Recruiting doctors key ingredient to HMC's success

By PHYLLIS J. ZORN

Hays Daily News

Recruiting physicians isn't as simple as matching a specialist to the community's need, Myron Applequist said.

Applequist is the physician recruiter for Hays Medical Center. Often, recruiting a physician means matching both the physician and a spouse to jobs in Hays.

“Unfortunately, a lot of times it's not as simple as just the physician. Often times, the physician brings along a spouse — and they sometimes have highly specialized professions,” Applequist said.

Applequist said that more often in the past two or three years, he has run into situations where the spouses of physicians have a real career needs of their own. Sometimes he can help lead the way to both finding suitable work, but other times the spouse's employment needs can't be fulfilled in Hays.

“We just don't have the employment opportunities here,” commented Jodi Schmidt, chief development officer for the hospital.

Recruiting internal medicine specialists has been a front-burner project for Applequist since the summer death of Dr. Dass Perumal.

Applequist was able to recruit Dr. Muzaffer Iqbal from a family practice in Osborne to work four days per week as an internist in the Medical Specialists clinic and one day per week in medical oncology. Iqbal helps fill in the void left by Perumal's death, but he will switch to full-time duties in the medical oncology department several months from now.

Meanwhile, Applequist is still looking to round up two additional internal medicine physicians. Besides the loss of Perumal, the Medical Specialists clinic also saw the departure of Dr. Olivia Fondoble during 2004.

Applequist said the need to fill in the Medical Specialists office is made more pressing by the pending departure of Dr. Robert Albers, who is leaving Hays at the end of April. Albers practices at the Hays Internal Medicine clinic.

“We're still recruiting another internist. I have a contract out to another internal medicine resident who is from the area. We should know by the end of the month. I have done some other interviews, and we're continuously searching,” Applequist said.

Three physicians have signed contracts to begin practicing in Hays.

Pathologist Dr. Kurt Rider will begin duties in March. Rider grew up in Hays.

Ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Chris Regier will begin practice here in July. Regier grew up in Russell.

Pediatrician Dr. Michelle Pope will start seeing patients here in August. Pope and her husband grew up in Hoxie.

“They are all very much locals and we're just very pleased to have them join our medical community,” Applequist said.

Pope helps fill the void left by the January departure of pediatrician Dr. Barbara White, who left Hays in January.

An additional pediatrician is still being sought for the community.

“We have the contract out and we should hear back in a few days,” Applequist said.

Over the past year, Applequist has successfully brought several practitioners to the community. Besides Iqbal, they include orthopedic oncologist Dr. Abdul Ahad Haleem; obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. John Lloyd; family practitioner Dr. Jeff Henry; physician's assistant Nora Kirkpatrick; and two certified nurse-anesthesiologists, Candice Norris and Karrey Terry.

Surgeon Dale Gillan left during the last year. Applequist said he is not focusing efforts on recruiting a surgeon at the present time. Nor is he recruiting for a nephrologist, gastroenterologist or plastic surgeon, none of which the community presently has.

“Other needs are more pressing,” Applequist said.

On an average, a medical student finishing his training will have three job offers before he signs on anywhere, Applequist said.

That's part of the reason Applequist can't do his job alone. He relies on many people in the community to help in their own ways, by making themselves available to put the community's best foot forward when physicians visit the community to see what they think.

Banks, schools, restaurants, city officials and many others are called upon to help potential community physicians see Hays in the best possible light.

Reporter Phyllis Zorn can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 137, or by e-mail at

phylz@dailynews.net.