As we approach the end of another remarkable year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the outstanding accomplishments and fulfillment we've experienced together at Innovative Urgent Care and Family Health Clinics in 2024. Your trust and support have been the cornerstone of our success, and I am profoundly grateful for that.

I am thrilled to announce that we were voted the Readers' Choice award winner for both Best Urgent Care Clinic and Best Primary Care Clinic. This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing fast, friendly, affordable care.

This year, we marked the grand opening of our new clinic in Rockport, Texas. I spent seven months in Rockport, away from my family, to ensure that the clinic was set up to offer the highest level of service and care. The warm welcome from the Rockport community has been nothing short of heartwarming, and we are excited to continue serving you for many years to come.

We are also delighted to welcome an excellent family nurse practitioner, Kerrie Baker, to our team. With years of experience in primary and urgent care, Kerrie has quickly become an integral part of our Rockport clinic. The community has embraced her kindness and expertise, and we are proud to say that Rockport is now our busiest clinic!

Education and professional growth are core values at our organization, and I am proud to share that two of our family nurse practitioners have entered doctoral programs. Our Bandera clinician, Mistie Kocurek, has enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin's Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and our Boerne clinician, Huynh Nelson, has begun her journey at Purdue Global University's Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Their dedication to furthering their knowledge and leadership skills will enhance our care.

On a personal note, I am overjoyed to announce that our in-house consultant aesthetician—and my daughter—Lauren Marie Schanen, has recently graduated from nursing school. Seeing her commitment to healthcare fills me with immense pride. Additionally, several of our support staff members have graduated from Certified Medical Assistant programs, and one of our San Antonio MAs will soon start her Bachelor of Science in Nursing training at The University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio. Their commitment to education embodies the spirit of growth we promote within our organization.

We are also celebrating with Stephanie Rickerson and her husband, Ryan, as they anticipate the arrival of their first child in early 2025. Please join me in extending heartfelt congratulations to them during this exciting time.

We remain steadfast in our mission to provide comprehensive care, including primary care, urgent care, weight loss management, energy optimization, and medical aesthetics. We are committed to offering same-day appointments for primary care and walk-in services for urgent care needs. To enhance your convenience, we will continue utilizing telemedicine services and soon offer weekend telemedicine visits to ensure you have access to continuity of care with our dedicated team members.

You can schedule appointments with any of our clinicians using the telemedicine option, walk into any of our clinics for immediate urgent care needs, or book appointments online at www.InnovativeUC.com. You can also use your Athena Health app or call us at 210-455-6253 to speak with any of our friendly team members.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your continued trust and support. It is an honor to serve you and to be a part of these incredible communities.

Wishing you health and happiness,

Dr. P. John Schanen, APRN, FNP-C, ENP-C
CEO