FMDH Adds To Their OBGYN And Leadership Teams

Over the past few months, two new faces have been getting used to new co-workers and patients at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital as well as a new way of life in the Middle of Nowhere. Though Glasgow isn't new to either of them, it certainly has been a change of pace for both Kathleen Nenninger, who replaced Ellen Guttenberg following her retirement as the hospital's chief operating officer (COO), and Amy Hopstad, who will be working along side Dr. Maya Sanchez-Rotunno in obstetrics and gynecology in the Glasgow Clinic's Specialty Care. Both started at FMDH in September and have taken the past few months to find their new routines in their profession as well as their daily lives.

Dr. Amy Hopstad moved back home this past summer after working in Billings for the past 11 years. She is a 1999 Glasgow High School graduate and went on to study biomedical science, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree at Montana State University, Bozeman. She then attended medical school in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she graduated with her doctor of medicine degree. She then went on to complete her residency in Denver, Colo., followed by working in Billings from 2011 to this past July. "I enjoy being closer to family. Things were getting crazy there [in Billings] and I can have a better work/life balance here," explained Hopstad on why she decided to take on this job opportunity at FMDH. Her husband, Jeremiah Hopstad, is also a Glasgow native, and they share three kids, a seventh-grader, fourth-grader and second-grader. "They certainly keep us busy!," laughed Hopstad.

With the many fields to choose from within the medical profession, Hopstad always knew she wanted to do something within the sector of women's health. "My dad was a physician. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer while I was in high school, so it just seemed right that I go into women's health," she explained. The field also allows her to focus on many aspects of women's health from procedures to delivering babies, to testing and treatment. "I really enjoy adolescent care, IUD placements, contraceptives and prenatal care. I love delivering babies," stated Hopstad on her favorite parts of the profession.

When she not practicing medicine or following her kids' activities, she enjoys spending time at their cabin on the lake, running and reading. She also enjoys the travel that comes with her sons' sports schedule. "We used to travel for Little League and we had the opportunity to take a little road trip to California," stated Hopstad.

If you would like to make an appointment with Dr. HOpstad, contact the Glasgow Specialty Clinic at 406-228-3500.

The new chief operating officer (COO) Kathleen Nenninger took on her new role on Sept. 26 after moving from Tacoma, Wash., where she worked for the Puyallup Tribe at their clinic. Glasgow also isn't new to her as her daughter moved to the area two and a half years ago. "She did her undergraduate work in Montana. We fell in love with the state, and even purchased property in Columbus for our retirement. I heard about this opportunity through a friend as well as my daughter, and decided why not," explained Nenninger on her move and taking on the position.

Nenninger was born and raised in Bremerton, Wash., and she grew up sailing on the Puget Sound with her parents. She met her husband, Phil, at Boston University, while she was pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, then spent 20 years active duty in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, where she served and deployed all over the globe. She still gets to travel the globe, as her one child is in Germany working on their master's in compute science and the other child is obtaining a PHD in environmental engineering in Tampa, Fla. Her oldest daughter works for BLM here in the area as an ecologist.

"I have been practicing medicine for 34 years. My mom was a nurse and my dad was an engineer. Since grade school, I always knew I wanted to be a nurse as well. I even graduated high school a year early so I could start the part of my career," she explained. She has kept the mission that she learned in school at the forefront of her mind throughout her career, and that certainly has not changed since moving here and taking on this new role. "As a nurse you are always a patient advocate first. You try hard to keep them front and center. Everything you do should revolve around the patient. However, sometimes rules and regulations prevent making it easy to keep the patients at the forefront of what you do," stated Nenninger.

Her favorite part thus far in the position is being able to work with passionate and dedicated professionals who want the best for the patients and the company. She is most looking forward to adding onto the facility, when at all possible, in order to lessen the amount of travel patients have to do for their medical care. "The leadership group here is so future forward. There are always opportunities and we are trying to get a little bit of everything, anything we can get to lessen the travel," she said. "I'm most impressed with the radiology department, that they can evaluate right here with the number of patients they see. It's a terrific job so far!"