How You Can Help

Every day at Vernon Health, newborns, infants, and young children receive care from providers who know their families and understand the importance of compassionate care close to home.

We invite you to join us in supporting the providers who care for our community by sending them a note of encouragement or support for care received, and if able, consider a donation to help fund two important pieces of pediatric equipment that will improve comfort, safety, and care for young patients.

Every note and gift—large or small—helps strengthen the care we provide and encourages our staff as they support families across our community.

Ways to Give

A gift to the Vernon Health Foundation is an impactful way to make a lasting difference.
There are many meaningful ways to contribute:

By Mail: Vernon Health Foundation, 507 S. Main Street, Viroqua, WI 54665

By Phone: 608-637-4374

Online: Make a secure donation through our online giving form

Consider leaving a legacy by making a designation through your planned will or estate – Call or email Vernon Health Foundation to learn more.

2026 Spring Appeal

Honoring our providers and making an impact for our youngest patients

Spring is a season dotted with special days dedicated to recognizing healthcare professionals for the roles they play in thriving communities. For example, we recently celebrated “Doctor’s Day” in late March to honor our Vernon Health physicians and providers who look after our health and wellbeing throughout the year. During the week of May 10th – 16th, we will observe “Hospital Week” and celebrate the contributions and benefits that local healthcare has on our local community.

As we all reflect on the impact that quality local healthcare has on our daily lives this Spring, I invite you to be an ongoing part of this work — by helping us procure some new special equipment for our youngest patients.

All gifts made to the Vernon Health Foundation to support your local community will always remain here and help local patients.

Our Goal

$20,000

To support new pediatric equipment for newborns and young children.

Transcutaneous Bilimeter

A noninvasive device used to quickly measure bilirubin levels through the skin, helping healthcare providers screen newborns for jaundice without the need for a blood draw.

Pediatric Crib

A hospital-grade bed designed specifically for infants and young children, featuring high safety rails and secure construction to provide a safe and comfortable environment during medical care.

Care Rooted in Community

Not long ago, late at night, I found myself in an urgent care lobby with a sick toddler waiting to be seen. Other parents with young children may be able to relate to the mystery of why children often get sick in the middle of the night instead of during normal business hours. My son and I spent quite some time away from the rest of our family and loved ones while he received the care he needed. It dawned on me that we were not the only ones away from our families and loved ones. The providers caring for us were also sacrificing time with theirs in the middle of the night to care for us, just as they do every day whenever we need them.

Moments like my late-night visit are made possible not only by the dedication of our providers, but also by the strength and generosity of the community that stands behind them. While Vernon Health is a strong, growing, and independent facility providing the best care available, support from you, our community, allows us to truly elevate the patient experience. It allows more to be done, faster, and to a greater degree than would otherwise be possible. As I reflect on personal experiences like this urgent care visit, I realize what doctors and other providers mean to me and my family.

What do they mean to you and yours?

Growing together,
Jonathan McKenzie, CFRE
Development Manager

Honoring the Providers Who Care for Our Community

“VH has a legacy of physicians and APPs providing high quality health care to our community. I was fortunate to work with many talented and highly skilled providers that mentored me in my early years of practice. I am committed to carrying on that tradition of providing high quality, personalized care to our community.”
Kelly Scheder, FNP-BC
Family Medicine Provider
“What excites me most about practicing medicine is I love developing long term relationships with my patients”
Oliver Taylor, MD
Family Medicine Physician
“Community support elevates care by strengthening trust, creating shared responsibility for health, and enabling us to expand services that directly meet local needs. When a community is engaged, we’re able to deliver more personalized, accessible, and culturally sensitive care.”
Tauqeer Qazi, MD
Family Medicine | Chief Medical Officer
Anila Rafiq, DPM

Anila Rafiq, DPM

Joshua Blackwell, MD

Joshua Blackwell, MD

Addie Osmani, MSN, APNP, CNM

Addie Osmani, MSN, APNP, CNM

Miranda Delmedico, PA-C

Miranda Delmedico, PA-C

Tony Nemes, BS Pharm

Tony Nemes, BS Pharm

Traci Waters, OTR, CLT

Traci Waters, OTR, CLT

Olivia Lemanski, PharmD, BCPS

Olivia Lemanski, PharmD, BCPS

Tony Macasaet, MD, FACEP

Tony Macasaet, MD, FACEP

Tauqeer Qazi, MD

Tauqeer Qazi, MD

Scott Vatland, PT

Scott Vatland, PT

Sara Gerlach, MD

Sara Gerlach, MD

Mitch Wilkins, CRNA

Mitch Wilkins, CRNA

Melissa Stiles, PharmD

Melissa Stiles, PharmD

Paige Jansen, MA, CCC-SLP

Paige Jansen, MA, CCC-SLP

Patrick Holland, PharmD

Patrick Holland, PharmD

Sarah Dickman, OTR, MS

Sarah Dickman, OTR, MS

Michelle Willis, PT, MSPT, CEEAA

Michelle Willis, PT, MSPT, CEEAA

Oliver Taylor, MD

Oliver Taylor, MD

Tammy Pedretti, PA-C

Tammy Pedretti, PA-C

Nicole Mueller, FNP

Nicole Mueller, FNP

Michael Loebertman, MD

Michael Loebertman, MD

Max Irons, PA-C

Max Irons, PA-C

Shelly Dillon, FNP

Shelly Dillon, FNP

Phoebe Devitt, MD

Phoebe Devitt, MD

Sarah Albrecht, PA-C

Sarah Albrecht, PA-C

Shelby Foley, LCSW, CSAC

Shelby Foley, LCSW, CSAC

Kim Perttu, DO

Kim Perttu, DO

Joshua Gerrity, LSCW

Joshua Gerrity, LSCW

Josh Tessner, MD

Josh Tessner, MD

Liz Wyman, PharmD

Liz Wyman, PharmD

Madi Wendorf, MS, CEP, CCRP

Madi Wendorf, MS, CEP, CCRP

Kenneth Hallwood, CRNA

Kenneth Hallwood, CRNA

Katie Schwarz, PT, MSPT, CLT,

Katie Schwarz, PT, MSPT, CLT,

Liz Yamriska, PT, DPT

Liz Yamriska, PT, DPT

Kimberly Simonson, OTR

Kimberly Simonson, OTR

Joseph Willis, PT, MSPT, OCS

Joseph Willis, PT, MSPT, OCS

Maddie Hepperlen,  PT, DPT

Maddie Hepperlen,  PT, DPT

Jordan Urbanek, MD

Jordan Urbanek, MD

Katie Williams, MD, PhD

Katie Williams, MD, PhD

Kelly Scheder, FNP

Kelly Scheder, FNP

Lily Lepke, PMHNP

Lily Lepke, PMHNP

Martha Karlstad, MD

Martha Karlstad, MD

Joann Fouts, DO

Joann Fouts, DO

Joel Charles, MD

Joel Charles, MD

Kyle Bakken, MD

Kyle Bakken, MD

Marcia Auliff, FNP

Marcia Auliff, FNP

Daniel Drier, PharmD, BCACP

Daniel Drier, PharmD, BCACP

Eric Walker, PharmD

Eric Walker, PharmD

Eric Thunstedt, MA, CEP, CCRP

Eric Thunstedt, MA, CEP, CCRP

Hannah Stafford-Thompson, MS, CEP, CCRP

Hannah Stafford-Thompson, MS, CEP, CCRP