KMC GASTROENTEROLOGY
Topeka
Dr. Shekhar Challa is board-certified in Gastroenterology and in Internal Medicine. Dr. Challa completed medical school in India and completed his medical training at Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. He has been in private practice since 1987 and was co-founder of Kansas Medical Clinic in 1998. He currently serves as President and has been the principle investigator for 17 different clinical research trials.
Shekhar Challa, MD
Dr. Richard Tay graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of California Los Angeles in 1981 and his Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1986. Dr. Tay has practiced gastroenterology for over 30 years.
Richard Tay,
MD
Ms. Welborn graduated with a Masters of Science in Nursing from the University of Kansas in 2000. She has worked at KMC Gastroenterology since 2001 and is part of Kansas State Nurses Organization. Ms. Welborn is also a Sub-Investigator in several Research Studies being conducted at KMC Research Center.
Laura Welborn, APRN
Ms. Rupp graduated from Washburn University School of Nursing with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing in May 2007 and continued working at St. Francis as a Registered Nurse on the Acute Medical/Surgical unit until May 2015. She then graduated with a Masters of Science in Nursing, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner as a Family Nurse Practitioner, from Washburn University in May 2015. She is a current member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Jayda Rupp, APRN
Ms. Schmale received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing through Washburn University School of Nursing in December of 2010. While going through nursing school, she worked as a patient care technician at Stormont-Vail.
Ms. Schmale has worked in various nursing positions including long-term care/rehabilitation and critical care. Most recently, she worked as a circulating nurse in the operating room at St. Francis.
Ms. Schmale started working as a nurse associate with KMC in early July 2019 and transitioned into her role as a nurse practitioner. She received her Master of Science in Nursing, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner as a Family Nurse Practitioner, from Graceland University in August of 2019.
Michelle Schmale, APRN
Ms. Utech grew up in Topeka and graduated from Washburn University in 1989 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She then graduated with her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Kansas in 2001. Ms. Utech has experience in emergency medicine as well as critical care. She has worked as a gastroenterology nurse practitioner for 20 years in both private practice and academic setting. Ms. Utech is ANCC certified as a family nurse practitioner and is a member of American Nurses Association and Kansas Advanced Practice Nurses Association.
Lora Utech,
APRN