SMITH CENTER, Kan. – The administration and medical staff at Smith County Memorial Hospital welcome Dr. Stephen Moll to the team in September.
Moll will officially join the staff this month, but the relationship started much earlier. During medical school at the University of Kansas, Moll completed a rural medicine clinical rotation at SCMH. He has worked as a provider in the ER at least one weekend a month since November 2019.
“We met Dr. Moll during medical school, and we were immediately impressed with his knowledge of medicine, his interest in his patients and his love for rural healthcare,” said Allen Van Driel, CEO of the hospital.
Like the providers and administration, Moll was also pleased with his experience at SCMH.
“The physician group in Smith Center is one of the best that I have seen, and I look forward to learning from them each day,” Moll said. “Another perk is getting to work with my sister, Dr. Haack.”
He says his style may differ from that of other providers, but it works well for him.
“Each physician’s personality is a little bit different, and I tend to be a quieter, more reserved person in general,” Moll said. “This allows me to listen and empathize with each patient so I can truly understand where they are coming from.”
Moll believes his addition to the team will enhance the options for patients.
“Adding another provider helps to bring diversity so that patients can find a provider who fits their needs, as well as improving ease of access for follow-up and chronic disease management,” he said.
When adding another provider to the staff, the administration and medical team always consider fit both within the staff and the community.
“Our provider team enjoys being part of the community and region we live in,” said Van Driel. “And, our patients look for our team to be at ballgames, area festivals and supporting local businesses. So, it’s important to everyone that we find someone who wants to be part of our area of the world.”
Moll signed a contract with SCMH in 2020, and he and his family began to plan their move to Smith Center following the completion of his residency at Smoky Hill Family Medicine in Salina.
“Growing up in Stockton, I always knew that I would end up as a small-town doctor,” Moll said. “I enjoy being in a small town, mostly because it can feel like one big family of people. It is particularly rewarding in medicine, as you get to care for your community, family and friends every day.”
Moll also enjoys the variety of medicine he gets to practice in a rural setting.
“I enjoy working in the emergency room where you have to be quick on your feet and never know what might be coming next,” he said. “I enjoy taking care of sick patients in the hospital and helping them work back to their normal selves. I enjoy being in the clinic setting and taking the time to get to know my patients to help them stay as healthy as possible. I particularly enjoy obstetrics and delivering babies, then taking care of them and watching them grow.”
While Moll is looking forward to the variety of care he will provide at SCMH; his priority is to his patients.
“I see my role at SCMH as a physician who will listen and always advocate for my patients and the health and wellbeing of the whole community,” he said.