WNH Network Strengthens Rural Healthcare with New Providers, Consistent Staffing
Apr 08, 2026
William Newton Hospital has taken steps to strengthen its local roots, supporting its mission to provide reliable, high-quality healthcare to the region. Effective March 30, the William Newton Hospital network of rural health clinics in Cedar Vale, Dexter, Moline, and Sedan is staffed with dedicated providers at each location, ensuring consistent care and stable hours.
“When it comes to your healthcare, we know consistency matters,” said William Newton Hospital Interim CEO Gigi Fergus, MBA, BSN, RN. “There’s no care like the kind you get from a neighbor. By building these dedicated teams, we are removing the guesswork and providing the reliable access to care our communities deserve.”
This transition is anchored by two significant provider updates. The William Newton Hospital network is thrilled to welcome Wes Turner, PA, back to the Cedar Vale Rural Clinic. A graduate of Wichita State University with a Master of Physician Assistant degree, Turner brings over 12 years of specialized experience in both rural family practice and emergency medicine. His background allows him to provide attentive, expert care for neighbors of all ages, from pediatric wellness to adult medicine.
“My approach to caring for patients is treating the person, not treating a number or an illness,” says Turner. “I’m from a small town, and we didn’t have any access to medicine. So being able to care for these smaller communities just feels like home.”
A vital member of the William Newton Hospital team since 2018, Nicole Brooks, FNP-C, has transitioned from her role as a registered nurse in William Newton Surgery & Services to an advanced practice provider offering family care. Brooks’s extensive clinical background at William Newton Hospital includes specialized work in the medical-surgical unit and the HeartMenders cardiac exercise program, as well as providing essential vascular access as a PICC-certified nurse.
Her journey to becoming a nurse practitioner is backed by a Master of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Newman University, supplemented by years of high-acuity experience in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Wesley Medical Center. With deep roots in surgical coordination, triage, and critical care, she is uniquely prepared to serve the community in an expanded capacity at the Moline Community Rural Health clinic and Health Professionals of Winfield.
Brooks says, "I want every patient to leave feeling a little more reassured, a little more understood, and knowing someone genuinely cares about their well-being.”
This stability in our rural clinics is made possible by the incredible dedication of long-time advanced practice providers Shirley Black, APRN-C, Rita Gumm, APRN-C, and Melanie Hartley, APRN-C.
“The hospital is grateful to Shirley, Rita, and Melanie for their ongoing dedication to our rural communities,” says Fergus. “Their flexibility in covering multiple locations ensured that patient care never skipped a beat during this transition.”
In Dexter, Gumm is now the full-time provider at the Dexter Community Rural Health Clinic, available Monday through Friday. Hartley now leads the team in Sedan at Tallgrass Rural Health Clinic as the full-time provider, seeing patients Monday through Thursday.
Stability remains a priority at the Moline clinic, where Brooks sees patients on Monday and Wednesday, and Shirley Black, APRN-C, continues to see patients on Thursdays. Brooks also practices at Health Professionals of Winfield on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Adding to this robust team, Alvin Bird, DO, continues to play a vital role in rural health as a collaborating physician for the satellite clinics. Bird rotates between the clinics on Wednesdays to provide specialized care and support.
With these dedicated teams in place, neighbors in Cedar Vale, Dexter, Moline, and Sedan can rely on high-quality care with stable hours that work with their busy lives.
Find hours of operation and contact information for each clinic
Posted in In The News , Primary Care on Apr 08, 2026