Newsworthy

Dear Community Partners,

Here are today’s updates:

• Casey Whale Joins Stormont Vail’s Ortho Team
• Person of the Moment – Jena Zimmerman
• Express Care and Work Care to Open Friday, Aug. 19
• “To Your Health” on WIBW-TV Tonight – Dr. Kavitha Rao

Dr. Casey Whale Joins Stormont Vail’s Ortho Team

Stormont Vail Health is proud to announce that Casey Whale, M.D., has joined our Orthopedic and Sports Medicine team. Dr. Whale is an adult reconstructive orthopedic surgeon who specializes in complex primary total knee and total hip cases.

Dr. Whale credits his drive to become an orthopedic surgeon to the way he grew up in Vernal, Utah, which has a population of about 10,000 people today. When he was 16, he wanted a car, but knew he would have to find a way to get the money on his own to buy one. Once he saved enough money and bought a car, he said it was always breaking down.

“I quickly found that I had an aptitude for repairing vehicles and soon thereafter, I started working a job in an auto body shop,” said Dr. Whale. “I started out at the bottom, changing oil. I eventually worked my way up to where there wasn’t really anything I wasn’t doing.”

Dr. Whale continued to work, and later manage, at the auto shop before owning his own business, Dilla LLC, where he would buy totaled vehicles from insurance companies, restore and sell them. He believes, while there are many differences, there is also a correlation between auto mechanics and orthopedics.

“Taking something that’s broken and not properly functioning and making it function appropriately… I think that my past in auto mechanics had a lot to do with my choice in becoming an orthopedic surgeon.”

Dr. Whale received a bachelor’s degree at Weber State University before earning his medical degree at the University Of Utah School Of Medicine, and later completed his residency at Wright State University.

Welcome, Dr. Whale, we are happy you’re here!

Person of the Moment – Jena Zimmerman

Jena Zimmerman, Mammographer, has been awarded as the July “Person of the Moment” for the incredible level of care and support she gives to patients every day. The nomination that brought our attention to Jena’s dedication came from a patient.

While working in the Manhattan Cotton O’Neil Clinic, Jena walked into a room to perform a mammogram and found her patient lying on the floor due to the patient feeling as if she was going to faint. Not only did Jena get the patient on a safe and secure surface, but also rushed to make sure that the patient received food and water to help with the lightheadedness.

“She treated me with care and grace in my moment of need and embarrassment. In addition, 30 minutes after I left the clinic, Jena called and left a voicemail message to ask if I made it to my next destination safely. You have an exceptional team member in Jena Zimmerman at the Manhattan Cotton O’Neil Clinic. She makes a difference!”

We are so thankful to have Jena on our team! Congratulations, Jena – your commitment to providing the best care possible does not go unnoticed!

Express Care and Work Care to Open Friday, Aug. 19

Both the Cotton O’Neil Express Care and Work Care will open at their new location at 1516 S.W. 6^th on Friday, Aug. 19.

The Express Care is the “Midtown” location that was previously at 909 S.W. Mulvane, and Work Care had previously been located at the NOTO Clinic at 1130 N. Kansas Ave. Until Aug. 19, our other Express Care locations in Topeka are serving those with urgent care needs.

We are excited to have these two services in this newly renovated Stormont Vail Health facility with high visibility at the northeast corner of S.W. 6^th and Horne. The convenient location is just two blocks north of Stormont Vail Hospital’s northern perimeter. Congratulations to our team members who have been planning and working to get this space ready for our patients.

“To Your Health” on WIBW-TV Tonight – Dr. Kavitha Rao

Monkey pox has now been now declared a global health emergency – and a case was recently identified in Shawnee County. What is it? How much should we really worry? Learn more about monkey pox with Dr. Kavitha Rao, infectious disease specialist at Stormont Vail Health on tonight’s “To Your Health.” The segment will air at 10 p.m. on WIBW-TV, Channel 13. The segment will typically repeat at 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. Fridays on 13 News This Morning and be posted on wibw.com.

We together,
Dr. Kenagy