Our Family caring for your Family!

Dr. Dave Schwartz

Dr. Dave Schwartz is the medical physician provider in the Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic.  He has been serving this community since 1995  when he began his employment with Mayo Waukon Clinic and Veterans Memorial Hospital.  He sees patients in the clinic as well as the hospital, and especially enjoys Maternity Services.  Dr. Schwartz was awarded the Iowa Hospital Association Hospital Hero Award in October, 2017, for his dedication to rural health care and obstetrics.

Schools and Degrees

• Northeast Missouri State University - B.S. Science
• University of Iowa School of Medicine - M.D.
• Mayo Family Practice Residency - La Crosse , WI
   

Dr. Kristina Thompson

Podiatrist Dr. Kristina Thompson, originally of Monona, is available every Monday and Wednesday in Waukon consulting and treating patients and even providing minor surgical procedures.  She is also a wound care specialist and diabetes educator. She chose to specialize in foot health because she developed an interest in the treatment of diabetes and wanted to help prevent diabetes related complications.  From there, she zoned in on clinical podiatry with an emphasis in wound care of the lower extremity.

Dr. Thomson is available to care for patients of all ages.   She works collaboratively with Dr. Greg Valkosky of Gundersen Health who also visits Waukon seeing patients in the Gundersen Waukon Clinic and performing podiatry surgical procedures at VMH.

Schools and Degrees

• University of Northern Iowa-Biology and Chemistry
• Des Moines University-Podiatric Medicine
• SSM DePaul Health  Residency-St. Louis, MO

Janet Hunter

Janet Hunter is also a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who cares for patients in our Waukon Clinic.  She has over 20 years of experience in nursing in the Wellness Department at Luther College in Decorah addressing student issues.  Mental health quickly emerged as the most pressing need.  She saw students waiting months, sometimes a year, to see a provider for medication management and too often the delay caused them to step away from school.  

Those experiences motived her to pursue her PMHNP so she could combine her passion for prevention with the ability to provide treatment, helping her patients remove barriers and thrive.
 
Schools and Degrees:
University of Northern Iowa-Bachelors Degree in Health Promotion: Women’s Health 
Masters Degree in Community Health Education 
Northeast Iowa Community College —  Nursing 
Allen College-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
 

Dr. John Swords

Dr. Swords cares for patients in the Waukon Clinic.  He has always liked the Midwest and chose to join this rural practice in November of 2025, leaving his previous  practice in South Carolina.  Before becoming a physician, he devoted his career to the United States Army.  After watching his parents age and become sick, he chose to further his career as a health care provider.

Dr. Swords is available to see patients of all ages, but has a particular love for taking care of older adults.  He also has special training in Substance Use Disorder (SUD).

Schools and Degrees:
Penn State University-Bachelors Degree Accounting 
Millersville University-Bachelors Degree in Biology University of Wisconsin in Madison-Master Degree in Microbiology
Kansas City University-Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine