Deer Creek Health Center for their health needs. She’s a great addition to the current excellent medical team at the clinic.”

Collum grew up in Malcom and attended BGM High School. She earned her B.S. in nursing from the University of Iowa and an M.S. in nursing: family nurse practitioner from Allen College. Family connections are important part of primary care and, for Collum, it also played an important role in her recruitment. Collum’s father and step mother live on Holiday Lake and spoke with the GRMC director of physician services, Amy Morrow, who also lives there. The conversation led Collum to GRMC’s recruitment staff and she secured a position prior to her graduation from Allen College in December.

“A family care practice is built on trust and consistency. I’m looking forward to building long-term relationships with the area residents,” Collum says. “I want to get involved in the community both professionally and personally.”

Collum is married to Justin Collum, also originally from the Brooklyn area. Together, they have two daughters. She admits to being a long-standing Hawkeye fan; however, her nephew now plays football for the Iowa State Cyclones so she plans to divide her time between Iowa City and Ames on football weekends.

GRMC is planning a welcome reception for Collum as well as Rebelsky and Cranston at the Deer Creek Health Center on Thursday, May 3, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Deer Creek Family Care is located in the Deer Creek Health Center, 401 First Ave., Toledo. Deer Creek Family Care is an affiliated clinic of Grinnell Regional Medical Center. For information call 641-484-2602.