Recruitment of well-qualified physicians and health care providers to serve the community’s medical needs well into the future is a primary focus of Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

This past month LMH expanded its commitment to the Eudora community with the addition of three new providers. Dr. Joseph Hawkins, Dr. Maribeth Orr and Nurse Practitioner Lorelei Witt joined Dr. Elizabeth Stamper at the Eudora Family Care practice. This week LMH and Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates welcome Dr. Leo Martinez, an ear, nose and throat specialist.

Lawrence Memorial Hospital is a major sponsor of WellCommons.

Joseph Hawkins, MD

Maribeth Orr, DO

Lorelei Witt, APRN-BC

Leo Martinez, MD

LMH is actively engaged in monitoring the number of physicians and mid-level health care providers serving the community and works closely with hospital-employed and private physician practices to assist with recruiting efforts. According to industry benchmarks based on population, the community is particularly in need of primary care providers – the recruitment goal through 2017 is three additional family practice and six more internal medicine physicians.

Attracting and retaining outstanding physicians is good for the community on many levels. Besides increasing the capacity to diagnose and treat more people in a timely manner, the addition of new physicians contributes to the economic development of the community. New physicians mean the creation of more jobs as additional nursing and support staff are needed.

Keeping health care strong at the local level is the hospital’s goal. LMH invites the community to join in welcoming these new providers, who are focused on serving the health and wellness needs of area residents:

Joseph Hawkins, MD – Board-certified in family medicine, Dr. Hawkins graduated from KU School of Medicine and has been in family practice since 2011. He and his family are coming to Eudora Family Care from Marysville, where he has practiced the last four years.

Maribeth Orr, DO – A graduate of Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Dr. Orr has been a board-certified family physicians since 2005. She grew up in the Eudora area and most recently practice in Shawnee and DeSoto. Eudora Family Care is excited to welcome her home.

Lorelei Witt, APRN-BC – A board-certified family nurse practitioner, Witt completed her master’s degree in nursing at KU Medical Center in 2006. She has experience in cardiology, occupational health, wellness promotion, and family health care management of acute and chronic illnesses. She has lived in the area all her life.

Leo Martinez, MD – Board-eligible by the American Board of Otolaryngology, Dr. Martinez diagnoses and treats all types of adult and pediatric ear, nose and throat disorders. His special interests include treating allergy and sinus disease with minimally invasive, image-guided endoscopic sinus surgery, as well as obstructive sleep surgery and general head and neck surgery. Dr. Martinez grew up in Leavenworth and completed his medical degree at KU School of Medicine in 2008, before completing a surgical internship and otolaryngology residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He is practicing at Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates in Lawrence.

For more information about these or any other providers on the LMH Medical Staff, visit the LMH website at lmh.org/providers.

Janice Early, MBA, is Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She can be reached at janice.early@lmh.org.