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Hackley Community Care Center 
Medical Provider Bios

Robert Alkema, MD is Board Certified in Pediatrics. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan where he obtained a Bachelor’s of Science degree; completed his Medical Degree at Wayne State University and his Pediatric residency at Buffalo Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, NY. Dr. Alkema is a member of the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Pediatrics. His prior professional appointments include: Clinical Instructor at State University of New York at Buffalo, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Pediatrics Review and Education Program Award, Director of Pediatrics for Mercy Hospital, U.S. Center for Disease Control Sentinel Physician, Chief of Pediatrics at Hackley Hospital. He  has also been a Physician Assistant instructor at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI, George Washington University in Washington, DC, Arcadia University in Glenside, PA and Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI. Dr. Alkema operated his own private pediatric practice for over 30 years.

Tricia Anderson, PAC is certified through the NCCPA. She attended Central Michigan University for a Bachelor of Science and received a Masters of Physician Assistant from Wayne State University in 1999. Before coming to Hackley Community Care Center in 2004, she gained experience working at Emergency Medicine Specialists (busy inter-city emergency department) in Detroit, MI. She has worked with the Child Abuse Counsel and Big Brothers Big Sisters as a child mentor and performed health appraisals for Special Olympics participants. Her practice interests include Family Medicine.

Katherine Beck, PAC graduated from the Physician Assistant Program at the University of Detroit Mercy in 1991 with honors and a Minor in Gerontology. She has worked in the Geriatric Unit and the Kidney Unit of the Detroit Medical Center. Her specialized areas include: outpatient Internal Medicine, inpatient Psychiatric Unit, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Pain Management, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.



Valerie Conrad, M.D. is Board Certified in Family Medicine. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in Psychology/Pre-Professional Studies in 1995.
She later advanced to Director of Training for Caredata.com (a healthcare information/software company) before returning to school to complete a degree in Biology from Missouri University of Science and Technology. Dr. Conrad earned her MD from Wayne State University’s School of Medicine in 2007and completed her residency in Family Medicine with emphasis in Obstetrics. 
Dr. Conrad served as Vice Chief Resident at William Beaumont Hospital in Troy, Michigan and has served for one year as a full-time volunteer at the Chapin Street Clinic in South Bend, IN (a clinic for the un-insured)
Her special interest includes Women’s Health, Behavioral Health and Pediatrics.


V. K. Das, MD is board certified in Internal Medicine. He has practiced in Muskegon since 1972 and has dedicated his time and experience to Hackley Community Care Center since 2001. He received a Bachelor of Science from The University of Lucknow, India and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from King George’s Medical College in 1960. Dr. Das is well traveled and has practiced in New York City, Canada and India. His practice interests include Internal Medicine, Family Medicine and a special interest in Neurology.

Jamie Dickinson, PAC is certified through the NCCPA. She studied at Grand Valley State University for her Bachelor of Bio Medical Health Sciences and received her Masters of Physician Assistant in 2007. She did several PA rotations at Hackley Community Care Center and after graduation came to work for us in 2007. Her interests include children, women’s health and obstetrics, domestic violence and sexual assault, and gastroenterology.

Harland Holman, MD is board certified in Family Medicine.  He graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with a BS in Biology in 1998. He then attended Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine and received his MD in 2002.   Dr. Holman returned to the University of Michigan and completed his residency in 2005 serving as Co-Chief Resident.  Dr. Holman served in a group practice for 5 years in Cold Spring, Kentucky.  His medical interests include skin biopsies and joint injections procedures, treating common and chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and allergies.

Jennifer Hultman, MD is board certified in both Pediatrics and Internal Medicine. She received a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Michigan State University in 2003.   After completing the Residency Program in Grand Rapids, Michigan she came to Hackley Community Care Center in 2007. Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Hultman has volunteered as a clinician in clinics, shelters and on mission trips in Michigan, Nicaragua, and Tanzania. In addition to Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, she has special interest in Women’s Health, Geriatric Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Adolescent Care.

                            
Danielle Koestner, DO is Board Certified in Family Medicine. She graduated from Western Michigan University with a Biomedical Science degree in 2002. She attended Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine and received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree in 2006. Danielle completed her residency at Beaumont Hospital in Troy MI in Family Medicine.  Additionally, she has specialized training in Obstetrics and will be providing OB service with Hackley Community Care Centers Midwives. Her special interests include Women’s Health and Pediatrics.

Wayne Kohn, DO, Medical Director is board certified in Family Medicine. He has many years of experience working in inner-city community health centers and came to join Hackley Community Care Center in 2003 as a physician and Medical Director.  Dr. Kohn received a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) from the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1986. He worked as an Emergency Room Physician throughout Michigan from 1989-1994 and is a retired Lt. Col. from the Air National Guard after serving 21 years as a Flight Surgeon. The scope of his practice is Family Medicine.

Mary Luckett, PAC is certified through the NCCPA. She studied at Western Michigan University where she received a Bachelors of Science and Certification of Physician Assistant in 1990. Before joining Hackley Community Care Center in 2002, Mary practiced as a Physician Assistant in Pullman, MI, Hudsonville, MI and Spring Lake, MI. Her practice interests include Family Medicine.



Karel Schram, PAC is certified by the NCCPA and credentialed by the American Academy of Pain Management. Her medical career started in the early 1970’s as a nurse and she gained a wealth of experience over the years that prepared her for her advanced education. In 1999, she graduated as a Physician Assistant from the University of North Dakota’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She worked as a Pain Management Specialist for 6 years before joining Hackley Community Care in 2005.

Justin Shields, PAC is certified through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). He studied at Grand Valley State University where he received a Bachelor’s of Health Professions degree, with a minor in Psychology; and his Masters of Physician Assistant degree. Before joining Hackley Community Care Center, he worked as a nurse aid and completed several rotations at Hackley Community Care Center. Justin’s medical interests include family practice, orthopedics and managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

Kira Sieplinga, MD is board certified in Pediatrics. She graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with a Bachelor of Music Arts in 1996.  She then went on to the University of Michigan Medical School where she graduated with highest honors in 2004.  She later completed a residency in general pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center.  Following her residency, Dr. Sieplinga served as Chief Resident and on the pediatric faculty at Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center. She is passionate about providing excellent care for children from newborn to college age.  Her medical interests include children with special needs, asthma, obesity and adolescent health.

Ellen Stibitz, PAC is certified through the NCCPA. She received her Bachelor or Arts from Grand Valley State University in 1976, attended Hackley Hospital School of Nursing to obtain her RN in 1979 and went on to receive her Physician Assistant Certificate from the University of North Dakota in 2000. Ellen has an extensive nursing background and before coming to Hackley Community Care Center in 2006, gained experience working for Hospitalists of West Michigan as a Physician Assistant. Her interests include Internal Medicine and Family Medicine.

Tawna Vallance, PAC is certified through the NCCPA.  She received her Bachelors of Science from Indiana University in 1995, then went on to get her Physician Assistant training along with a Masters in Health Sciences from Rutgers University (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey) in 1998.  She moved back to Western Michigan in 1998 and started working in June of 1998 at HCCC.  The scope of her practice is family medicine with special interest in woman’s health.


Tessa Zielke, PAC is certified through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). She studied at Grand Valley State University for her Bachelor of Health Sciences and her Masters of Physician Assistant degrees. She worked in urgent care before joining Hackley Community Care Center. Tessa volunteers her time at City on a Hill free health clinic in Zeeland providing medical care to the uninsured. Her medical interests are family medicine and acute care medicine.