Why Doctors in Ames Region Love Living Here
The Ames, Greater Boone and Story County region provides a growing roster of physicians with a location where they can balance their work and personal lives. Read on to learn why these doctors in Ames and the surrounding communities think this region is a great place to plant roots.
Dr. Audra Poterucha
Family Medicine, Story County Medical Center
Dr. Audra Poterucha
Being a part of the Story County Medical Center team checks off two professional boxes for Dr. Audra Poterucha – practice family medicine (minus obstetrics) and have an office in a small town like Nevada, her hometown.
The hospital is home to more than 40 providers and delivers high-quality health care in a community-oriented manner.
Poterucha, a physician for five years, holds a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University and completed a family medicine residency at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines.
The doctor would recommend the area to other medical professionals “because you have a lot of autonomy, but also have various resources available and good access to higher levels of care. Plus, it is a great place to raise a family.”
She and her husband, Rob, have three children. “Our family enjoys the perks of small-town living but appreciates being close to larger communities like Ames since we are big fans of the Iowa State University Cyclones,” Poterucha says.
A fan of musical theater, she volunteers with Camelot Theater Foundation in Nevada.
Dr. Poterucha’s Health Tip
Get walking! Many studies have shown at least 10,000 steps per day are important for immune benefits, heart health and more energy.
Dr. Jason Rasmussen
Cardiologist, McFarland Clinic and Mary Greeley Medical Center
Dr. Jason Rasmussen
Dr. Jason Rasmussen, an Iowa native, grew up in Waverly. He earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa and completed an internal medicine residency and cardiovascular disease fellowship at the University of Minnesota.
In 2015, he joined McFarland Clinic, Iowa’s largest physician-owned practice.
“As a multispecialty clinic, McFarland provides excellent opportunities for collaboration with other specialists,” he says. “We also have a strong, mutually supportive partnership with Mary Greeley Medical Center. In fact, the McFarland cardiology team practices at the Mary Greeley Cardiology Clinic. All this provides exceptional resources for patients who rely on us.”
Rasmussen and his wife, Jessica, live in Ames with their two sons. He works at both the clinic and the hospital, which serves patients from a significant region in Central Iowa.
“It feels like you are really making an impact,” he says. “Also, being home to Iowa State University, Ames is a college town with a lot to offer in terms of recreational and cultural opportunities.”
During his free time, Rasmussen enjoys being outdoors running and biking. Another favorite activity is spending time as a family in many of the parks in Ames and the surrounding area.
He would encourage other medical professionals to come here because of the collaborative spirit between McFarland Clinic and Mary Greeley Medical Center, allowing local physicians significant input in shaping the health care environment. As an example, the two organizations have partnered on a freestanding outpatient surgical center, further enhancing the level of care provided in this area.
Dr. Rasmussen’s Health Tip
Regular, vigorous exercise is incredibly beneficial, but often squeezed out of our lives in favor of other activities. Enjoying a favorite audiobook, podcast or television show when exercising can make the activity more enjoyable and motivate you to be more consistent.
Dr. Kate Linkenmeyer
Family Medicine, Obstetrics, Boone County Hospital
Joining the Boone County Hospital (BCH) medical staff in 2021 was a natural fit for Dr. Kate Linkenmeyer, a family medicine physician.
“I love being back in a rural town like where I grew up,” she says. “The community is always striving to improve and grow, and you very quickly feel that sense of belonging. The town celebrations and events are always a blast!”
She completed her medical training at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and offers an inclusive primary care practice at Boone County Family Medicine North, where she specializes in obstetrics. She delivers at the BCH Family Birth Center, where her focus is on support, education and health of the parent-to-be during the entire process.
Linkenmeyer and her husband, Matt Mukkada, share their home with Wilson an active toddler and a cuddly cat named Jim. Away from the office, the family can be found outside walking, growing a garden and eating local food.
“I would recommend the area to other medical professionals because the Boone County Hospital staff lives by its mission to help the lives and well-being of the community,” Linkenmeyer says.
Dr. Linkenmeyer’s Health Tip
Exercise is medicine! Do something every day that makes your heart beat faster and your lungs breathe deeper.