Learn more about our team of healthcare professionals.
Platte Valley Clinic Providers
Call (307) 326-3169 to make an appointment with one of our providers at the Platte Valley Clinic.
Dr. Brendan Fitzsimmons, MD
Dr. Brendan Fitzsimmons, MD Physician
Dr. Brendan Fitzsimmons has 28 years of experience in the medical field. Over the course of his robust career, Dr. Fitzsimmons has had a full spectrum family practice, plus experience with working in hospitals, clinics, as well as a full OB practice. He has been the medical director of three Wyoming nursing homes. Before entering the medical field, Dr. Fitzsimmons served with the U.S. Navy as a Missile Fire Controlman, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia as part of the Second Fleet, Atlantic Ocean.
BS – University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
MD – Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
Residency – University of North Dakota Family Practice in Minot, ND.
Board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine
Current certifications for Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, Pediatric Life Support, Advanced Burn Life Support, Neonatal Resuscitation.
Dr. Brendan Fitzsimmons, MD sees patients full time at the Platte Valley Clinic. To make an appointment, call (307) 326-3169.
Jolena Martin, PA-C - Women’s Health
Jolena Martin, PA-C Women’s Health
A physician assistant for 18 years, Jolena Martin brings a wide range of clinical experience in primary care, family practice, obstetrics/ gynecology, and urgent care, with a passion for women’s health to the Platte Valley Clinic. Thorough, compassionate and patient-focused care are top priorities for Jolena. When it comes to practicing women’s health, she believes patient care does not only include standard exams, it is an all-encompassing style of practice to address any and all women’s health concerns. Outside of being a PA, Jolena enjoys reading, music, singing, spending quality time with Steve, their four children and two dogs in the outdoors, and being involved with a church.
Southern Illinois University- Carbondale, Carbondale, IL
Effingham Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates and the Christie Clinic, Eastern Illinois
Dr. Carol A. Fischer Family Practice, Cheyenne, WY
Jolena Martin PA-C sees patients three days a week at the Platte Valley Clinic. To make an appointment, call (307) 326-3169.
Visiting Specialists
Call the number listed below for each provider for an appointment.
Appointments are booked through each provider’s office.
Dr. Michael E. Janssen, DO Board Certified Spine Surgeon Center for Spine & Orthopedics – Denver, CO
CSO founder Dr. Michael Janssen was among the first surgeons in the nation to perform total disc replacement (TDR). He participated in initial clinical studies and has been performing TDRs since 2006 when the FDA approved the ProDisc. Since then, Dr. Janssen has performed more than 1,000 complex TDR surgeries and trained more than 150 surgeons worldwide to perform the procedure. In November 2015, Dr. Janssen published an article on the long term results of TDR surgery in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
Specialties include total disc replacement, degenerative disc surgery, disc arthroplasty, laminectomy, microdiscectomy and neck surgery, among other surgical procedures.
Dr. Janssen sees patients at the North Platte Valley Medical Center once a month on Fridays.
Call (800) 810-9352 to make an appointment in Saratoga
Dr. Jack Ullrich, MD - General Surgery
Dr. Jack Ullrich, MD General Surgery Ivinson Medical Group – Laramie, WY
Dr. Ullrich has been practicing for 16 years, and began working for Ivinson Medical Group in 2010. His passions outside of patient care include general aviation, astronomy and travel, as well as camping with his family. Dr. Ullrich says he enjoys working for IMG because it allows him to work closely with other providers, giving them the ability to consult with one another to facilitate excellent patient care.
BS – University of Montana, Missoula, MT
MD – Oregon Health & Sciences University School of Medicine, Portland OR
Internship – Department of Surgery, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA
Residency – Department of Surgery, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA
Dr. Ullrich sees patients at the North Platte Valley Medical Center once a month on Tuesdays. Call (307) 755-4540 to make an appointment in Saratoga.
Dr. Emma Bjore, MD - Geriatrics
Dr. Emma Bjore, MD Geriatrics Ivinson Medical Group – Laramie, WY
As a specialist in the care of adults 70 and older, I am committed to helping patients maintain their wellness, independence and quality of life as they age. I partner with my patients in meeting their health goals, which often includes decreasing the amount of medications they take and improving and maintaining daily functioning. Being an advocate for and empowering our older adults is my greatest roll as a geriatrician.
BS – Concordia College, Moorhead, MN
MD – University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
Residency – University of Colorado — Rose Family Medicine
Fellowship – University of Colorado, Geriatrics
Board Certification – American Board of Family Medicine, Geriatric Medicine
Dr. Bjore sees patients at the North Platte Valley Medical Center once a month on Fridays.
Call (307) 326-3169 for details on appointments in Saratoga.
Paula Vasek, Family Nurse Practitioner – Pediatrics
Paula Vasek Family Nurse Practitioner – Pediatrics Meadowlark Pediatrics – Laramie, WY
Paula Vasek is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and internationally board-certified Lactation Consultant. Paula’s career started in the Emergency Department (ED) in Tacoma, Washington at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. While working in the ED, Paula began working on her Master’s of Science in Nurse Education with hopes of teaching at the collegiate level. In addition to working on her nurse education degree, Paula undertook a second master’s program to obtain a degree as a Nurse Practitioner and completed this in 2005.
Paula practiced at Laramie Physicians for Women and Children specializing in Pediatrics for 16 years until she and her colleague, Elizabeth Smith, opened the doors to Meadowlark Pediatrics in 2021.
Paula provides preventative care, urgent care, and care of acute and chronic conditions.
Call(307) 314-4242 for details on Paula’s next visit to Saratoga.
Dr. Derek Ewell, DO - Women’s Health
Derek Ewell, DO Obstetrics/ Gynecology Ivinson Medical Group – Laramie WY
Dr. Ewell began working in the Laramie community as an OB/GYN shortly after a four-year residency in Amarillo, Texas. He believes the key to a successful patient-provider relationship is the act of working together to manage one’s health, in a manner that is appropriate for the patient. When not seeing patients, Dr. Ewell enjoys hiking and fishing with his family in Laramie’s nearby outdoor landscape.
BS – University of Wyoming, Laramie WY
DO – Still University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, Missouri
Residency – Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Amarillo Texas
Dr. Ewell sees patients at the North Platte Valley Medical Center once a month on Mondays.
Call (307) 755-4540 to make an appointment in Saratoga.
Physical and Occupational Therapy
Call (307) 326-3169 to make an appointment with one of our providers at the Platte Valley Clinic.
Tammy Lane, OTD Director of Rehab, Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Tammy Lane, OTD Director of Rehab (DOR), Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Bio coming soon.
Katie Adams, PT Physical Therapy
Katie Adams, PT Physical Therapy
Bio coming soon.
Emergency Department
The NPVMC emergency room is open 24/7 – no appointment is needed.
Lisa Smith-Schohls, Physician Assistant
Lisa Smith-Schohls, Physician Assistant
Lisa Smith-Schohls is a physician assistant with 19 years of emergency room experience. She is part of the Aligned Providers Wyoming team that manages patient care in the North Platte Valley Medical Center Emergency Department.
Steve Martin, Physician Assistant
Steve Martin, Physician Assistant
Steve Martin is a physician assistant with 18 years of emergency room experience. He is part of the Aligned Providers Wyoming team that manages patient care in the North Platte Valley Medical Center Emergency Department.
Reggie Gillins, Nurse Practitioner
Reggie Gillins, Nurse Practitioner
Reggie Gillins is a nurse practitioner with 11 years of emergency room experience. He is part of the Aligned Providers Wyoming team that manages patient care in the North Platte Valley Medical Center Emergency Department.
Neil Shores, Nurse Practitioner
Neil Shores, Nurse Practitioner
Neil Shores is a nurse practitioner with 19 years of emergency room experience. He is part of the Aligned Providers Wyoming team that manages patient care in the North Platte Valley Medical Center Emergency Department.
