Non-Surgical

Surgical Procedures

Testimonials

My experiences at this office have been nothing but positive. Dr. Merkel is very gifted and strives for excellence. I trust his judgement totally and always feel that he does everything he can to provide the best possible outcome for his clients. His staff are all highly trained and very professional  I always feel welcome at this office and I would encourage anyone who is considering this type of service to visit them.  My rating: 5 Stars

THE TEAM

Dr. Merkel takes pride in putting together a team of knowledgeable professionals and support staff to give you, our patient, the very best care possible. His motto is always: the patient comes first! He believes in educating all of his staff so they may better care for you, our patient. They are continually training to provide you with the highest quality and most up-to-date treatments available. Staff attends local and national educational events to better understand the newest technology and all are either BLS or ACSL certified, sometimes both. Your visit with us will be handled both professionally and confidentially. Staff is here to help you feel welcomed and comfortable in our office! Meet our staff:

Front office support staff:

Lori Golzar: Lori is a nursing student at Mesa State College (or rather, Colorado Mesa University!) and now works in our office part-time doing a variety of tasks while attending school. She is a new employee and we welcome her to our "family". She stocks the Operating Room and the exam rooms, works in the front office and the storage room. Lori is our special "go to" person.

"Lori is very friendly and so far, has fit right in to our office. In the short time she has been here, she has been dependable, energetic, and brought some great ideas about how to improve on her position. We look forward to learning more about Lori as time goes by!!" writes Barbara Lekowicz, about Lori

Marcia Gavigan. Marcia is our Surgery Coordinator and will take you from your first decision to schedule surgery to the final day when your surgery is taking place. She is there to answer surgical and financial questions regarding your surgery so you can feel comfortable and confident in your surgical decisions. She is the liaison between you and Dr. Merkel. When you call Marcia with your questions/concerns, she relays them to Dr. Merkel and either he or Marcia will return your call. Marcia also enters our daily office charges and balances the banking deposit each day, plus many other tasks that she usually doesn't receive recognition for!

Sara Walcher writes about Marcia: "Marcia has been a very dedicated and loyal employee of Dr. Merkel's for the past 12 years. She enjoys getting to know the patients on a more personal level. In her free time, Marcia enjoys spending quality time with her children and grandchildren."

Stacy Hansen. Your first stop in our office will likely bring you face to face with Stacy, our friendly front desk receptionist. Stacy will check you in for your appointment, schedule your return appointments and direct you to the staff member who can best help you and answer your questions. She is also usually the friendly voice on the phone line when you call in to the office. She coordinates everything at the front desk!

"Stacy always has a smile for everyone!" writes Chris Barlow. "She is friendly and outgoing and enjoys helping our patients. Her positive attitude is ever present at our front desk. She has a naturally kindhearted, warm and compassionate personality"

Sara Walcher: Our Patient Coordinator, Coding and Billing Manager, Sara can answer questions regarding procedures, insurance or statement questions and coordinate your care with the appropriate provider. If we need to bill insurance for your procedure, sometimes the insurance maze is difficult to understand and that's where Sara's expertise comes in! She also works diligently on plastic surgery reports and is our "Jill of All Trades" around the office!

Christi Vogt writes that Sara "has been a loyal, knowledgeable and hard working employee of the practice for 12 years. She enjoys weekends with her family - whether it's attending her son Cory's Little League games or dirt bike races with her husband and son, Dustin. They can count on Sara as their biggest fan!"

Clinical Staff

Chris Barlow, Licensed Medical Aesthetician and Certified Laser Specialist. Chris has specialized in aesthetics for over 8 years. She is dedicated to providing corrective Laser Skin Rejuvenation and Non-Surgical Skin Tightening and performs advanced peels, microdermabrasions and acne and skin anti-aging therapies. Chris is experienced in Jane Iredale make-up application. She enjoys attending continuing education conferences and being able to offer a wide spectrum of treatment options. Chris enjoys using her advanced knowledge to customize homecare programs for patients, to include prescription strength products and ingredients. Her gentle manner soothes patients and instills instant trust in her skills. Chris has recently taken on the enormous task of ordering supplies for the OR and has proven herself competent and dependable in this new skill.

"Chris is an easy person to like" writes Stacy Hansen. "She is sweet and friendly but also very knowledgeable and professional. She will make you feel comfortable right away. Plus, it's easy to trust in her great skin care advice because she is an amazing example of how our products can help give you gorgeous skin!"

Vicki Filz, RN, MSN, FNP-BC. Vicki is a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner with over 16 years experience. She began her career in the dermatology field treating skin diseases, skin cancers and performing minor dermatological surgeries. Vicki now specializes in cosmetic dermatology and has mastered the fine art of injectables, laser treatments, and vein treatments. Patients have come to know and trust her judgment and diagnosis of skin conditions. She has also become a teacher and trainer to employees, helping them expand their knowledge base regarding skin care.

"Vicki is professional and compassionate with her patients" writes Christi Vogt "and her extensive knowledge in the field of laser aesthetics has taken her to another level as she has become a mentor to her colleagues. Vicki enjoys teaching aerobics and being outdoors with her husband and two Sheba Inu dogs!"

Joan Hettinger, RN, MSN, FNP-BC. Joan is a Certified Nurse Practitioner who, for forty years, has had the privilege of caring for patients across their lifespan. Joan's practice emphasis now is in Age Management Medicine and Balanced Bio-Identical Hormone Replenishment. She is director of our Anti-Aging/Bio-Identical Hormone Program and is an experienced provider with advanced knowledgein this exciting hormone-balancing field. Joan has studied about hormone therapies and has taken numerous advanced courses to assure that her treatment plans follow current recommendations. Her mission is that this wellness-promoting therapy will be done safely, effectively and in a caring manner. She is also the competent "relief" nurse for the surgical staff.

"Joan is my hormone guru" writes Barbara Lekowicz. "She is so knowledgeable, but if she sometimes can't quite put her finger on the answer - she researches until she finds it! She is so compassionate and caring and understands what men and women need, to feel the best that they can feel!"

Christi Vogt, Licensed Medical Aesthetician and Certified Laser Specialist. Christi has 12 years experience in the aesthetic field, 7 of which have been at Dr. Merkel's practice. She has advanced training in lasers, IPL and Radio Frequency treatments. She has extensive knowledge in skin care and performs microdermabrasions, acne, skin cancer and anti-aging therapies. Christi has studied product ingredients and knows which of our products to recommend to patients for their home care regime. She also has a very artistic eye for custom make-up application with our line of Jane Iredale mineral make-up and offers make-up application consultations. She attends continuing education conferences at the state and national level to bring the latest in technology to her patients. Christi also enjoys preparing our quarterly newsletter so our patients can stay informed.

Vicki Filz writes that Christi "is full of new innovative ideas and loves to bring her thirst for knowledge to the office to share with staff and patients. She has a true desire to help people and this is evident in her compassionate and caring approach to patient care. I have always trusted Christi to perform any treatment to me and I know you will too!"

Surgical Staff

Wendy Cooper: Surgical Technologist. Wendy comes to us from St. Mary's Hospital and joined our surgical team to work with Dr. Merkel in surgery. She has proven herself to be competent, knowledgeable and skillful in her position. She enjoys our patients and helps them with their post-op care. Wendy has joined Chris in taking on responsibilities of ordering supplies for the OR.

"Wendy is a breath of fresh air" writes Barbara Lekowicz. "She has such a zest for life and is enthusiastic about all her duties in the office and OR. Her wit keeps us on our toes and is appreciated by her co-workers and patients alike."

James Drudge, RN, Our Sedation Nurse, James is the member of the surgical team who provides conscious sedation during surgery. He also interacts with surgical patients before surgery and in the recovery room. A man of many talents, James is also the office "help" person for maintenance repairs and "manly" tasks.

Joan Hettinger writes that "working with James is certainly not "drudge"ry. He is pleasant, witty and a great example of a patient advocate. He is very skillful in his responsibilities before, during and after surgery, which helps make patients feel comfortable with the process."

Managing the Practice

Barbara Lekowicz: Practice Manager. As an MGMA (Medical Group Management Association) member and ACMPE Nominee,(American College of Medical Practice Executives)  Barbara has been managing medical practices in the Grand Valley for over 20 years. She joined Dr. Merkel 12 years ago and has been instrumental in keeping his practice nationally accredited through the JCAHO organization, and making sure it is a smooth running, successful practice. Barbara is pleased to represent this high-tech, progressive medical/surgical practice and has thoroughly enjoyed all she has learned in the exciting field of plastic surgery and aesthetics. She is also Co-Chairman of the Mesa County Medical Office Managers Group and involved in Mesa County Medical Society meetings.