St. Mary Medical Center recently welcomed to its staff Mia Kim, MD, Internal Medicine; Bernadette Obmaces, MD, Family Medicine and Carrie Shaffer, DO, Family Medicine/Immediate Care. All are members of the Community Care Network – the physician group affiliated with the hospitals of Community Healthcare System.
Internal Medicine Practitioner Mia Kim, MD is the newest member of Porter County Primary Care group, one of Valparaiso’s leading medical practices. Kim earned her medical degree from Gyeong Sang National University in South Korea, and completed her internship and residency at the Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital, University of Chicago Medical Center. Kim’s medical interests include respiratory conditions, diabetes, preventative medicine, congestive heart failure, lifestyle education and disease management.
“I believe that focusing on the positive aspects of life promotes motivation among my patients,” said Kim. “Through education, cooperation and listening to my patients, my ultimate goal is to decrease medications and promote healthier lifestyles,” she said.
Kim is accepting new patients and appointments can be made by calling Porter County Primary Care at 219-464-2123. The care center is located within St. Mary Medical Center’s Valparaiso Health Center, 3800 St. Mary Drive.
Family Medicine Practitioner Bernadette Obmaces, MD, is establishing her new practice at the Valparaiso Health Center. She earned her medical degree from New York Medical College and completed her residency with LaGrange Memorial Hospital. Her medical interests include newborns, pediatric/adolescent medicine, preventative medicine, chronic disease management, women’s health issues and geriatrics.
While in medical school, Obmaces volunteered to do medical missions in the Philippines. During those missions, she provided healthcare to hundreds of people in rural provinces who didn’t have access to medical care - pediatric procedures and treatment for bacterial and viral infections, diabetes and tuberculosis. As part of her residency with LaGrange Memorial Hospital, she provided school physicals for area children and palliative care to patients in hospice.
“I believe that patient education, communication and a trusting patient-doctor relationship are vitally important in helping patients live well,” said Obmaces. “I treat my patients like they are a part of my family and work to help them make positive health decisions,” she said.
Obmaces is accepting new patients and appointments can be made by calling 219-286-3765.
Carrie Shaffer, DO, Family Medicine practitioner, has been named Medical Director of Immediate Care at the Valparaiso Health Center. A resident of Northwest Indiana, Shaffer graduated from Valparaiso High School and completed her medical training at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Olympia Fields, IL. She completed her internship and residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. She has been practicing medicine for 10 years and specializes in urgent care.
“I believe that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the most important factor in staying well,” said Shaffer. “As a busy mother of four, I know that patients often require urgent care outside of their primary care providers. I expect to provide the highest level of care and best practices to thoroughly diagnose and treat my patients and quickly get them on the road to recovery,” she said.
The Valparaiso Health Center of St. Mary Medical Center offers immediate care for patients who need treatment for minor illnesses that are not life threatening. No appointment necessary! Open seven days a week from 8 am to 8 pm.
For more information on the Community Care Network physicians on staff at St. Mary Medical Center, visit www.comhs.org or call 219-836-3477 or toll-free 1-866-836-3477.