Health Direct - Summer 2018 - 13

Partners in
Gastrointestinal Care
These doctors went to medical school together. Now,
they're helping patients feel better and prevent cancer
By Beth Vinson

hristopher Wood, D.O., and Jacob Wendling,
D.O., met in medical school 10 years ago. Now,
they're in practice together at Salina Regional
Gastroenterology Clinic.
Wood and Wendling met at A.T. Still University, Kirksville
College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. They
were assigned to work together in the anatomy lab on cadavers. They formed a friendship and studied together their first
two years of medical school.
After medical school, Wood completed his residency
in Michigan and Wendling did his in Oregon. The doctors
remained in touch over the years and talked about the potential of working together. But the odds seemed slim of finding
a practice that was looking for two gastroenterologists at the
same time.

A Call From SRHC
The odds weren't so slim after all. About that time, Salina
Regional Health Center was recruiting two gastroenterologists. Both Wood and Wendling had lived in big cities, but
each really liked the Midwest. They found it was a good fit for
their laid-back personalities and love of the outdoors. So they
each moved their families to Salina and began work at Salina
Regional Gastroenterology Clinic.

LEFT PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

A COLONOSCOPY
CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE
If you're 50 or older or have a family history of colon cancer, call the Salina Regional
Gastroenterology Clinic today to schedule your
colonoscopy. A day of preparation and a short
doctor's visit could save your life. Colon cancer
is preventable, treatable and beatable.
To schedule an appointment, call
785-452-6440. For more information, visit
salinaregionalgi.com.

Christopher M. Wood, D.O.

Jacob W. Wendling, D.O.

"We really like Salina a lot," Wood says. "We're here for the
community. We like our direct connection to the hospital and
its resources. It's a good fit."

Comprehensive GI Care
The team at Salina Regional Gastroenterology Clinic is dedicated
to diagnosing chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract,
including Crohn's disease, colon cancer, irritable bowel disease,
ulcerative colitis and other conditions of the esophagus, pancreas, liver, stomach and colon.
Wood and Wendling help patients manage their conditions
and lead healthier lives through pharmaceutical treatments, preventive care like colonoscopies, and support for choosing and
maintaining healthy diets and lifestyles.
"We can't stress enough the importance of getting a colonoscopy at age 50," Wendling says. "A colonoscopy can prevent
cancer. A stool sample screening can detect if the cancer is
already there, but why wait until the cancer is there? The goal of
a colonoscopy is to prevent the cancer."
Heather Francisco, a registered medical assistant at the clinic,
says she learns something new every day from the doctors. "They
teach us so that we know what our patients are feeling. We build
that relationship with our patients and many have come back to
thank us for what we have done for them," she says.
The doctors also travel to other counties in the region, educating and building relationships. They plan to open several
outreach clinics in the future. 1
srhc.com

http://www.salinaregionalgi.com http://www.srhc.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Health Direct - Summer 2018