KAFP Board

KAFP has elected its 2024 Board of Directors. This leadership team serves as KAFP’s governing body and will advocate on behalf of family physicians and patients throughout Kansas and the United States. The new board members join the 2025 board of directors as outlined below:

Officers

President Jared Johnson, MD – Wichita

Jared Johnson went to college at Oklahoma Christian University where he graduated summa cum laude in 2003 as a university fellow with majors in biology and vocational ministry. In 2007, he received his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma. Johnson returned to Wichita to complete his family medicine training at Wesley Medical Center. He is board certified in family medicine.

 

President-Elect Keith Ratzlaff, MD, FAAFP – Olathe

Keith Ratzlaff has served as an active Family Physician for more than 15 years and has served on a variety of boards and committees.

Ratzlaff is a lifelong Kansan, born in Wichita, and has called Kansas City home for more than 25 years. Ratzlaff believes in supporting rural physician colleagues with tertiary specialties.

 

Treasurer Gretchen Irwin, MD, FAAFP – Wichita

Gretchen Irwin received her medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine with a concentration in Women’s Health. Following medical school, Irwin completed her residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Kansas City Family Medicine Residency where she served as Chief Resident and earned a Master in Business Administration from Rockhurst University. She then completed fellowships in Operative Obstetrics and Faculty Development. She currently serves as the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education and ACGME Designated Institutional Official for the University of Kansas School of Medicine- Wichita.

 

Secretary Courtney Huhn, MD – Lansing

Courtney Huhn, MD, received her medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Kansas City where she also completed residency serving as Chief Resident. While in training, she received the KAFP Foundation Hostetter Award for Leadership in Family Medicine and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education. In 2021, she completed the AAFP Leading Physicians Well-Being Scholarship Program. She previously served as Resident Chair of AAFP National Conference for Residents and Students, Student Delegate for the AAFP, a KAFP board member and on KAFP committees. Clinically, Courtney practices as a family physician and geriatrician in Topeka and maintains a Volunteer Associate Professor appointment at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she works with family medicine residents and serves as the Site Director for the geriatrics fellowship. Courtney is also a member of the American Geriatrics Society and Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Her inspiration and motivation are her husband and two daughters, who bring her joy and have accompanied her to KAFP and AAFP events throughout her career.

 

Immediate Past President Deb Doubek, MD, FAAFP – Manhattan

Debra Doubek is a native of Belleville, Kansas. She graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Following graduation from KU, Dr. Doubek completed her internship and family practice residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Kansas City. Dr. Doubek moved to Manhattan and started practice in 1992. She has been married for 38 years to Tom Phillips, former Manhattan mayor and state representative.

 

At-large directors

Sandra Archer, MD – Overland Park

Sandra Archer, MD, is a family medicine physician who has served in the Kansas City area for over 15 years. She currently works in value-based care and has served in RVU primary care, urgent care, and occupational medicine. She also worked as a chemical engineer in a previous career. Archer hopes to use her experiences to help KAFP and its members move family medicine forward.

 

Colleen Loo-Gross, MD, FAAFP – Wichita

Colleen Loo-Gross received her medical and public health degrees from the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita. She completed her residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Highland Family Medicine program with concentrations in global health and maternal child health. Following residency, Loo-Gross completed fellowship training in maternal child health with PCC Community Wellness Center/West Suburban Medical Center in the Chicago area. Loo-Gross moved back to Kansas in 2018 and joined the Department of Family and Community Medicine as faculty at the KU School of Medicine-Wichita.

 

Saby Karrupiah, MD, FAAFP – Overland Park

Sabesan “Saby” Karuppiah serves as the vice president and designated institutional official (DIO) for graduate medical education at HCA Healthcare in Kansas City and teaches evidence-based medicine at the Lee’s Summit Family Medicine residency program.

After receiving his medical education in India, Karuppiah trained in the United Kingdom and received his diploma in family medicine at the Royal College of General Practitioners. He completed leadership training in a faculty development fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Emerging Leaders fellowship. Karuppiah holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health.

Karuppiah said he is committed to reducing the number of uninsured, expanding support for preventative care services, increasing payment for primary care services, and expanding Medicaid in Kansas. He believes family medicine should be the foundation of an improved healthcare system.

 

Beth Oller, MD, FAAFP – Stockton

Beth Oller and her husband Dr. Mike Oller have served the rural community of Stockton for the past eleven years. Beth Oller provides full-spectrum care and has a passion for women’s health, reproductive healthcare, and gender-affirming care. 

Her biggest adventure and joy in life is raising her four children Lyla, Maya, Merrick, and Noble. She enjoys serving the community outside of medicine and is on several area boards. Oller also serves as an Advanced Trauma Life Support and Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics instructor, a media ambassador for the American Academy of Family Physicians, and adjunct faculty for the University of Kansas Medical Center– Wichita. 

 

Tessa Rohrberg, MD, FAAFP – Wichita

Tessa Rohrberg received her medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita and completed her residency at the school’s Family Medicine Residency Program at Wesley Medical Center. During her residency, she received the American Academy of Family Physicians award for excellence in graduate medical education and served on the editorial advisory board of the Annals of Family Medicine. 

After residency, Rohrberg served in private practice for four years in Winfield, Kan. before joining the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the KU School of Medicine – Wichita and Wesley Family Medicine.

 

Nicole Yedlinsky, MD, FAAFP – Lansing

Nicole Yedlinsky serves as an associate professor of family medicine and community health at the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Kansas City. Yedlinsky has a sub-certification in sports medicine and is registered in musculoskeletal ultrasonography.

Yedlinsky earned her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine and completed her residency at Womack Army Medical Center. She completed a fellowship in sports medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University Fairfax Family Practice as part of the National Capital Sports Medicine Consortium.

Yedlinsky is passionate about health and well-being, supporting physical activity, and promoting sustainable lifestyles for mental health. She offers a wide variety of procedures within the primary care setting with a focus on women’s health, reproductive health, obstetrics, and newborn health.

 

Resident director

Troy Ferrell, MD – Wesley Family Medicine Residency

Troy Farrell is in his second year as a family medicine resident physician at the Wesley Family Medicine program in Wichita. Ferrell is a native of rural Wisconsin and earned my medical degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison prior to coming to Wichita. Ferrell said he has thoroughly his time in southern Kansas. When out of his white coat you may find Ferrell running the Riverside path in downtown Wichita, planning his next camping road trip,*casually* cheering on the Green Bay Packers, or trying out new recipes in the kitchen. Following graduation, Ferrell intends to practice clinical/hospital family medicine in a rural community, with the possibility of pursuing a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative care.

 

Student director

Annie Carlson – KU School of Medicine

Annie Carlson is a second-year medical student at the University of Kansas. She graduated from Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas in 2022 with a BA in Biology. Carlson grew up on a farm in rural South Dakota, which she attributes to shaping her passion for rural primary care. At KUSOM, Annie serves as secretary of the Rural Medicine Student Interest Group, Assistant Director and Director of Community Resources at JayDoc Free Clinic, and Student Ambassador for the AAFP.

Kansas has some of the best family doctors! Help showcase the great work of our members by nominating an outstanding family physician you know for one of KAFP’s recognition awards.
The submission deadline of 2021 nominees is Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020.
KAFP is seeking nominations for the following awards:
Kansas Family Physician of the Year This award recognizes a KAFP physician member living and working in Kansas who is directly and effectively involved in community affairs and activities that enhance their community and the quality of life of their patients.
Rising Star Award This is a new award this year! This award recognizes a Kansas physician member who has practiced family medicine for less than 10 years after residency or fellowship training and is a rising star in leadership within their local community and family medicine.
Kansas Exemplary Teaching (two categories: full-time/part-time faculty and volunteer faculty) Through these annual awards, KAFP recognizes members with exemplary teaching skills, who have implemented educational programs and/or developed innovative teaching models.
Do you know a Kansas family physician deserving of any of these honors? KAFP wants to hear from you! Contact KAFP with questions or to confirm a nominee is a member.
KAFP

The quarterly journal, Kansas Family Physician is now available online. You will soon receive your copy in the mail. Inside you will find:

  • KAFP’s 2021 governance leadership
  • Kansas Exemplary Teaching Award winners and Humanitarian Award recipient
  • A special guest for our Member Spotlight
  • 2020 AAFP Board of Directors candidate
  • A fascinating article on climate change and more!

You can view this issue of the Kansas Family Physician along with past issues on the KAFP website — click here.

KAFP

We continue to update and reorganize KAFP’s COVID-19 resource page on the KAFP website for our members, including most recently a section for “Back to School” resources for your school-age patients and their parents.

Be sure to bookmark the COVID-19 web page to easily find all resources in one location. Bookmark https://kafponline.org/COVID-19

If you have additional resources that are not included on our resource page, please let us know at info@kafponline.org.

KAFP

Calling all medical students! You are invited to attend this virtual Kansas Family Medicine Residency Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 18 at 6:00 p.m. CST, featuring presentations from our four residency programs:

  • Ascension Via Christi Family Medicine Residency
  • KU Family Medicine Residency
  • Smoky Hill Family Medicine Residency
  • Wesley Family Medicine Residency
  • KU/CHC-SEK

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with each of the residency program’s residents and faculty!

Register today!

KAFP
KAFP calls all members to volunteer to serve on an active committee or task force for 2020-2021. Through committee involvement you can provide input on Academy activities and help advance the mission of the KAFP.
The following active committees and task forces are seeking volunteers:
  • Communications/Awards Committee
  • Governmental Advocacy Committee
  • Membership & Member Services Committee
  • Professional Development Committee
  • Governance Restructure Task Force
  • Implicit Bias Training Task Force
  • Rural Health Summit Task Force
You can review the committees/task forces and a short description of their work and apply at: KAFPonline.org/about-us/board-of-directors/committees
Please submit your committee application by July 30 to ensure that your request is reviewed during our upcoming appointment process. If you have questions, please contact info@kafponline.org. Thank you for your interest and commitment to KAFP.
KAFP
KAFP’s Government Relations Liaison, Dodie Wellshear has provided a summary of the 2020 legislative session. Access the 2020 Legislative Summary along with Legislative Updates throughout the session here.
Legislation passed included:
  • HB 2016 – Omnibus COVID-19 Response
  • Healthcare Provider Immunity (Section 10)
  • Telemedicine (Section 20)
  • Hospitals and Medical Care Facilities (Section 21)
  • Temporary Emergency License (Section 22)
  • Temporary Licensure Measures for Additional Healthcare Providers (Section 23)
  • Critical Access Hospitals (Section 39)
Legislation not passed included:
  • SB 252 – KanCare Expansion
  • SB 493 – Health Care Stabilization Fund
  • HB 2412 – APRN Expanded Scope of Practice without Collaborative Practice Agreement
  • HB 2563 – Increasing the Age to Purchase or Possess Cigarettes, E-cigarettes, & Tobacco Products
  • HB 2570 – Limiting Certain Opioid Prescriptions to Seven-Day Supply
  • HB 2601 – Restricting Authority of KDHE to Specify School Immunization Requirements
AAFP/KAFP
We continue to update the COVID-19 resource page on the KAFP website for our members, including most recently, the educational opportunity: Lessons Learned in Finney County.
Be sure to bookmark the COVID-19 web page to easily find all resources in one location. Bookmark https://kafponline.org/COVID-19
Don’t forget to tune into AAFP’s valuable CME opportunities:
KAFP

We have a great lineup of Fam Med Forward 2020 virtual resident presentation speakers and topics available for you to view at https://kafponline.org/virtualcme. You may register for one or multiple of these webinars at no charge! Each webinar is approved for 1.0 AAFP Prescribed credit.

Tues, June 9 at 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.

Thurs., June 11 at 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.

Tues., June 16 at 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.

KAFP

Our first online election was successful with 13 percent of eligible voting members participating — compared to two percent who normally participate in-person during the annual membership meeting.

Congratulations to the following leaders who will serve on the KAFP Board of Directors during the 2020-21 governance year. Each district office is a one-year term. Delegate and alternate delegate seats serve a two-year term.

Secretary: Jared Johnson, MD (Wichita)
Delegate: Jen Brull, MD, FAAFP (Plainville)
Alternate Delegate: Diane Steere, MD (Wichita)
District 2 Director: Tessa Rohrberg, MD (Winfield)
District 4 Director: Jonathan Pike, MD (Great Bend)
District 6 Director: Graig Nickel, MD, FAAFP (Lawrence)
District 8 Director: Derrick Totten, MD, MPH (Colby)

These dedicated leaders will join the following elected volunteers to serve on the 2020-21 Board of Directors as voting members:

President: Chad Johanning, MD, FAAFP (Lawrence)
President-Elect: Jennifer Bacani McKenney, MD, FAAFP (Fredonia)
Vice President: Debra Doubek, MD, FAAFP (Manhattan)
Treasurer: Gretchen Irwin, MD, MBA, FAAFP (Andover)
Board Chair: Sheryl Beard, MD, FAAFP (Andover)
AAFP Delegate: Doug Gruenbacher, MD (Quinter)
Alternate Delegate Lynn Fisher, MD, FAAFP (Wichita)
District 1 Director: Keith Ratzlaff, MD (Olathe)
District 3 Director: Dirk Smith, MD, FAAFP (Wichita)
Distrcit 5 Director: Danelle Perry, MD (Manhattan)
District 7 Director: Jill Linville, MD (Lakin)
KUSM-Kansas City Faculty Director: Margaret Smith, MD, MPH, MHSA, FAAFP
KUSM-Wichita Faculty Director: Rex Keith, MD

We had close races for both contested seats (secretary and district 4). Thank you to all who exercised your membership privilege to vote. We also appreciate the time and dedication of our candidates.