A native of a small town in South Dakota, Dr. Nate Chappelle understands the importance of offering great healthcare to those who opt to live in the countryside. That's why he decided to pursue a career doing exactly that.

In March, Dr. Chappelle was added to the Haxtun Hospital provider team as a family medicine provider. For the past six months, his role has allowed him to work with patients in various settings, including the clinics in both Haxtun and Fleming, hospital and extended care. As is the nature of being a provider in a rural community, Dr. Chappelle enjoys the challenge of wearing many different hats and working with local patients to improve their overall health.

Dr. Chappelle wound up near the Rocky Mountains for medical school, graduating from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 2013. He completed his residency in Duluth, Minn., in a program focused on rural medicine - something he had been interested in since the end of medical school.

Dr. Chappelle went on to work in his home state of South Dakota before moving back to the Front Range, where he traveled as a doctor for a locum tenens agency. The job allowed him to travel to emergency rooms across the entire eastern Colorado region. In that time, he grew especially fond of the Haxtun community.

"I had a good experience with Haxtun and decided that I wanted to try to work mostly here, if I could," he said. "The community stood out to me."

Driven to have a career with purpose, Dr. Chappelle approaches his patient care with a focus on partnership. He works individually with each of his patients to determine care solutions that work best for them and that ultimately improve their overall quality of health.

"I was attracted to healthcare because it was a way to be inherently useful for society and to help people live better lives," he said. "These days, I spend my time helping people navigate the complex realities of illnesses and supporting them in their times of need. I can act as a guide for these individuals and their families while they navigate the emotional tolls of living and dying from serious illnesses."

One of Dr. Chappelle's goals is to help Haxtun Hospital serve as a medical home base for individuals and families in the community. He wants residents to count on the facility as a trusted, go-to-resource for healthcare needs.

"I want people to feel like we are their healthcare quarterback rather than just one of many entities they see throughout their healthcare journey," he said.

Outside of his time spent in Haxtun, Dr. Chappelle enjoys spending time with his family, which includes his wife Elena and 18-month-old daughter Apolline as well as activities like hiking and fly-fishing. Dr. Chappelle also enjoys reading and taking on all of the new, exciting challenges of fatherhood.

"Haxtun's slower pace allows me to take my time with my patients and to delve deeper into conditions, rather than putting 'band-aids' on them to keep these patients going," he said. "I am grateful to be working in this community and look forward to what's next."