Mayo Clinic Health System – Albert Lea and Austin is welcoming new physicians, nurse practitioners and a psychologist to their care teams.

In Albert Lea and Austin, Nicole Varela, M.D., joined the Anesthesiology Department in late August. She received her medical degree at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, and completed residencies in anesthesiology and internal medicine at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Rochester. She is board certified in anesthesiology and internal medicine.

Angela Chisholm, certified nurse practitioner in Family Medicine, started seeing patients on the Austin campus on Sept. 5. Angela received her master of science degree as a family nurse practitioner at Allen College in Waterloo, Iowa, and completed a bachelor of science in nursing at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. She is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Her professional interests include women’s health. To schedule an appointment with Angela in Albert Lea in Family Medicine, call 507-668-2041.

Sarah Minter, certified nurse practitioner in Urgent Care, started seeing patients in Austin on Sept. 5. Sarah received her master of science degree in family nurse practitioner from Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin. She has completed a family medicine and express care residency in the Mayo Clinic Nurse Residency Program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. To schedule an appointment with Sarah in Austin in Family Medicine, call 507-433-8758.

Melanie DeVries, certified nurse practitioner in family medicine, started seeing patients in Austin on Sept. 19. Melanie received a doctorate of nursing practice from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. She is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Her professional interests include women’s health and mental health care. To schedule an appointment with Melanie in Austin in Family Medicine, call 507-433-8758.

Nathaniel Lombardi, Ph.D., started seeing patients in behavioral health on the Albert Lea campus on Sept. 24. He received a doctor of philosophy in clinical psychology and a masters in science in clinical psychology from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lombardi in Albert Lea’s Behavioral Health Department, call 507-373-2384.

Ruaa Al-Ward, M.B.B.S., started seeing hospital patients in Albert Lea and Austin on Oct. 8. She received her medical degree at the College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University in Baghdad, Iraq.

She has completed an internal medicine residency at McLaren Hospital at Michigan State University in Flint, Michigan, and at King Hussein Cancer Centre, Amman, Jordan. She also completed hematology training in leukemia at MD Anderson Cancer Center/University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Amman.

Dr. Al-Ward most recently completed a hospital medicine fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Nicole Lovat, M.D., started seeing patients in Family Medicine in Austin on Oct. 8. She received her medical degree at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Medicine in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and also completed residency in rural family medicine at the University of Manitoba. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lovat in Austin’s Family Medicine Department, call 507-433-8758.

To see a complete listing of all of Mayo Clinic Health System’s physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants go to www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org and click on Albert Lea or Austin.