From cattle to the clinic

Having grown up helping out on her parents' beef cattle operation just outside of Grace City, Lauren Staton is no stranger to detail to make sure everything is in working order.

Now, she will put those talents to work with people's health and well-being, as she is CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington Medical Clinic and Urgent Care's newest Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C).

Staton started seeing patients officially on August 1, but she has already built a degree of familiarity with her local clientele.

"I did almost a 10-month clinical rotation with Dr. [Michael] Page," she says. "I knew I had a passion for healthcare, and I wanted to help and give back to the local community."

Staton is a 2018 graduate of Midkota High School, and is the daughter of Ryan and Prairie Topp.

She got a big head start on her college education through dual-credit courses at Dakota College at Bottineau, which she took while still going to high school in Glenfield.

"I got one year of college done that way," said Staton. "So, I only needed three total years to get my undergraduate degree."

Her first year of undergrad was at Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont., and she transferred back to the University of North Dakota to earn her bachelor of science (B.S.) degree in Biology: Professional Health Sciences.

"After looking into PA schools, I saw that UND has a big focus on rural healthcare, and that's what I wanted to do," she says.

She went on to pursue her PA-C certification with UND, absorbing knowledge and practice through shadowing various PAs in different states.

Upon earning her Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree in May, Staton took her Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) on June 5, and waited a week before learning that she had passed.

Lauren met and later married her husband, Jordan, after competing alongside each other throughout junior high and high school rodeo.

With Jordan's desire to ranch and Lauren's interest in rural healthcare, the allure of staying home turned out to be one of the things Staton most cherishes about her job.

"Jordan manages the commercial heifer program for Topp Herefords," explained Lauren. "We both get to do what we love right here. We're very grateful."

She looks forward to starting her professional career at CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington Medical Clinic and Urgent Care.

Staton's schedule at the Carrington clinic is Monday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. She will be in Carrington on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. until noon, and will be at the clinic in New Rockford on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon, and back in Carrington 12:30-4:30 p.m.

To schedule an appointment, call (701) 652-2515.