Lara Verhoef, a native to the area, returned to Franklin County after serving her country in the military. This time, she is serving her community in a different way. As a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner at Keystone Urgent Care, Lara faces new challenges each day, which is just the way she likes it.
“Before becoming a nurse practitioner, I worked in the Emergency Room as a Registered Nurse and enjoyed that very much,” she said. “Working in Urgent Care is similar, in that you just never know what you are going to get and each day is a bit different. I really enjoy the team I work with. This job can be stressful and busy, but when we work together for the best outcome for our patients, it is very rewarding.”
Lara chose to work at Keystone because the company’s mission statement resonated with her.
“The philosophy at Keystone, to me, is to do the right thing for the right reason every time,” she said. “This is a philosophy I was taught by a wonderful mentor. The fit has been perfect.”
Lara grew up in Shippensburg in a big family – she is the fifth of eight children. She left the area after high school when she joined the US Air Force and served four years of active duty. She then transitioned to the Reserves in Southern California and Washington state, where she was an Aerovac medic. Her team often transported patients internationally and she cared for them while they were on board. To finish her military career, she moved closer to home and was part of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap.
When she’s not at work, Lara enjoys fly fishing, taking in local history, and hiking.
“I absolutely love to hike,” she said. “A great trail leading to an amazing view is my cure for just about anything. Franklin County, as well as neighboring Fulton County, offers some great hiking trails, not to mention the Appalachian Trail. And the area is full of lots of history. Many of the small towns in the area have some incredible Civil War history.”
An interesting fact about Lara is that she is certified in wilderness medicine, which is using the environment and your instincts to treat patients if modern medicine resources are not available.
Lara loves to meet new people, so if you see her around Keystone, be sure to say hi!
Welcome to Keystone, Lara!
