Michael Havekost, MD

I am the youngest of 3 boys born in West Point, NE, and raised in Fremont, NE.  My father was a US Post Office letter carrier who taught me to work hard and pay attention to details.  My mother was a kindergarten school teacher who encouraged me to always do my best with a positive attitude—my day is “great and getting better” she would say.  Their lessons and encouragement followed me to the University of NE-Lincoln.  I initially majored in computer science, but noted quickly that I enjoyed working with other students more than computers.  I read a book called “Operation Prayer” that provided a list of prayer requests for other countries and their needs.  I noticed the frequent need for medical doctors.  It was at that time that I changed my major to chemistry and took classes to prepare for medical school.  Before medical school I married my college sweetheart, Sandy, and we headed to Omaha to attend the University of Nebraska College of Medicine.

Following medical school, we headed to Wichita, KS, and I completed a family medicine residency at St. Joseph Family Practice where I was chief resident in the third year.  After becoming a Board Certified Family Physician in 1991 we landed in Beatrice where we have remained.  We have been fortunate to raise our 5 children here—Allison, Betsy, Caleb, Danielle, and Elijah.  Beatrice has been very good to us with many medical opportunities as well.  I had the blessing to work at the Gage County Medical Clinic for 17 ½ years before moving to the emergency department in 2008.  I have also been able to work with the hospital to develop a palliative care program, work as a hospitalist, and develop a nursing home comprehensive care program.  However, I miss the close patient-physician relationships I was able to develop when I was first in practice.  For the last 5 years I have researched the new Direct Primary Care (DPC) approach to medicine.  With a smaller patient panel and more time with patients, I am able to return to the personal nature of medicine, providing care like a doctor who is a friend of the family, with affordable, value-laden care.