Our Mission
To show and share the love of Jesus Christ by providing compassionate, accessible, high-quality health care for residents in the communities we serve.
Our Vision
GraceMed is the clinic of choice for comprehensive, integrated healthcare encompassing the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of individuals and families in the communities we serve.
Our Core Values
- Stewardship: We will judiciously use our resources to achieve our mission and vision.
- Excellence: We provide high quality service, seeking ways to better ourselves individually and collectively through continuous learning.
- Loyalty: We will remain devoted to GraceMed’s cause, culture and core values at all times.
- Faith: We will integrate our faith with our work and service, recognizing spiritual diversity while embracing our Christian heritage.
Our Leadership
Senior Management
Venus Lee | Chief Executive Officer
Education: Emory University, ThD, Doctor of Theology | Wichita State University, MBA
Venus joined GraceMed as COO in 2010 bringing with her a wealth of healthcare administrative experience. With her operational leadership and drawing upon her military background, she developed efficient systems that proved to be highly scalable as GraceMed has grown over the last ten years including coordination and evaluation of operational support functions.
In 2013, Venus was promoted to Associate Executive Officer and, under the guidance of former CEO David Sanford and along with the leadership team, GraceMed was able to expand the service lines to include vision care, behavioral health care, and pharmacy services. Her keen analytical insights have been an essential asset to the efficient expansion of our network of clinics.
In January 2020, Venus was appointed GraceMed‘s CEO. Venus has always believed in the mission, vision, and core values of GraceMed. Her plan for the future is to continue moving GraceMed forward along God’s path.
Jason Ybarra | Chief Operating Officer
Education: Barton County Community College, Associates Degree, Business Administration, Kansas Wesleyan University, BA, Business Administration
Jason has managed public health operations for a number of years with a special emphasis on communicable disease intervention. In addition to the supervision of clinical and administrative staff, he has also acted as liaison to community partners and media outlets. In his role at GraceMed, Jason provides operational leadership for our 16 Wichita-area clinics, including our medical, dental, vision and behavioral health service lines.
David Wuthnow | Chief Financial Officer
Education: Fort Hays State University, BBA, Accounting & Management | Calvary Bible College, AA, Biblical Studies
David brings a rich depth of ability in both information systems and financial management to GraceMed, specializing in healthcare services from hospitals to home care to addiction treatment. He is responsible for managing every aspect of GraceMed’s fiscal life, including all accounting processes as well as financial reporting and planning.
Clanita Jiggetts | Compliance & Quality Assurance Officer
With a Masters degree in Business Administration, Clanita is deeply experienced as a manager of medical services. She has managed a number of our Wichita-based clinics for many years, distinguishing herself as both an innovative problem solver and a skilled leader of clinical and administrative staff. In her role as Compliance & Quality Assurance Officer, she manages a staff of quality assurance auditors and helps to ensure both regulatory compliance and optimum clinical outcomes. Clanita employs a proven understanding for best practices that will sustain GraceMed’s established reputation for operational excellence for many years to come.
Julie Elder, D.O. | Chief Medical Officer
Education: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation | Michigan State University | Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Elder brings a wealth of experience in the fields of internal medicine and women’s health to GraceMed. In addition to her patient care responsibilities, she directs and supports the medical services provided by our entire clinical staff throughout our network of clinics. Her careful oversight of our medical team is invaluable to the maintenance of the highest standards for the quality of our care.
Eric DeShazer | Chief Dental Officer
Education: University of Kansas, Emporia State University, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry
Dr. DeShazer was raised in Hutchinson, KS. He spent many years in private practice and as an independent contract dentist with the U.S. Army. Dr. DeShazer is excited to lead and support the dental services to provide quality care to the patients of GraceMed. He enjoys Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, playing pinball, and fishing with his family.
Keith Flippin | Chief Information Officer
Education: Wichita State University, BA Management Information Systems, BA Business Administration, Associates Computer Science, Butler County College, Associates Computer Forensics, Cybersecurity, Southwestern College of Christian Ministries- General Education, Microsoft Certified Application Specialist- MCAS
Patient information and its security are critical priorities at GraceMed, and Keith Flippin is well-prepared to meet the ever-growing challenge of managing our data. After many years of experience in IT management within both corporate and social services environments, Keith came to GraceMed in 2012 to take on the challenge of integrating and optimizing the infrastructure connecting a growing network of satellite clinics. Over the years, he has built a team of IT specialists who continuously advance the performance, utility and security of our data systems across a matrix of diversifying service lines and communities.
Board of Directors
| ![]() Lazaro Vasquez Board Vice-ChairpersonRetired | |
![]() Julie Hedrick, Board Secretary Retired, Wichita Public Schools | ![]() Marlon King, Treasurer InTrust Bank Commercial Banking | ![]() Frank Choriego Associate Director, ASBDC-WSU |
![]() Rob Dakin, DDS Dentist, Comprehensive Family Dentistry | ![]() Fred Ervin Case Manager, Open Door Resource Center | ![]() Tim Norton Retired, Sedgwick County Commissioner |
![]() Rick Woods Topeka Public Schools | ![]() Morley Healy Via Christi Health | ![]() Carolyn Ward Topeka, KS |