Joleen Zivnuska, APRN, MSN

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Wichita

I grew up on the back of a horse, in pigtails, on a Flint Hills cattle ranch. One of my childhood chores was to take care of whatever animal was sick at the time, I loved being a part of the healing process. My dream was to become a veterinarian but I was born too early, wrong sex, and not enough dollars. I also dreamed of being a professional barrel racer, I even had a sponsor!! Unfortunately, reality and my parents snubbed that thought out quickly. I have competed with horses my whole life, my current event is Ranch Sorting.

Horses are extraordinary animals, they truly are healers!! I hope to be a part of bringing Equine Therapy to PHW in the future. We already have our first horse, a beautiful Quarter Horse named Sunny.

During high school I worked as a nurses aide in a small county hospital. I quickly recognized the nurses who truly cared for their patients, and those who were present for a paycheck. My siblings graduated from K-State and I loved it there, but my plans changed as I became convinced that nursing was a realistic good fit. Unfortunately K-State still doesn’t have a nursing program, so I was Wichita bound. All I knew of Wichita was Sheplers, back when Harry Shepler sold saddles, ropes, and ranch wear. I received a Bachelors of Science in Nursing, Certificate of Nurse Clinician, and Masters of Science in Nursing all from Wichita State University.

I worked in ICU, CCU and Oncology research before finding my passion in Women’s Health. I started in the birth-rooms at Wesley Medical Center when they were transitioning to becoming a statewide referral center for extremely sick pregnant women. My ICU background proved helpful in caring for these high risk mommas-to-be. Dr. John Evans, a perinatologist asked me to work with him for these mothers, so we flew all over Kansas to help MD’s and nurses recognize problems early.

Dr, Dan Roberts, chairman of KU OB/GYN Residency Program in Wichita, offered me my first job as a nurse clinician. The only Masters Program WSU had at the time in nursing was for education. I knew I wanted the independence of helping women my own way. I provided care to women who came to the clinic, but also helped medical students and residents learn the art of working with women.

I met the love of my life Phil, married, and soon realized some of the consequences of having severe endometriosis. I was never able to conceive. However, we were blessed with being able to adopt two babies who are now in their 20’s. Dr. David Grainger and Dr. Bobby Webster asked me to join their practice at the Center for Reproductive Medicine. I was a patient as well as a provider there. I loved working with couples who were going through similar pregnancy challenges as me.

I transitioned to a general OB/GYN practice with Wichita OB/GYN Associates for 12 years. The years flew by and I loved my work with women, but started to get frustrated with traditional medicine. Often ladies were on 10 different medications. The result of the mindset of "here is your drug for your latest symptom".  I quickly became disillusioned. My plan was to go back to showing horses! Then a friend told me about Functional Medicine, I had never heard of it!! I went to a conference and was totally captivated!! Instead of the band-aid approach of a drug for a symptom, I was learning about treating the cause of the original symptoms. Deep, deep physiology. This is the most fun, rewarding work of my career!

Dr. Amy Short, an OB/GYN, and I opened Prairie Gynecology in 2012.  We were providing functional gynecology under the insurance model. The traditional insurance fiasco ended up terminating the practice and Dr. Davis bought it in 2014. We had many discussions of our shared vision for practicing functional medicine, out of network, together. Dr. Davis came up with the out of network, membership model. He is a brilliant business idea guy and it is such a joy to watch his mind work! We were blessed to share a vision of what we wanted PHW to become, and to now see it thriving so beautifully.

I have had the privilege of working with and learning from women for over 35 years. It is so fulfilling to offer the functional medicine approach to helping women learn skills that will change their lives forever. I have a passion for helping women believe in themselves, to learn how their bodies really work. I have a passion for helping women become and stay pregnant. I love helping women navigate different life stages. I have found the people and the patients who help me to thrive. When I do retire someday, it will be from Prairie Health & Wellness.