 OfFice AssistantMelinda was excited to join Vance Medical in the beginning of 2020. Having experimented with alternative health options in the past, she’s glad to be of assistance to others looking to this field. Being the newest member of the team, Melinda is still learning about the therapies offered and the rhythm of the office, and is doing so with a cheerful, teachable attitude. When not in the office, Melinda is most often found in her home where she and her husband, Aaron, are busy raising four kids. In her free time, Melinda enjoys freelance photography, reading, and singing with the local women’s choir, The Musettes.
 about
Dr Vance, MD, FAAFP, BCIM has over 15 years of experience in "conventional medicine" including clinic, emergency room, inpatient hospital and administrative work. He has received extensive training in alternative medicine and had served as the Medical Director for several naturopathic health clinics prior to opening his Vance Medical. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP), is Board-Certified in Integrative Medicine (BCIM), and is a trained Practitioner of Natural Medicine. Dr Vance has worked with naturopathic providers in Idaho as well as from all over the United States, and his extensive training in alternative treatments makes him the ideal liaison between the "regular" medical system and non-traditional medicine. His years of experience have equipped him with the skills to provide effective treatments for many conditions that typically have poor outcomes with standard, Western medical treatment. Through Vance Medical, he is able to combine the best of both worlds and brings the best of what's available to his patients. education
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 medical receptionistSnowy joined the Vance Medical team in October of 2019. She had previously spent the last 6 years in the optometry industry working as a paraoptometric technician and an optician. Her change in industry came after wanting a more fulfilling job that would help provide an outlet for her passion for helping people. While Snowy’s professional medical background is in optometry, she grew up in an alternative household and has always been a holistic person.
In her spare time Snowy enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and dog. She also loves playing competitive video games and runs a video game community of over 500 members. Her adaptability, knack for learning quickly, and sweet, soft personality have made her quite the asset here at the office.  Medical assistantKayleen is a spunky Idaho native who joined the Vance Medical crew in November 2018, bringing with her a fun and fresh perspective on alternative health and wellness. In her role as office aide, Kayleen enjoys meeting new people and getting to know the patients she works with. She can often be found swapping stories, sharing information she’s discovered in her personal developments, and lending an empathetic ear when patients really need to be heard.
In her free time, Kayleen loves researching health articles, listening to wellness podcasts, and spending time with her husband and son. The trio have even been known to fill entire days putting together Lego sets (such as Hogwarts, the castle from Harry Potter).  medical assistantSara stumbled upon the Vances’ clinic in the summer of 2017 as if by grand design (no, really; she worked at a sandwich shop down the road and delivered Dr Vance and LaNita’s lunch one day). The clinic was quickly growing, the Vances were looking for office help and Sara had the perfect prior experience -- she had worked with Dr Vance previously at another naturopathic clinic in Boise. She even knew a fair percentage of his patients already! When she came on board, she brought her expertise with her and was a natural at taking on the front desk and administrative operations.
These days she's working a little less, as she had her first baby in January 2020 and spends more time at home with her family. But you might find her in the afternoons, checking in with patients or catching up on administrative projects.  office manager & iv technician, phlebotomistAs you might be able to guess, LaNita is Dr. Vance's lovely wife. He always says he "married up," and it's evident that they make a great team.
After graduating Kuna High School with Honors, LaNita went to Ricks College where she was on the Dean's List. Her college education was cut short after getting married, as she worked to support her husband's schooling before becoming a full-time, stay-at-home mother of five. This was her honorable, chosen profession for approximately 27 years. In addition to homeschooling and raising her children, LaNita has enjoyed many endeavors over the years including painting, gardening, canning, and homesteading. When the clinic was established in 2016 and the Vance children were mostly all grown and graduated, LaNita stepped in to help Dr Vance open his dream private practice. Coming in as the brains behind the business, LaNita brought to the table her extensive office experience as well as certifications in phlebotomy and IV treatments. In fact, she is the resident expert and leading lady when it comes to the Vance Medical IV room. LaNita is truly the heart behind the clinic and the "go-to" person whenever patients or staff have questions or need additional assistance.  resident expert on BIOIDENTICAL hormone therapyabout
Melinda Hughes, PA-C was born and raised in Meridian, Idaho. After graduating BSU, Melinda traveled to Chile for a surgical exchange program, where she was able to assist in surgery and found great personal reward in helping develop a cultural and medical exchange. Melinda was then eager to get back into school, and was accepted into the Physician Assistant Program at Duke University Medical School. This was the first P.A. program in the United States, and continues to be ranked as the top school for this program. Melinda cares for her patients by relating to the whole person by finding and treating the root cause of their problem and not just treating the symptom. She is a passionate learner, and it gives her great joy to teach her patients, thereby empowering them with the knowledge to understand their medical circumstance so that they can be a part of the healing process with Melinda as they understand their bodies and take control of their health. what does "PA-C" stand for?
In short: Physician Assistant Certified. To earn and retain this designation, a Physician Assistant must pass the national certification board exam every ten years and complete 100 CME every two years, which confirms that the individual has maintained a high level of expertise in all specialties of medicine. education
Melinda was homeschooled at a young age and graduated High School in 1996. She attended Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon, and earned her Associate in Applied Science with highest honors, specializing in Surgical Technology. Graduated from B.S.U. in 2003, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Health Sciences. Graduated from Duke University Medical School in 2006, completing the Physician Assistant Program from Duke with a Master of Health Sciences. experience
While earning her Bachelor’s from BSU, Melinda worked full time in the trauma surgery unit at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center as a Surgical Technologist. After completing her education as a Physician’s Assistant, she joined the team at Terry Reilly Health Services in their mission “to care for the underserved.” During her years of service in “mainstream medicine,” Melinda couldn’t overlook the limited knowledge the majority of health care professionals hold for nutrition and integrative medicine. In her quest for answers to this concern, Melinda has extensively studied, developed expertise, and treated the following areas: Nutritional Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. |
Vance MedicalAddress:
1001 N. Meridian Rd Meridian, ID 83642 Phone: (208) 258-7558 Fax: (208) 717-9595 Email: info@vancemedical.com |
Office HoursMonday – Thursday
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Friday – Sunday Closed Hours May Vary!
Please call the office to verify days and times. Thank You |
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