Medical student receives real-life education at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital
As a third-year medical student, London Keller cared for patients at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH) for only a few weeks but came away with new insights and experiences.
Keller, a Hays native, is a student at the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (KansasCOM) in Wichita.
While at PVCH, he worked alongside Arlo Reimer, MD, and other staff members at the Family Medicine Clinic.
“My biggest impression of PVCH is how kind and inviting the staff is,” Keller said. “Honestly, I think I was welcomed by every staff member in the hospital. In addition, I was impressed by the vast number of services offered to patients in Larned and the surrounding communities.
“Overall, PVCH embodies the idea of rural healthcare, while maintaining a high standard of care for each and every patient.”
In his family-medicine rotation, Keller met with patients; became acquainted with their histories; performed focused physical exams; and reported information to a provider.
“We then talked about a treatment plan and discussed this with the patient,” Keller noted. “This experience at PVCH allowed me to truly have the rural family-medicine experience. I was able to see the importance of knowing your patients on a more personal level than just what is on their chart.
“In turn, this allows for a more complete care plan for each patient, which improves patient satisfaction and outcomes.”
Keller is grateful to the PVCH staff because “they taught me so much from their years of clinical experience. They made it easy to learn, challenged my clinical decision-making and improved my comfort level with patients.”
He also noted that he lived in a hospital room during his stay in Larned. “This was a good learning experience that will help me better relate to my future patients.”
While he is currently unsure about his plans, Keller’s goal is to practice medicine in rural Kansas after his residency.
After graduating from Hays High School in 2018, Keller earned a degree in human biology from The University of Kansas in 2023. He then began medical school at KansasCOM and will graduate in 2027.
KansasCOM comment
Dasa Gangadhar, MD, senior associate dean at KansasCOM, said “London has been deeply moved by the strong personal relationships Dr. Reimer shares with his patients. The warm welcome from the hospital staff and the broader community has made a lasting impression.
“For London, this rotation has been a superb introduction to clinical medicine and the meaningful role physicians play in rural communities. It is exactly this type of student, in exactly this type of clinical setting, who will be inspired to return and practice in rural America, fulfilling the mission of our school.”
