Ben Smith wanted to take a different path to practicing medicine, one that would keep him in Southeast Kansas and allow him to do the most good for his neighbors.
It led him to recently becoming a nurse practitioner for The Family Physicians, where he sees patients at the clinic at 1408 East St., as well as at the Allen County Jail. Hes also a new member of the U.S. Air National Guard and a family man with a young son.
And thats after years working as a nurse at Allen County Regional Hospital, and as a past director at Greystone Assisted Living, while also going to school to earn a masters degree.
Ive already done a lot but theres still so many things I want to be able to do, said Smith, who recently turned 26. Since I was little, Ive wanted to live here. This is home. And we need good healthcare in places like this.
SMITH GREW up dividing his time between Iola and Moran, attending school in Moran from second grade through graduation. He is the son of Monica and Darren Sellman of Gas and Duane and Vicki Smith of rural Iola.
He always wanted a career in healthcare and considered becoming a pharmacist or doctor but worried he wouldnt be able to afford medical school. Through a program at Marmaton Valley High School called Gear Up, he learned about nursing programs at Neosho County Community College. He realized he could achieve his goal to practice medicine by first becoming a nurse and working his way toward a masters degree.
He earned his associate degree at NCCC, then his bachelors in nursing at Pittsburg State University.
Meanwhile, he worked as a nurse at the hospital and Greystone. He enjoyed working in the emergency department and spent a year as a traveling nurse at emergency rooms at hospitals in the Kansas City area.
He took a year off school after earning his bachelors degree.
Meanwhile, a fellow nurse at the hospital, Erin Splechter, had recently completed her bachelors degree and was looking into a masters through Walden University, Minneapolis, Minn. The program allows students to complete exams and homework online, with clinical programs available in their local area.
Smith and his girlfriend, Rachel Green, were expecting a son, Lincoln, at about the same time. Smith knew the time was right to finish school: I thought, Its now or never. I wanted to finish school and go to work before hes old enough to be into ball and things like that.
Smith and Splechter, along with another student, Justin Roach, took the courses together. It gave them a sense of community and support, with homework chat groups at 2 a.m. and just one day off every two weeks.
It was hard but wed just grind through it for two years, Smith said.
They graduated in May. Smith completed his clinical at The Family Physicians under Dr. Tim Spears. As his graduation approached, he told Spears he wanted to stay at the clinic.
The environment is really good here. They care about what you have to say and listen to you, he said. He came on board, officially, in June.
SMITH said he and Rachel wanted to stay in Allen County so they could be close to family and raise their son in a small town.
