Our Family caring for your Family!

Dr. Wm. “Skip” Loebig

Skip has been providing anesthesia services since September of 1993. He worked in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for the first ten years of his career at Marquette General Hospital a large regional medical center. In 2004 he stated doing travel anesthesia in many different areas of the country in both academic medical centers and rural hospitals. Skip joined VMH in 2007 and has been providing care to our community since that time.

• Education: BSN in Nursing from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 1984-1987
• Certificate in Nurse Anesthesia from Minneapolis School of Anesthesia 1991-1993
• MS in Anesthesia from St. Mary’s University- Winona 1991-1993
• Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) from University of Michigan-Flint 2015-2020.
• Certifications:  BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP
• Professional Associations: American Association of Nurse Anesthetists: 1991 to present
• Society of Opioid Free Anesthesia: 2018 to present

Alex Berns

Alex Berns, ARNP, is from the Postville area.  He began his nursing career at Veterans Memorial Hospital, first as a C.N.A., then an RN.  He left the facility to branch out and gain experience in Hospice, Emergency Care, the ICU in Rochester and general inpatient care, while furthering his education.  He has now returned to VMH as a clinic a Nurse Practitioner and clinic provider.

Alex cares for youth and adults of all ages.  He always knew he wanted to return home to care for those in this area and to raise his children in this great community.  He is excited to care for those in all walks of life and getting to care for a variety of individuals in the area.

Schools and Degrees

• NICC - RN
• Clarke University - Doctorate Family 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 
 

Katy Maker

Katy Maker is both a Nurse Midwife and a Nurse Practitioner, allowing her to care for maternity patients throughout their pregnancy, including delivery, and following, throughout their lifetime.  She has over 30 years of experience as a nurse midwife and has assisted in nearly 2000 deliveries.  She is also proficient in water births.

Katy is from the Decorah area and has shared her talents at many facilities, but has always preferred the rural practice where families have access to quality care and do not have to travel to have their babies.  She has worked with her colleagues here at VMH for many years and is confident with and trusts all of them.  She cares for patients at both the Waukon and Postville Clinics. 

Schools and Degrees

• Luther College - BA, Nursing
• University of Minnesota School of Nursing Master’s Program - Nurse Midwife
• Graceland University - Nurse Practitioner