HealthFinders is delighted to welcome our very first staff doctor to the clinic, Dr. Amy Ripley! While we have many volunteer physicians at HFC, Amy’s hiring marks the first staff physician. Executive Director Charlie Mandile says Dr. Ripley is the perfect addition to the medical team.
“What has enabled HFC to support its volunteer-driven clinics has been a core staff of providers. Dr. Ripley has been the perfect complement to our otherwise nurse practitioner-driven provider team, extending the support we can offer to our patients. She is passionate about our mission and has a wealth of experience to share. Our community is extremely fortunate to have her at HFC. “
Dr. Ripley was a Family Medicine doctor at the Allina Northfield clinic since 2004 but has been familiar with HealthFinders since its church basement days. She says she has long admired how HFC is able to provide a full spectrum of quality services to underserved populations in Rice and Steele Counties.
“I think it is amazing what HF has done over the past 20 years since its beginning in the church basement and I am excited to contribute in whatever way I can to this work moving forward.”
Dr. Ripley completed her Family Medicine residency in the Twin Cities and after graduating, she ended up in New Jersey where her husband was attending graduate school. She worked as a faculty member of a Family Medicine residency program where she taught and saw patients at a Federally-funded health care center affiliated with the University. While her practice in NJ was family practice, her work was heavy on OB/Women’s health and pediatrics as the residency program needed a family physician with OB skills to provide training to the residents.
In early 2004, as her husband was completing his graduate program, Amy heard that the Allina Northfield clinic was looking for a doctor who wanted to do full spectrum family medicine. Dr. Ripley and her husband came to check out Northfield during the coldest week ever that January, and despite the weather, they decided to make the move. She started seeing patients at the Northfield clinic in August of 2004.
“As a family doc I have always seen the full spectrum of patients - from babies to grandparents. That's the real joy of being a family physician - taking care of the whole family. Family medicine has recognized the importance of "whole person care" which is what largely what made me decide to be a family doc. Until about 7-8 years ago I delivered babies and worked in the hospital which I really enjoyed. As my own kids got older and family life more hectic, I gave up the deliveries and hospital work and focused on outpatient work at the clinic.”
Community Health has always been near and dear to her heart, and now that her kids are out of the house and she’s in a later stage of her career, this seemed like a good time to make the move to HFC. She says it’s HealthFinders’ mission to provide quality care to all really fits with what she feels called to do.
“I am a huge believer in preventative medicine and trying to support patients wherever they happen to be in their search for overall well-being. "
Dr. Amy has two adult sons who she still loves spending time with, along with her husband, who teaches at St. Olaf. They enjoy spending time outdoors hiking, camping, gardening, and tending to their bees and chickens.
