Office of Rural Programs

Lander

Lander, Wyoming WRITE Site

Indian Health Service
Wind River Service Unit
Box 128
Ft. Washakie, WY 82514
Phone: 307-332-7300
Fax: 307-332-5753

Nestled amongst the foothills of the eastern slopes of the Wind River Mountains, the eclectic city of Lander is a blend of the Old West and the New West. While the area’s roots are in agriculture, recreation is a major industry due to the city’s proximity to the Wind River Mountains. Also, Lander’s relatively mild climate has made the area popular with “active” retirees. Lander has been recognized as one of the Best Small Towns in America by the book of the same name, and National Geographic Traveler magazine called nearby Sinks Canyon State Park one of the nation’s top 50 state parks. Men’s Journal heaped deserving praise on the community by naming Lander as one of the “Top 25 Coolest Mountain Towns” in the country in 1998. Additional information is available at www.landerwyoming.org

 

Student Perspectives:

“I had an absolutely wonderful experience during my WRITE rotation, specifically because I had the opportunity to become integrated into a rural community health setting–which added to my desire to work in a similar setting and learn healthcare through a rural lens–which will be incredibly valuable in my future career and to spend a significant portion of time in one place. The longevity of my rotation allowed me to solidify relationships with providers, mentors, and community members. ”

– Past Lander WRITE Student

 

Primary WRITE Preceptor

Louisa Mook, M.D.
Pediatrics
Board certified in Pediatrics
Residency: University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Hospital
Medical School: University of Vermont, Robert Larner College of Medicine

louisa.mook@ihs.gov

Participating Physicians:

  • Clint McMahill, MD (Internal Medicine)
  • Laura Gibbons, DO (Family Medicine, OB)
  • Matthew Graf, MD (Family Medicine, OB)
  • Jackie Nelson, MD (Pediatrics)

Site Contact:
Louisa Mook, MD (louisa.mook@ihs.gov)

Clinic:

Students see patients at three different clinics: Fort Washakie (an Indian Health Service Clinic on the Wind River Reservation), Wind River Cares Family and Community Health (a tribal-run clinic on the Wind River Reservation), and Lander Medical Clinic (a private clinic in Lander).  During the rotation the student is expected to see patients independently and provide assessments and plans for their care.  Students will complete introductory training in social determinants of health, historical trauma, and trauma-informed care as part of the unique opportunity to practice medicine on the Wind River Reservation.  Additional learning opportunities include obstetrics with family practice physicians, addiction medicine, newborn care in the community hospital, nursing home visits, and home visits with public health nurses.

Hospital:

Lander SageWest opened in its present location in 1983. The hospital has a full-time Level II emergency room, newborn nursery, and state-of-the-art medical equipment such as a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit and a Stereotactic Breast Biopsy unit, and a remarkable number of physician specialists including orthopedists and general surgeons. The 81-bed facility is part of Scion, a nationwide provider of healthcare services. The hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, is licensed by the State of Wyoming, and is approved for acceptance of Medicare patients.

 
Directions:
To see a map of where we are located and/or get directions from other locations, go to maps.google.com (for directions, click “Get Directions” in the upper left-hand corner where you can input the starting address).
Air Transportation:
There is one flight per day out of Riverton, WY.  Other nearby airports include Jackson and Casper.  The closest large airports are Salt Lake City and Denver.

Extracurricular Activities:

There are a wide range of recreational opportunities including Sinks Canyon State Park that is located within seven miles of Lander offering beautiful scenery, multi-use trails, and mountain access. Popular activities include trail running, rock climbing, swimming, hiking, fishing, mountain biking, fat biking, Nordic and back-country skiing.  You will find the historical South Pass City and Atlantic City thirty miles south of Lander and reminisce about the late 1800s and the gold rush. Lander, WY is a blend of the Old West and the New West surrounded by the foothills of the eastern slopes of the Wind River Mountains. Over 109 years ago the first paid rodeo in the world was staged in Lander and continues today. Lander Pioneer Days is one of Wyoming’s biggest 4th of July events. There are frequent powwows and religious sundances during the summer on the Wind River Reservation. If you are looking for recreation, reliving history, entertainment, relaxation and scenic beauty or just plain fun, Lander has it all.

Weather Trends:
Lander, Wyoming is located at the base of the Wind River Mountains, 5,300 feet above sea level. Between 250-300 days of brilliant blue skies and illumination from the sun is the benefit of such a high elevation. During the summer months, residents and visitors enjoy warm, dry days with cool nights for comfortable sleeping.