Over forty years ago, the lure of Mitchell County and northeastern Iowa got the attention of a young doctor. Mitchell County Regional Health Center and the communities it serves are so thankful it did.
Dr. Kelly Ross had just wound up his medical education journey at the University of Iowa, and he and his young family were ready to decide where it would take them. An opportunity in Osage from the then Mitchell County Medical Service seemed like a good fit.
Although he practices in St. Ansgar, MCRHC has given Ross that family feeling the 41-year medical field veteran and friend of many across the area sees as so important.
“You know, there has never been a time when we considered leaving where we are,” he recently admitted. “There is a strong lure from Mitchell County and the surrounding region once you get here – it is such a great place to put down roots, raise a family and develop a lifetime of memories.”
There has also been a lifetime’s worth of changes as a family practitioner and in the larger medical profession.
“Starting in Osage, there was a period where we had to fight ‘to keep the doors open’”, Ross reflected. “We went from eight partners to two due to some retirements. Fortunately, Mercy wanted us to join them, which has turned out to be a great situation.
From that point, they started sending residents over, which kept us strong staff-wise,” he added. “There was some strife between the outgoing older physicians and the younger doctors due to style of practices. It managed to work out, but I really wanted that smaller town feeling. I was chief of staff at the time, which included a very heavy workload.”
St. Ansgar provided the solution for the Ross family. Former practitioner Mark Johnson had left, so Kelly stepped into his slot. Betty Kriener and Shirley Penney were his two physician’s assistants after Shirley transferred over from nursing.
That initial growth in the clinic has been something he’s continued to see since he began.
“I’d say MCRHC is able to serve a lot of people from beyond the county as Northwood’s clinic isn’t open on the weekend and doesn’t have a doctor while some folks in Austin want somewhere else to go if Mayo is busy,” he noted. “We give them another option of health care. Word has gotten around that we have a great setting with quality professionals.”
His biggest enjoyment is meeting new patients while also keeping friendships intact with families he has seen for many years.
“The doctor-patient relationship is what keeps me enjoying what I do,” he said. “You know, I am taking care of grandchildren of original patients I had. As a small-town medical provider, we know these people and can manage their needs, helping them access the services they want when the time comes.
For all the changes that have occurred in 41 years, I think the biggest one I have seen is the specialty,” he added. “When I started, you just saw a doctor and then maybe went to a local hospital. Now, you may go from a doctor to a cardiologist, neurologist, urologist and so on depending on your needs. Obviously, those specialty professionals are an immense help to the general medicine field I am in, as they have so many other options to treat things.”
Medicine – always changing and improving. A lot like Dr. Kelly Ross has done over four decades of excellence.
