Our Family caring for your Family!

Dr. John Swords

Dr. Swords cares for patients in the Waukon Clinic.  He has always liked the Midwest and chose to join this rural practice in November of 2025, leaving his previous  practice in South Carolina.  Before becoming a physician, he devoted his career to the United States Army.  After watching his parents age and become sick, he chose to further his career as a health care provider.

Dr. Swords is available to see patients of all ages, but has a particular love for taking care of older adults.  He also has special training in Substance Use Disorder (SUD).

Schools and Degrees:
Penn State University-Bachelors Degree Accounting 
Millersville University-Bachelors Degree in Biology University of Wisconsin in Madison-Master Degree in Microbiology
Kansas City University-Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine 
 

Hannah Kelly

Hannah has nearly a decade of nursing experience in a variety of areas.   She chose to become a family nurse practitioner to continue to care for a variety of demographics of patients in a different setting. She has always loved the variety and unpredictability of nursing which family practice health care is able to provide.  She also enjoys building the long-term relationships with her patients that had not been available in her previous roles.

Hannah grew up on a family farm south of Waukon. She cares for patients in both the Waukon and Postville Clinics and is particularly interested in women’s health and pediatrics.

Schools and Degrees:
Luther College-Bachelors Degree in Nursing
Briar Cliff University-Masters Degree in Nursing
 

Katy Maker

Katy Maker is both a Nurse Midwife and a Nurse Practitioner, allowing her to care for maternity patients throughout their pregnancy, including delivery, and following, throughout their lifetime.  She has over 30 years of experience as a nurse midwife and has assisted in nearly 2000 deliveries.  She is also proficient in water births.

Katy is from the Decorah area and has shared her talents at many facilities, but has always preferred the rural practice where families have access to quality care and do not have to travel to have their babies.  She has worked with her colleagues here at VMH for many years and is confident with and trusts all of them.  She cares for patients at both the Waukon and Postville Clinics. 

Schools and Degrees

• Luther College - BA, Nursing
• University of Minnesota School of Nursing Master’s Program - Nurse Midwife
• Graceland University - Nurse Practitioner
   

Mason Kerian

Mason is a graduate of Waukon High School and attended the University of Iowa for eight years as she worked on earning her nurse practitioner doctorate.  She became a nurse practitioner because she saw how poor health outcomes often results from something as simple as miscommunication, a lack of trust or a missed connection between providers and their patients.

She focuses on helping her patients enjoy their lives, whether that’s infants and children, young families in the busy seasons of life, or older adults who want to stay independent and active, and welcomes all walks of life.  She cares for patients in both the Waukon and Postville Clinics.
 
Schools and Degrees:
University of Iowa-Bachelors Degree in Nursing
University of Iowa-Doctorate in Nursing