Ascension Sacred Heart expands primary care practices

Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart continues to add primary care providers to meet the growing demand for healthcare in the area. 

The newest team members are Katie Marks, ARNP-C and David Newton, MD who joined Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart Primary Care – Port St. Joe this year. Both are accepting new patients and most major insurance. 

“We appreciate the Gulf County commissioners who approved healthcare trust fund dollars for the hospital,” said Dr. Kunal Jani, chief medical officer. “A portion of these funds have been used to increase primary care.” 

Newton, board-certified in family medicine, joined the team in January. He earned his medical degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, where he also obtained his master’s degree in pharmacology. He received his bachelor’s degree in molecular and microbiology from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. 

Newton is dedicated to advancing rural, full spectrum family medicine with an emphasis on optimizing patients with underlying pathology. His proactive approach centers on preventative medicine, aiming to thwart diseases before their onset. Driven by the profound adage: “Let food be thy medicine,” he advocates for a healthy lifestyle that incorporates healthy nutrition and encourages regular exercise.
Outside of the office, Newton enjoys outdoor pursuits such as hunting and fly fishing, with a passion for photography that captures the beauty of nature. Additionally, he is an avid practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, channeling his enthusiasm for martial arts to promote both physical fitness and mental resilience. 

Marks, who started in April, is a board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in primary care. A native of Apalachicola, she began her nursing career 15 years ago as a licensed practical nurse providing care for patients in Franklin and Gulf counties. She later moved to Tallahassee to pursue her nursing career. 

Marks earned her masters degree at Chamberlain University, which confers online degrees from its main campus in Addison, Illinois. She has a special interest in providing family medicine and will strive to fulfill the need for primary care within the community. With a goal to guide and educate health journeys with personalized care, she prides herself in listening to patients and encourages active participation in patients’ healthcare. 

Outside of the office, she loves to spend time with friends and family, and is raising two teen boys she enjoys watching participate in school and extracurricular activities. 

Currently, appointments are available within two weeks or less for Newton and Marks and can be scheduled by calling 850-229-5661 or online at http://ascension.org/doctors. The Port St. Joe team includes Rachel Bixler, MD, medical director, and Nancy Anderson, DNP, APRN.
Last year, Lori Shanihan, RN, began providing Medicare annual wellness visits at the primary care practice in Port St. Joe. These visits review health and family history, update a patient’s list of doctors and medications, check height, weight, and blood pressure, discuss advanced care planning, complete important screenings to assess well-being, and provide a written preventative care screening schedule and personal care plan based on health goals. Those with Medicare Part B or Medicare Advantage may qualify for an annual visit at no cost. For more information or to make an appointment, call 850-229-5661.

Last year Studer Family Children’s Hospital Pediatrics – Port St. Joe welcomed Kelly Carter, MD, who works with Elizabeth Curry, MD and Carolyn Williams, PA to serve a pediatric population. Carter has appointments available within two weeks or less.
Anna Rich, DNP, APRN, FNP-C joined the Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart team in 2022 and cares for patients at Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart Primary Care – Wewahitchka. Rich has limited appointments available in the next couple of weeks.
In Apalachicola, Ryan Pharr, DO and Angela Scholl, APRN provide care at Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart Primary Care – Apalachicola. They offer a walk-in clinic each morning for acute concerns with established patients. Scholl has limited appointments available in the next couple of weeks. 

For information or to schedule an appointment, call 888-492-4287. To find a doctor visit ascension.org/doctors.