Deborah Degnan, P.A.-C., has joined the orthopedic surgery team at Marshfield Clinic Eau Claire Center.

Degnan received her medical education from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

She is a certified physician assistant.

For more information, call 1-800-924-8515, ext. 7-4650.

Gastroenterologist Intikhab Iqbal, M.D., has joined Marshfield Clinic Eau Claire Center.

Dr. Iqbal completed medical training at Interfaith Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.

He is board certified in internal medicine.

For more information, call 1-800-924-8515, ext. 7-4949.

Internal Medicine Physician Victoria Vande Zande, M.D. now provides adult medicine services at Marshfield Clinic Eau Claire Center.

Dr. Vande Zande completed her medical training at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and Marshfield Clinic and Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield.

For the past seven years, she has served as a hospitalist at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire.

“My experience as a hospitalist will be helpful in caring for patients with more complex medical problems,” she said. “I look forward to getting to know my patients and encouraging healthy lifestyles through education and support.”

For more information, call 1-800-924-8515, ext. 7-4700.

Tracy Candace Degenstein, N.P., has joined Marshfield Clinic Eau Claire and Lake Hallie Centers, providing urgent care services.

Degenstein received medical education and advanced degree from the University of South Alabama, Mobile.

She is certified as a family nurse practitioner.

For more information, call 1-800-924-8515, ext. 7-4600.

Satya Bhupathi, M.D., joins his wife, Sreelatha Chalasani, M.D., who has been a hospitalist in Marshfield since 2007.

He completed his residency and a fellowship in internal medicine at Marshfield Clinic/Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

“We both settled on Marshfield Clinic because we like the practice philosophy, the patient interaction and the complexity of patients here,” he said.

He finds the patients he sees in Marshfield to be much friendlier than those he encountered in Milwaukee.

Ruwan Dissanayake, M.D., has rejoined the Marshfield hospitalist staff after spending a few months in Bakersfield, California.

He came back because he prefers the smaller community and the people he works with in the Marshfield medical center.

He enjoys getting to know patients.

“I like to know more about their family background than just their medical history,” he said. “It also helps me with discharge planning if there is a problem we can avoid.”

Gerald Helms, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon, has joined the Cardiovascular Surgery Department at Marshfield Clinic Marshfield Center.

Dr. Helms completed advanced training in cardiothoracic surgery and thoracic surgery.

Prior to his medical training, he earned a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford University and worked as an engineer and scientist specialist in aeromechanics for Boeing in Huntington Beach, California.

Said Dr. Helms of his career switch, "I do think that being an engineer and part of a team prepared me well for being part of a surgical team. It's definitely a team sport."

For more information, call 715-387-5772.

Deepa Jose, M.D., is a native of India who received her medical degree at Mahatma Gandhi University and Medical College Kottayam, in Kerala, India.

She recently completed her residency in internal medicine at Marshfield Clinic/Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

“I have developed friendships here and I appreciate having a friendly atmosphere here with a large hospitalist group,” she said of her decision to join Marshfield Clinic.

Justin R. Knapp, M.D., has joined the Psychiatry staff of Marshfield Clinic Marshfield Center, where he will specialize in general adult psychiatry.

A native of Platteville, Wisconsin, he most recently practiced in Stevens Point.

"I have a philosophy of sharing decision-making with my patients," he said. "I focus on wellness and returning to function rather than on illness."

He will spend most of his time on medication management, referring patients to psychologists and clinical social workers for most of their psychotherapy.

He joined Marshfield Clinic because of the "excellent care patients receive, the way in which practices are supported and the physician leadership."

Most of his family live in Grant County in southwestern Wisconsin.

For more information, call 715-387-5744.

Lea K. Lua, M.D., has joined the Pediatrics Department at Marshfield Clinic Marshfield Center as a pediatric intensivist.

She cares for patients primarily in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.

She also provides sedation for outpatient procedures performed on children at Marshfield Clinic and responds to pediatric trauma alerts in the hospital.

"I believe that being a pediatric intensivist was my calling and that I can make a difference in peoples' lives," she said. "Although it can be stressful, if you love what you are doing, you don't get stressed because it becomes second nature."

For more information, call 715-387-5251.

Safwan Murad, M.D., comes to the Marshfield hospitalist staff from Evanston, Illinois, where he completed his internal medicine residency.

“I believe medicine is a science and art at the same time,” he said, noting the need for knowledge of biology, physics, chemistry and communication skills.

“When I talk to a patient, I try to sit down next to the bed so I am at their same level.”

Donna Prohazka, M.D., M.S., is practicing in the Marshfield Clinic Marshfield Center Radiology Department as a specialist in breast imaging.

Dr. Prohazka, a native of Connecticut, has long had an interest in women’s health issues and found breast imaging to be a perfect fit for her.

She completed advanced training in breast imaging and has been director and co-director for 11 years at breast imaging centers in St. Louis, Missouri, and Carbondale, Illinois.

At Marshfield Clinic, one of her goals is to make the experience of her patients receiving breast imaging evaluation as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

For more information, call 715-387-9200.

Srinivas Challa, D.M.D., has joined the staff at Marshfield Clinic Medford Dental Center, 843 W. Broadway Ave., Medford.

“Oral health is essential to the general health and well-being of all people,” Dr. Challa said. “Periodontal infection - advanced gum disease – is a risk factor for conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke and bacterial pneumonia.”

Marshfield Clinic Medford Dental Center serves all patients, regardless of ability to pay or insurance status (uninsured, underinsured, private pay and commercial insurance and ForwardHealth).

To schedule an appointment, call 715-785-8100.

Daniel Fallon, D.D.S., has joined the staff at Marshfield Clinic Neillsville Dental Center, 8 Boon Boulevard, Neillsville.

“There are several interrelationships between oral health and general health. I believe, to be healthy overall, you need good oral health,” Dr. Fallon said. “The area of dentistry I’m most passionate about is preventive treatments. It’s rewarding to educate patients about their oral health needs and address issues before there is a need for more invasive treatment.”

Neillsville Dental Center serves all patients, regardless of ability to pay or insurance status.

A Dental Financial Assistance Program is available for those with limited income.

To schedule an appointment, call 715-743-1900.