Staff

A Collaborative Team Built on Mutual Respect and Shared Commitment

You'll join a thoughtfully assembled primary care team at Ivinson Medical Group where collegiality isn't just encouraged—it's the foundation of daily practice. Your physician colleagues bring complementary training backgrounds and areas of clinical interest, creating natural opportunities for informal consultation, shared learning, and the kind of collaborative problem-solving that makes complex cases more manageable and professional isolation impossible. This is a team that genuinely enjoys working together, covers for each other's time off without resentment, and maintains the kind of professional relationships that make you look forward to coming to work.

The practice culture emphasizes physician autonomy in clinical decision-making while fostering an environment where asking questions and seeking input is viewed as good medicine rather than weakness. You'll find colleagues who respond to hallway consultations with genuine interest, who share interesting cases during informal conversations, and who create coverage arrangements that respect everyone's personal commitments. There's no competition for patients, no pressure to see higher volumes than your colleagues, and no tolerance for the interpersonal dynamics that poison so many group practices.

Your Physician Colleagues

Daiva Olipra, MD brings pediatric expertise to the team, focusing specifically on children and adolescents. Her dedicated pediatric practice complements the family medicine-pediatrics role perfectly, creating opportunities for collaborative care on complex pediatric cases while ensuring families have access to both generalist and specialist perspectives when needed.

Andrea Habel, MD joined Ivinson Medical Group in 2023 after more than 15 years of family medicine practice in Laramie. Her decision to transition to Ivinson—choosing to stay in the community she knows and loves while joining a larger, more supportive practice environment—speaks volumes about the culture and operational strength of the organization. Dr. Habel's experience and established patient relationships bring stability and local knowledge to the team.

Darren Mikesell, DO also joined Ivinson in 2023 after over 20 years of family medicine practice in Laramie, coming to Ivinson from the same private practice as Dr. Habel. His extensive experience with full-scope family medicine in this community, combined with his commitment to staying in Laramie, demonstrates the appeal of Ivinson's practice model for experienced physicians seeking better support and work-life balance.

Casey Starks, MD provides family medicine care with a focus on comprehensive primary care across the lifespan. Dr. Starks' practice complements the team's capabilities and contributes to the collaborative environment where physicians support each other's clinical decision-making and share coverage responsibilities equitably.

Ketura Talbot, MD adds family medicine expertise to the team, bringing her own patient panel and clinical perspective to the collaborative practice environment. Dr. Talbot's presence on the team ensures adequate coverage for time off and provides additional opportunities for informal consultation on complex cases.

• Five family medicine and pediatric physicians with complementary clinical interests
• Mix of experienced practitioners and physicians earlier in their careers
• Physicians joined Ivinson specifically for improved practice environment and support
• Strong track record of physician retention and satisfaction
• Collegial culture with emphasis on collaboration over competition
• Natural opportunities for informal consultation on complex cases
• Equitable coverage arrangements that respect personal time
• No competition for patients or pressure for relative productivity

Advanced Practice Providers and Support Staff

Robyn Curtis-Rice, FNP has served Ivinson Medical Group for five years after 15 years with Ivinson in various nursing roles including medical floor, ICU, and nursing supervisor positions. Her 21 years as a Laramie resident and deep institutional knowledge make her an invaluable resource for navigating hospital systems, understanding community healthcare needs, and providing continuity of care. Robyn also serves as a preceptor for University of Wyoming nursing students and volunteers at the Downtown Clinic, demonstrating the kind of community engagement that characterizes the team. In 2016, she received the Wyoming Nurses Association Award for Excellence in Advanced Practice.

The practice includes three nurse practitioners who work collaboratively with physicians to provide comprehensive care. The team is currently adding an additional nurse practitioner or physician assistant specifically to handle same-day acute appointments, reducing scheduling pressure on physicians and allowing you to maintain your planned appointment types without constant interruptions for "work-ins" and urgent visits.

• Three experienced nurse practitioners currently on staff
• Hiring additional NP/PA for acute care visits (no call responsibilities)
• Strong nurse and medical assistant support for each clinic session
• Nurse-led Medicare wellness visit program
• Phone triage nurses (pediatric calls)
• Administrative staff handle scheduling, prior authorizations, and care coordination
• Culture of respect between physicians and advanced practice providers
• Clear role definitions while maintaining collaborative relationships

Practice Longevity and Stability

The recent addition of Drs. Habel and Mikesell—both choosing to join Ivinson after decades in private practice—tells an important story about practice stability and physician satisfaction. These weren't physicians fleeing bad situations or starting their careers; they were established practitioners who carefully evaluated their options and chose Ivinson Medical Group for its culture, support systems, and commitment to sustainable practice. Their decision, along with the retention of other team members, reflects leadership that listens to physician concerns, adequate staffing that prevents burnout, and compensation that rewards quality care without creating unsustainable productivity pressure.

The support staff demonstrate similar stability, with many team members maintaining long tenure with the organization. This continuity means you're working with medical assistants and nurses who know the patient population, understand clinic workflows, and can anticipate needs before you ask. There's no constant retraining of new staff, no wondering if tomorrow's MA will know how to work the equipment, and no communication gaps that come from high turnover.

• Established physicians choosing to join Ivinson speaks to practice quality
• Support staff longevity creates efficient workflows and strong institutional knowledge
• Leadership responsive to physician input on operations and scheduling
• Culture of mutual respect across all roles and experience levels
• Team members known for going above and beyond to support patient care
• Regular team meetings foster communication and collaborative problem-solving
• Professional development opportunities encouraged and supported

This is the kind of team that makes medicine enjoyable again—colleagues who provide excellent coverage during your vacations, staff who handle logistics so you can focus on patient care, and a culture where treating each other well is considered just as important as treating patients well. You'll build friendships here, not just professional relationships, and you'll come to work knowing that your colleagues genuinely have your back.