For three new medical staff members at the Flint Hills Community Health Center, being in the medical profession is about helping people and helping the community.
Three new medical staff began work recently at the community health center — Cheryl Giles, physician specializing in family medicine; Daniel Nelson, denyist; and Chelsea Blaufuss, registered dental hygienist in the dental clinic.
Giles, originally from Missouri, is board certified in family medicine. She has been a physician since 2002.
“I always wanted to help people be as healthy and functional as they are created to be,” Giles said.
Giles attend the University of Kansas Medical School and also attended The University of Missouri and the University of Iowa, where she did her residency. She moved to Kansas in 1994 and then attended medical school.
For Giles, working at the Flint Hills Community Health Center was an opportunity.
“It was an excellent opportunity to practice medicine in a good community setting,” Giles said.
Giles finds a lot about her job rewarding.
“It’s just a real special thing to meet people when they are in need of care,” she said. “It’s a privilege to serve men, women and children and to assist them to be as healthy as they want to be. ... It’s fun meeting people.”
Nelson, who received degrees from Brigham Young University in Utah and Creighton University in Nebraska, is originally from Boise, Idaho. He and his wife chose Kansas because Emporia is similar in size to his wife’s hometown in New York. Also, Nelson wanted to come to a place with a real dental need. In addition, Emporia is between New York and Idaho.
“It’s right in the middle,” Nelson said.
Nelson knew at an early age that he wanted to be involved in the medical profession. In middle school, his father had stomach problems and at that time, he wanted to go into that area. Life led him to dentistry as he realized there was an increasing need for dentists. He also enjoys working with his hands and doing artistic things. Dentistry was a good fit.
Nelson finds his job rewarding because he helps patients improve their smiles. He said he enjoys the experience when dental patients come in and don’t like their smile but by the time they leave, they can smile again with confidence.
“I can help them out,” Nelson said.
Blaufuss, a graduate of Northern Heights High School, is a lifelong local resident. She was in the first graduating class of Flint Hills Technical College’s dental hygiene program. She graduated from that program in May. Blaufuss said there were 12 students that graduated in the first class. The program was three years total.
Blaufuss said she has always enjoyed going to the dentist. She said she always had the good teeth between her and her brother, never having any cavities. Her love for helping people led her into dentistry, something she already enjoyed.
Blaufuss finds her job rewarding, especially when children are involved.
“I like making the little kids smile,” she said. “I like it when they come in terrified and they leave and they had a great time.”