Amy Deel, NP

Everything fell into place for Dr. Howard Wiarda in college. He had always enjoyed anatomy classes, and one day it just clicked that he was meant to be a physician. This love of understanding the human body transferred well to his specialty field, where he now uses interventional radiology to help patients live a better life. "The most important part of my work is knowing that I take good care of my patients," Dr. Wiarda said. "I want my patients to know that they're important to me." Of course, Dr. Wiarda likes to have fun, too. He believes that when you like what you do and you like the people you work with, everything else works itself out. His personal motto is related to this. "If you keep the patient at the forefront, and make the right decisions with the patient in mind, everything else will settle," he says. Home Life: When Dr. Wiarda is not working, he can most likely be found outside biking, running, swimming, or spending time with his family.

As a vascular and endovascular surgeon, Dr. Taubman provides medical, surgical and minimally invasive treatment for a variety of blood vessel diseases, including life threatening artery blockages, causes of stroke, aneurysms, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), venous insufficiency and complex wounds. He chose this particular field for its diversity and challenge. When asked why he chose to practice at Beacon Health System he says, “Beacon demonstrates a long-standing commitment to the recruitment and retention of quality healthcare professionals who share a common vision to achieve and deliver the highest level of care for the community it serves.” From a young age, Dr. Kevin Taubman had a goal to become a surgeon. He was blessed to grow up with several family members who worked in medicine. His father, a surgeon, and mother both contributed to the development of a sense of duty. “From their examples, they provided guidance to better understand the fulfillment which is possible through a dedication to helping others.” Dr. Taubman demonstrates that same philosophy when it comes to his own patients. “I believe that all people deserve access to quality medical care,” he says. “I am dedicated to providing compassionate care with cuttingedge therapy and scientific rigor to all of my patients as if they were my own family members.” In his own words… Who is or was the most influential person/role model in your life? My parents were the most influential people in my life. They raised me to have a sense of obligation and duty to the needs of others, a commitment to educational excellence, and the importance of humility. What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? My first job growing up was in sales/ retail at a music and video store in my hometown. It gave me a larger exposure to people in my community and broadened my appreciation for music. What is your favorite food? Movie? Book? As a native Oklahoman, steak and barbeque are some of my favorite foods. I am an avid movie buff, but a long list of favorites includes Young Frankenstein, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Captain America. I enjoy reading many different books, but The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy and The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John le Carre’ are two that I have enjoyed reading many times. If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? I would enjoy a dinner with Benjamin Franklin. He led such a diverse life and made many impactful contributions to the world. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? I am passionate about spending time with my family. I am also a movie buff and baseball enthusiast.