Our Family caring for your Family!

Angela Taylor

Angela is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, seeing patients in both our Waukon and Postville Clinics.  She has 25 years of nursing experience from the Regional Medical Center in Manchester where she worked in a variety of nursing roles.  She chose to become a PMHNP to provide a positive impact and improve the quality of life for individuals and the community.

Angela’s years of nursing taught her how mental well-being affects multiple aspects of one’s life, including physical health, and strives to meet the needs of her patients to improve their quality of life.

Schools and Degrees:
Allen College in Waterloo–Bachelors Degree in Nursing
Walden University – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner 
 

Alex Berns

Alex Berns, ARNP, is from the Postville area.  He began his nursing career at Veterans Memorial Hospital, first as a C.N.A., then an RN.  He left the facility to branch out and gain experience in Hospice, Emergency Care, the ICU in Rochester and general inpatient care, while furthering his education.  He has now returned to VMH as a clinic a Nurse Practitioner and clinic provider.

Alex cares for youth and adults of all ages.  He always knew he wanted to return home to care for those in this area and to raise his children in this great community.  He is excited to care for those in all walks of life and getting to care for a variety of individuals in the area.

Schools and Degrees

• NICC - RN
• Clarke University - Doctorate Family Nurse Practitioner

Halie Ruff

Halie Ruff, ARNP, is from the rural Monona area.  She began her nursing career at Unity Point Health in Bettendorf where she worked as an ICU and Home Health RN.  She later transferred to the University of Iowa where she worked as an RN in the trauma unit. Her next position was with Gundersen Health where she worked as an RN in the ER and later as a nurse practitioner.

She enjoys the variety from pediatrics to geriatrics and is happy to care for those in the communities  she lives in and around. Halie enjoys educating her patients on preventative medicine and encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

Schools and Degrees

• Allen College - B.S. Nursing
• Chamberlain College of Nursing, Chicago, IL - Masters Degree, Family 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