Our Family caring for your Family!
Our Providers
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
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
Dr. Kristina Thompson
Podiatrist Dr. Kristina Thompson, originally of Monona, is available every Monday and Wednesday in Waukon consulting and treating patients and even providing minor surgical procedures. She is also a wound care specialist and diabetes educator. She chose to specialize in foot health because she developed an interest in the treatment of diabetes and wanted to help prevent diabetes related complications. From there, she zoned in on clinical podiatry with an emphasis in wound care of the lower extremity.
Dr. Thomson is available to care for patients of all ages. She works collaboratively with Dr. Greg Valkosky of Gundersen Health who also visits Waukon seeing patients in the Gundersen Waukon Clinic and performing podiatry surgical procedures at VMH.
Schools and Degrees
- University of Northern Iowa-Biology and Chemistry
- Des Moines University-Podiatric Medicine
- SSM DePaul Health Residency-St. Louis, MO
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
Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation
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