St. Pat’s barbecue fundraiser benefits football team

A local barbecue team volunteered to assist with a fundraiser for the Bishop Ward High School football team on St. Patrick’s Day at Breit’s, 412 N. 5th St., Kansas City, Kan. (Photo by Wiliam Crum)

by William Crum

A very small parade walked on the sidewalk down the hill on Fifth Street a few blocks Monday, March 17, to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Starting at Fifth and Ann, the parade traveled a short distance to Breit’s bar and grill at 412 N. 5th St., Kansas City, Kan.

After the parade, a barbecue dinner fundraiser was held at Breit’s for the Bishop Ward High School football team.

Everything was donated, and the barbecuing was done by a local barbecue team.

A short walk down the sidewalk on Fifth Street was the start to a fundraiser on March 17. (Photo by William Crum)

Providence invests in Family Medical Group

On the front row, left to right, are Randy Nyp, CEO, Dr. Russell King, Dr. Margaret Killam, Dr. Sabrina Markese,Dr. Sabato Sissillo, and Karen Orr, CNO. On the back row are Dr. Michael Parra, Dr. Robert Jevons, Dr. Terry Simmons, Terry Jett, director of physician services, and Dave Dulny, CFO. (Photo from Providence Medical Center)

In an effort to expand its health care presence and commitment to the residents of Wyandotte County, Providence Medical Center has recently acquired Family Medical Group, P.A., located at 8101 Parallel Parkway, Suite 100.

The group includes six board-certified family practice physicians:  Dr. Michael Parra; Dr. Russell King; Dr. Margaret Killam; Dr. Robert Jevons; Dr. Sabrina Markese; and Dr. Terry Simmons. All of the physicians are on staff at Providence.

During the transition, the new practice will be known as Providence Medical Group—Family Medical Group.

Dr. Michael Parra has a long-standing association with the hospital and Kansas City, Kan. His father, Dr. Miguel Parra, established his medical practice in the community in 1970. Dr. Miguel Parra was a member of the former Bethany Medical Center medical staff, and the Providence medical staff.

Before Dr. Miguel’s retirement in 2000, his practice grew into one of the city’s largest multispecialty groups, Kanza Medical Group.

“We are very excited to welcome Family Medical Group to Providence,” said Randy Nyp, Providence CEO. “Dr. Parra is the second generation of his family to practice medicine in Wyandotte County. The members of this practice are dedicated to the legacy of caring that his father established more than four decades ago. Our new association represents a mutual commitment to provide and grow primary care for the residents of this community.”

After earning his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kan., Dr. Michael Parra performed a residency in family practice at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, Kan. Following graduation, he practiced medicine with his father at Kanza. He established Family Medical Group in 2002, along with his partners, Drs. King, Jevons, Markese and Killam.

Dr. Parra is committed to continuing his father’s legacy of caring for the members of the community, having practiced medicine for 21 years in Wyandotte County. He also has served as the medical director of Providence Place since 1995; and is the medical director of Sacred Heart Hospice.

The other members of the practice also have become fixtures of medical care in the community.

• Dr. Jevons earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, Kan., and performed a residency in family practice at the University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kan. He has practiced in Wyandotte County for 25 years.

• Dr. King earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, Kan., and performed a residency in family practice at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Tulsa, Okla. He has practiced in Wyandotte County for 22 years.

• Dr. Markese earned her medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, Kan., and also performed her residency in family practice there. She has practiced in Wyandotte County for 14 years.

• Dr. Killam earned her medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, Kan., and performed a residency in family practice at the University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kan. She has practiced in Wyandotte County for 12 years.

• Dr. Simmons earned his medical degree from the University of Health Services, Bethesda, Md. He performed a residency in family practice with Dewitt Army Community Hospital, Fort Belvoir, Va. He has practiced in Wyandotte County for 10 years.

“It is important to strengthen our bond with Providence,” Dr. Parra said. “We want to continue to provide quality health care to the residents of Wyandotte County with a hometown feel. With health care reform, we also believe it’s crucial to grow accessibility and availability of primary care in this community. We are committed to giving residents an option to receive their medical care in a community hospital, where they often can be closer to home, as well as near relatives, friends and neighbors. That is an important feature in establishing a patient-centered medical home and a more coordinated model of care.”

The practice’s location at 8101 Parallel Parkway, Suite 100, will remain unchanged, as will its phone number, 913-299-9200. For more information about primary care at Providence, visit www.providencekc.com.

Meter work

Andy Patton, left, and Pete Gray found themselves down in a hole on Monday, working to raise and replace the water meter at Wyandot Center, 7840 Washington Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Patton and Gray are employees of Quality Plumbing Inc. (Staff photo)