Advanced registered nurse practitioner Melissa Batterton will soon join the staff of St. Luke Physician Clinic. She comes from the Via Christi family practice clinic in Hillsboro.

Batterton will provide care at the clinic four days a week, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Batterton grew up in Tulsa, Okla., and graduated from Wichita State University in 2003 as a family nurse practitioner. She is married and has two sons, 6-year-old Carson and 3-year-old Reed.

She said that when she found out Via Christi was ending its involvement in the Hillsboro clinic, her first goal was to keep her family in Marion County. Her new position makes that possible while still keeping her in the health career she loves.

“It has worked out well,” Batterton said.

Physician assistant Nita Bittle will be leaving St. Luke Physician Clinic prior to Batterton’s arrival. Her final day is Sept. 30.