BEHRENDS AND WOLDT JOIN MCMC

Two new providers — Melanie Behrends and Dan Woldt — began offering care to patients on Monday at Murray County Medical Center in Slayton.

Woldt is a Physician Assistant specializing in family practice, while Behrends is a Certified Nurse Practitioner whose specialty is family medicine.

Behrends said she is excited to be a new provider at MCMC. She looks forward to meeting new patients and providing care for patients. “My practice currently consists of preventative care exams for babies through geriatrics,” Behrends said. “I complete well child visits, manage chronic diseases and medication, and have experience in acute care and sick exams. I also enjoy small procedures such as lesion removals, sutures, etc. I am always working to grow my knowledge and skill base.”

Behrends was drawn to MCMC for several reasons. “I am originally from Slayton and live here with my family, so it’s nice and close,” she said. “My husband, Ross, is a farmer. We have two children (Tristan, 14, and Caden, 11) who go to school at Murray County Central. Also, much of my healthcare career has been at MCMC. I started as an RN (registered nurse) at MCMC back in 2006, and continued through 2022, when I graduated with my Nurse Practitioner degree.”

Providing care for patients in her hometown and surrounding communities as a Nurse Practitioner has always been a career goal for Behrends. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to be at MCMC,” she said. “Rural health allows me to see patients of all ages and for a wide variety of conditions, which I really enjoy. Working in a rural facility is also like working with family. MCMC has a great team working in every area of the clinic and hospital and I think that shows in the care that is provided. I am so excited to be a part of that.”

Behrends started pre-nursing courses at Mankato State University before deciding to pursue her licensed practical nurse (LPN) degree and start working. She completed her LPN degree at South Central College in North Mankato and started working full-time at ISJ Mayo Specialty Clinic in Mankato, while completing her RN associate degree. Behrends then completed her Bachelor of Science at SMSU in Marshall, followed by the completion of her Master of Science as a Family Nurse Practitioner in May 2022 at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD. “The best part of my job is helping people feel better and hopefully helping to make a difference in improving their overall health for years to come,” Behrends said. “I enjoy getting to know people and working with patients of all age groups. Healthcare is also an area that is always changing and growing, which keeps things exciting. I enjoy learning about new advancements in healthcare, treatments and ways to stay healthy.”

Prior to starting at MCMC, Behrends practiced at Sanford Mountain Lake and Windom Family Practice Clinic. “MCMC is a beautiful facility with so much to offer,” she said. “MCMC has a great team and I am excited to be a part of the group. We are so fortunate to have great healthcare options available locally. I’m excited to jump right in and start seeing patients.”

Behrends’ hobbies include traveling, running, spending time with family and friends, and attending her children’s activities and sporting events.

Woldt is delighted to be returning to MCMC. “I have been impressed with the positive changes that have occurred at MCMC over the past few years,” he said. “I am looking forward to joining the MCMC team and excited to start providing healthcare in the Slayton area community once again.” When asked what drew him back to MCMC: “A combination of many factors drew me back to practicing in the Slayton community. I greatly look forward to practicing medicine in the community in which I reside and providing health care to friends and acquaintances that I see both in my personal and professional life. It would be my hope to continue providing care to all ages for both acute, chronic and preventive care needs. I look forward to being closer to home and spending more quality time with my family and friends. Lastly, I look forward to working in a progressive and fun practice with the great staff at MCMC.”

“I will be providing general family practice care at the Murray County Clinic as well as inpatient hospitalist care within the MCMC hospital,” Woldt said. “As a family practice provider, my practice primarily focuses on generalized care of common disease processes as well as preventative medicine. I do have a particular interest and additional training in orthopedics, sports medicine and dermatology.”

Woldt is married to wife, Amy, and they have five children — Ashley (Erik and grandson Bauer), Mitchell (Carly), Brady (Annika), Mathew and Mason (Lindsay). His hobbies include spending time with family and friends. He also enjoys home improvement projects and spending time on Lake Shetek.

Previous practice experience for Woldt includes Avera Healthcare Today in Slayton, MCMC in Slayton and Pipestone County Medical Center in Pipestone and Edgerton.

Woldt attended Southwest (Minnesota) State University for his undergraduate studies, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. He then attended McKennan Paramedic Program in Sioux Falls, SD, earning national certification as an EMT Paramedic. Woldt then earned a Bachelor of Science in physician assistant studies at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. He rounded out his post-secondary education by attending the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE, where he earned a master’s degree in physician assistant studies — family practice focus.

When Woldt was asked what the best part of your job is: “The best part of being a medical provider is the relationships that you establish over time with your patients. Within these relationships, you are afforded the opportunity to improve the person’s quality of life while at the same time, help them live a healthier, more fulfilling life. I hope to continue many of the relationships with my patients that I have seen for the past 20+ years, rekindle old relationships and welcome new patients to the practice. I am especially thankful to all the patients that have traveled to Edgerton for their care over the past 10 years. Your support and dedication have been priceless! I would like to say thank you to both the Slayton area patients as well as the Edgerton/ Pipestone area patients over the past 10 years, your trust and friendship has been truly incredible. I look forward to our continued partnership.”