— Daiy Freeman-Journal photo by Anne Blankenship Madeline Keane is the newest provider at Van Diest Family Health Clinic. The Webster City native said she’s happy to be back working in her hometown.

The newest provider at Van Diest Family Health Clinic is no stranger to Webster City.

Madeline Keane was born and raised in the community and has returned to practice medicine in her hometown.

She graduated from Webster City High School and attended Iowa State University where she obtained her undergraduate degree in kinesiology and health in 2018. She attended St. Ambrose University in Davenport where she studied to become a physicians assistant and received her master’s degree.

During her medical training, she did several rotations, including one at Van Diest Medical Center.

“That was a great opportunity. I got to work with some of the providers and see what they do here and how the providers work together,” she said. “The PA profession is big on team collaboration and I saw that here.”

Many of the patients she sees are people she’s known throughout her life.

“I’ve seen a couple of patients that I haven’t seen in a really long time. So that’s been fun to see them again,” she said. “And it’s great to be back close to family. My grandparents and parents are happy to have me close by.”

“I’m very lucky to be back sort of giving back to the community that raised me,” she said.

Keane said she is passionate about wellness and preventative care and looks forward to working with patients in that regard.

Not only is she back working in her hometown, she’s also working with her sister, Mari Kait Keane, also a PA at the clinic. She said she was nervous at first about working with her sister, but has found her to be a great supporter and mentor.

“I definitely never dreamed we’d be working at the same place, but it’s been great. She’s been super helpful,” she said.

The two sisters share an interest in baking and enjoy trading recipes and treats, according Keane. They often take time to go on walks together.

Keane said she enjoys the variety that primary care medicine offers.

“You really do get to see a little bit of everything and a little bit of everyone,” she said. “From little kids and babies, through teens, adults and older adults.”

As an athlete growing up, Keane developed an interest in sports medicine. She’s taken athletic training courses and did a rotation in sports medicine, as well.

“Growing up, I was very interested in the physical demands of an athlete. I was very fascinated with muscle growth and things like that,” she said. “As I started learning more in high school anatomy and college anatomy, physiology and then pathology, I found there was so much more than just sports medicine.”

She did some shadowing in sports medicine, primary care, physical therapy and dietetics and she saw how they all of that worked together.

“I decided that the role I wanted to take was to be the person who puts it all of together and also works with wellness and preventative care all the way through the lifespan,” she said.

At one point, she considered emergency care with a myriad of conditions and patient populations. But she realized that she would see most of the patients just once.

“And I wanted to be able to have a relationship with my patients and get to know them,” she said.

She recalled visiting the clinic growing up and the relationship the provider had with her family.

“They would ask ‘How’s your mom? How’s your sister?,” said Keane. “Everybody kind of knew everyone and that’s great.”