Waukon family values full-spectrum care close to home
‘You’re in really good hands here’
Angela Mincks knew she wanted her daughters to have the same family medicine provider as herself.
Finding the right fit wasn’t a decision she took lightly though—especially after a 10-year struggle with infertility before welcoming Riley, 2, and Shiloh, 2 months, through in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Wherever the trio chose to go for their care, it needed to be a healthcare facility the Waukon native trusted, and the provider needed to be someone who treated both her and her girls with compassion and respect.
Gundersen Health System immediately came to mind.
“I trust the Gundersen Waukon Clinic with my family’s care,” Angela says.
A clear choice
About four years ago—just before Angela and her husband, Bryan, started IVF treatment—Angela established care with Family Medicine provider Raquel Ristau, PA, at Gundersen Waukon Clinic.
Not only was the location convenient, but it was also clear from the start that Raquel was exactly the kind of provider Angela was hoping to find.
“She’s excellent” Angela says about Raquel. “I don’t feel like a number with her. She takes her time and always answers all my questions.”
After a successful round of IVF in 2020, Angela continued to see Raquel for her annual wellness exam while also receiving prenatal care through the midwifery program at Gundersen La Crosse, where Angela planned to deliver. As Angela’s pregnancy progressed, it became clear that Raquel would be a wonderful provider for her daughter, too.
Full-spectrum care
Unexpected complications at Riley’s birth, combined with common worries new moms often experience, made Angela feel even more grateful to have a trusted provider who she could turn to for her and her daughter’s healthcare.
“Raquel definitely calmed my nerves as a first-time mom,” Angela says. “And a second-time mom.”
When Shiloh was born two years later in 2023, the Mincks returned home to Waukon after delivering in La Crosse and were able to have Raquel perform Shiloh’s 48-hour checkup in Waukon.
“That was so nice,” Angela says. “Raquel got to meet her right away.”
At every appointment, Raquel has made Angela and her daughters feel at home. Being welcomed with open arms—especially when Angela’s are filled with an energetic toddler and a newborn—has meant so much to her.
“Raquel gives us grace and is so patient,” Angela says. “I always feel at ease because I know I’m going to be taken care of and my girls are going to be taken care of at the same time.”
The appreciation is mutual, Raquel says.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to provide care to such a beautiful family. I love watching Riley and Shiloh grow. It’s been a privilege getting to watch Angela flourish as a mother over the last two years,” Raquel says. “I’m honored to provide full-spectrum care to the Mincks family right here in Waukon.”
For Angela, it’s also made a world of difference knowing that exceptional specialty care, like the Labor & Delivery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit teams that saved Riley’s life at her birth, are available within the same healthcare system the family knows and trusts. Bryan Mincks also receives his care at Gundersen Waukon with Jenny Stegen, PA.
“Whether I’m at the Gundersen Waukon Clinic or Gundersen La Crosse Hospital, I know the values don’t change,” Angela says. "You’re in really good hands here.”