Karen Bartron-Sundeen, CFNP
Riverwood Healthcare Center is pleased to announce that Karen Bartron-Sundeen, family nurse practitioner, has joined its medical staff.
“We are thrilled to welcome Karen to our medical staff,” says Dr. Mark Heggem, Chief Medical Officer at Riverwood. “She brings a wealth of health care experience, including 30 years in the nursing profession working in intensive care, medical-surgical, emergency, peri-operative and interventional radiology.”
Bartron-Sundeen completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing at Graceland University in Independence, Missouri. Previously, she earned an associate’s degree in nursing from Anoka Ramsey Community College. Recently, she completed a portion of her nurse practitioner clinical training at Riverwood.
“I have always had a passion for science that sparked my interest in pursuing a career in healthcare,” Bartron-Sundeen explains. ““While caring for my grandmother when she was dying of lung cancer, I realized that I wanted to help prevent disease from developing in the first place. It became clear to me that our bodies continually interact with the environment in ways we are only beginning to understand. I view my nurse practitioner role as a combination of provider, cheerleader, and educational support system for our patients. I can offer the best current information on healthy living, disease prevention, and management while supporting their individual health/wellness choices.
Based primarily in Riverwood’s Aitkin clinic, Bartron-Sundeen will work in family practice and urgent care. For a clinic appointment, call (218) 927-2157.
Bartron-Sundeen and her husband, Brian, live in the Fort Ripley area with three dogs and enjoy fishing, camping, gardening and maple syruping. They have raised three sons, Phillip, Jordan and Christopher, and are looking forward to the birth of their first grandchild later this year.