The new year starts with a new surgical group and two new surgeons at St. Anthony Regional Hospital. The St. Anthony Surgical Group welcomes Dr. Patricia Teschke and Dr. Nicholas J. Kuiper, who are now taking new patients. Teschke has experience in plastic surgery, specifically breast reconstructive surgery for those who have battled breast cancer. She says this gives her insight into the entire surgical process for all patients, especially women. She is also bilingual, fluent in Portuguese and English. “From the moment I interviewed at St. Anthony, I really enjoyed the hospital and the community,” Teschke says. “The surgeons and staff were kind and friendly, and I felt this is a place I can see myself for many years to come.” Dr. Teschke comes to St. Anthony from Miami, Fla. She earned her doctorate from the University of Colorado and completed her residency in general surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Dr. Kuiper says he is very impressed with the staff and the quality of care provided at St. Anthony. “[…] I look forward to being part of the new surgical group and overall team,” he says. “The hospital and community have been very welcoming to all of us, and we are excited to get settled and get involved.” Dr. Kuiper earned his medical degree at the Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed an internship and his general surgical residency at Mercy Medical Center of Des Moines. He was a partner at Surgical Associates in Grinnell, as well as trauma director and member of the board of directors at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. He was director of surgery at Marengo Memorial Hospital, a general surgeon in Waterloo and has been an adjunct professor of general surgery at Des Moines University since 2010. He has performed over 600 robotic surgeries and is recognized by many in the field as an expert at Da Vinci Robotic Surgery. St. Anthony Surgical Group’s offices are on the second floor of the hospital, between the Iowa Heart Center and St. Anthony Eye Clinic.
