Family Medicine Physician Dr. Ryan Vaisler joins Ozarks Healthcare

Ozarks Healthcare recently welcomed Dr. Ryan Vaisler, a board-certified family practice physician, to Ozarks Healthcare Family Medicine as a new provider. Vaisler joins providers Dr. Joseph Barnard, Dr. Samuel Evans, and Dr. Jen Lambert in providing compassionate, coordinated primary care backed by the total resources of the Ozarks Healthcare system.

“The recent addition of Dr. Vaisler to our family medicine team is a huge asset for our health system and community,” Tom Keller, Ozarks Healthcare President and CEO said. “With an increased need for expert primary care, Dr. Vaisler’s experience and skillset, especially with his experience in rural healthcare, will benefit our patients in receiving the care they need close to home.”

Vaisler completed his education at Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine on Cayman Island. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in liberal arts from Douglas College in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.

Growing up, Vaisler’s father was a surgeon, and he always felt that he wanted to pursue medicine as well. But it was an experience during his first year of university that solidified his calling. He traveled to Ecuador to work in a rural community that summer and loved it. He returned for summers after that to continue caring for the rural population and became proficient in Spanish.

On the decision to pursue the specialty of family medicine, Vaisler said, “Everything during medical school interested me; surgical procedures, primary care, inpatient care. Family medicine was the field that allowed me to treat a vast array of medical problems. I realized that choosing the specialty best for me would ultimately translate into the best care for my patients.”

Vaisler relocated to West Plains with his wife, Dr. Karen Johal, a pediatric physician who joined Ozarks Healthcare's Pediatric clinic. He states that they had been looking at bigger cities, but an email from Ozarks Healthcare caught their attention, and after a great conversation and subsequent visit to West Plains, they knew they had found their new home.

“We fell in love the first night,” Vaisler said. “Everyone has been so kind and welcoming. The clinics run great, and we were pleased to find many more specialties here than we would have thought. It’s been a great fit.”

The newlywed couple plans to enjoy settling into their new home, pursue their love of the outdoors, and explore more of what the Ozarks offer.

Vaisler is accepting new patients. A referral is not required. Contact Ozarks Healthcare Family Medicine at 417-257-5911 for more information. Ozarks Healthcare Family Medicine Clinic is located at 181 Kentucky Ave. (Highland Park) in West Plains and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

To learn more about Ozarks Healthcare’s Family Medicine services, visit https://www.ozarkshealthcare.com/services/family-medicine/. 

Ozarks Healthcare is a system of care encompassing primary care and specialty clinics, along with complete rehabilitation, behavioral healthcare, and home health services. While the 114-bed acute care hospital cares for more than 5,400 admissions, the health system has more than 364,000 patient visits annually in South Central Missouri and Northern Arkansas. For more information about Ozarks Healthcare, visit www.OzarksHealthcare.com.