Medical Staff

Weisbrod Health Medical Staff

At Weisbrod Health, we believe that building a strong relationship with your healthcare provider is essential to your overall well-being. Our team is dedicated to not only delivering expert medical care but also to understanding your unique needs and concerns.

Below, you’ll find brief bios of each of our providers and key medical staff, offering a glimpse into their professional backgrounds, specialties, and personal interests. We encourage you to learn more about the compassionate individuals who are ready to support you on your journey to your best health.

Lori Thorndike, DO

Chief of Staff

Lori Thorndike, DO

Dr. Thorndike grew up in Colorado and completed her undergraduate studies at Colorado College. She went to medical school at the University of New England in Maine, then returned home to complete residency in family medicine at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Denver. She then practiced outpatient, urgent care, and long-term acute care for 12 years until transitioning to serve rural communities.

Dr. Thorndike has been working for Weisbrod Health since 2016, which she considers a great privilege. She has extensive experience in and a strong passion for women’s healthcare. She is currently serving as the Chief of Staff at Weisbrod Hospital.

Dr. Thorndike lives with her husband, Janir, and children Max and Harper in Steamboat Springs, CO. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, running, and listening to true crime podcasts.

Biography

Erik Ritch, MD

Dr. Ritch is a board-certified family medicine physician and has worked for Weisbrod Health since May of 2024. He grew up mostly on the East Coast, primarily in rural southwest Virginia. He went to medical school at the University of Virginia and did his family medicine training at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina.

After completing his training, he practiced for two years in rural North Carolina, working both in a hospital and in a free-standing urgent care/emergency room. He moved to Colorado Springs in 2016 where he continued practicing in urgent care facilities. He also began honing his Colorado worker’s compensation and occupational medicine skills including pre-employment services, DOT physicals, and work-related impairment reports.

Dr. Ritch is passionate about preventative healthcare and helping people live the heathiest lives possible, especially the men in our community who tend to put their own health and well-being on the back burner. He and his wife Gretel were married in 2022 and they split their time between Eads and Colorado Springs. Outside of work they enjoy the outdoors, running, hiking, and skiing.

Biography

Rachel Bletzacker, FNP-BC

Rachel has been a full-time family medicine nurse practitioner at Weisbrod Health since 2022. She grew up in Eads and graduated in 2006 from Eads High School. She obtained her associate degree in nursing in 2015 from Lamar Community College, her bachelor’s in nursing from Grand Canyon University in 2017, and then her Master of Science in nursing and nurse practitioner certification from Chamberlain School of Nursing in Addison, Illinois in 2022.

Throughout her schooling, Rachel has worked in various roles, including bedside nurse, emergency nurse, and clinic manager. Rachel is board certified in Family Medicine and is a member of the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Rachel is passionate about pediatrics, geriatrics, and everyone in between. She especially enjoys getting to know community members on a deeper level and serving this community in such a meaningful way. Rachel has two wonderful children who she loves dearly. When she isn’t working, she can usually be found at one of their sporting events cheering them on!

Biography

Morgan King, PA-C

Morgan King is a physician assistant who has worked for Weisbrod Health since September 2021. She was born in Maryland and spent most of her young adulthood in Philadelphia, where she met her husband, Chris, in 2016. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Temple University in Philadelphia in 2014 and worked in freelance photography and graphic design.

In 2015 she made a shift and began her career in healthcare as a certified nursing assistant, working primarily at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in their cardiac intensive care unit. In 2021, Morgan received her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Bethel University. She has a passion for rural healthcare and loves serving and connecting with the community of Eads.

Morgan and her husband, Chris, enjoy hiking, camping, going to concerts, visiting friends and family, and exploring with their dogs, Bobbie and Millie. On a typical night they can be found watching movies, relaxing in their hammocks, or playing Mario Kart.

Biography

Casey Lyons, DO

Dr. Casey Lyons has spent much of his life living in Lansing, MI. He received his undergraduate degree, finished medical school, and completed an Emergency Medicine residency at Michigan State University in Lansing to become Board Certified in Emergency Medicine.

While he grew up in Michigan, he traveled to Colorado each winter to ski. This led to a goal to live full time in Colorado. Following his residency in 2019, he fulfilled that dream. Finally at home in Colorado, he loves skiing, hiking and spending plenty of time outdoors with his two German Shepherd Dogs.

He is thrilled to have found a great Emergency Department and community in Eads.

Biography

Cristine McLaughlin, MD

Medical Director, Laboratory Services

Cristine McLaughlin, MD

Dr. Cristine S. McLaughlin is a Board-Certified Pathologist with Summit Pathology Laboratory and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in Colorado, including UCHealth and Banner Medical Group.

She received her medical degree from Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Her specialty is in Hematopathology, Clinical Pathology and Anatomical Pathology and she has worked in the Denver and southern Colorado areas for the past 15 years. She has been published in numerous medical studies and journals spanning from 1995 to 2015.

Biography

Michael Mandrell, MD

Medical Director, Emergency Management Services

Michael Mandrell, MD

Dr. Michael Mandrell is the EMS Medical Director for the Kiowa County Ambulance Service and an Emergency Medicine physician at Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo. In addition to serving Kiowa County, he is the EMS Medical Director for multiple agencies across southern/southeastern Colorado and the co-chair of the Southern and Southeastern Colorado EMS Medical Director Committee. Dr. Mandrell was recently honored with the Dr. Wohlauer Award for Physician Excellence in EMS.

Biography

Specialty Providers

Through partnerships Weisbrod Health has developed with outside providers and organizations, we are able to host a variety of medical specialists in our community that offer residents access to essential medical services close to home. Our specialty providers offer well-coordinated care in collaboration with our resident providers, ensuring clear communication and quality services for our patients’ well-being.

Craig Shapiro, MD

Craig Shapiro, MD, a Nebraska native, received his undergraduate degree and medical degree from the University of Nebraska. He graduated from medical school with honors and was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honor fraternity. He is a second-generation physician and Nebraska graduate. He moved to Virginia to pursue his Internal Medicine training at Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Shapiro continued his post graduate education in Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Dr. Shapiro then studied under Dr. Pagel, a highly recognized Sleep Specialist and became a Board-Certified Sleep Specialist himself.

Dr. Shapiro is board certified in Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Internal Medicine and has over 20 years of experience in these fields. In his partnership with Weisbrod Health, he interprets sleep studies and treats patients with sleep disorders.

Biography

George Gustafson, MD

Dr. George Gustafson graduated with honors from University of Health Sciences / Chicago Medical School in 1977 and is a board-certified cardiologist. With nearly 50 years of diverse experiences, especially in cardiovascular disease, Dr. Gustafson affiliates with many hospitals in southern Colorado and works with other doctors and specialists in many medical groups. He has been providing cardiology services for Weisbrod Health patients since 2014.

Biography

Sean Oquist, DC

Dr. Sean Oquist is a southeastern Colorado native, growing up in La Junta. Dr. Oquist knew at a young age that he wanted to get into a field that he would be able to help people. He found an interest in Chiropractic early on due to sports injuries he had suffered from in high school.

Dr. Oquist attended Otero Junior College where he started his educational endeavors. He also played baseball there for two years and continued to see his Chiropractor regularly to maintain good health and prevent injuries. After junior college he moved to Dallas, TX where his studies continued at Parker University. He received a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis on health and wellness and his Doctor of Chiropractic degree. He then completed a yearlong internship in Dallas at a large outpatient clinic and moved back home to be closer to friends and family, open a chiropractic practice, and raise his children. Dr. Oquist and his wife live in Lamar, CO and have three children.

Biography

FOR EMERGENCIES, CALL 9-1-1

Medical Staff

Weisbrod Health Medical Staff

Lori Thorndike, DO

Erik Ritch, MD

Rachel Bletzacker, FNP-BC

Morgan King, PA-C

Casey Lyons, DO

Cristine McLaughlin, MD

Michael Mandrell, MD

Specialty Providers

Craig Shapiro, MD

George Gustafson, MD

Sean Oquist, DC

WEISBROD HOSPITAL

WEISBROD CLINIC

FOR EMERGENCIES, CALL 9-1-1

Medical Staff

Weisbrod Health Medical Staff

Lori Thorndike, DO

Lori Thorndike, DO

Erik Ritch, MD

Erik Ritch, MD

Rachel Bletzacker, FNP-BC

Rachel Bletzacker, FNP-BC

Morgan King, PA-C

Morgan King, PA-C

Casey Lyons, DO

Casey Lyons, DO

Cristine McLaughlin, MD

Cristine McLaughlin, MD

Michael Mandrell, MD

Michael Mandrell, MD

Specialty Providers

Craig Shapiro, MD

Craig Shapiro, MD

George Gustafson, MD

George Gustafson, MD

Sean Oquist, DC

Sean Oquist, DC

Kiowa County Hospital District

WEISBROD HOSPITAL

WEISBROD CLINIC