Anesthetists

Ronald J. Keller, CRNA, MS

Ron is the President and founder of Special Anesthesia Services. He is a lifelong resident of Derby, Kansas, as is his wife Carol. She is a pediatric physical therapist for the Derby school district.

Ron received his undergraduate degree from Friends University and his Masters Degree from the University of Kansas. His nursing background was in Coronary Care, and he spent years as an Emergency Medical Technician with the Derby EMS.

Completing his anesthesia certification in 1981, Ron spent the next fifteen years working in the hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers of Wichita, KS. He was a clinical instructor, teaching anesthesia residents, and nurse anesthesia students, as well as serving as the operating room clinical coordinator for Southwestern College and Hutchinson Community College EMICT programs. During those years he spent many weekends providing relief services to fellow anesthetists in rural hospitals around Kansas.

In 1989, Ron also began providing in-office sedation services in Wichita dental and medical offices in his spare time. The demand for high-quality sedation care grew, and Special Anesthesia Services evolved into an anesthesia practice limited to dental offices exclusively.

Ron, along with Marc Williamson of McPherson, KS, have formed a combined rural and office anesthesia rotation for the students of the University of Kansas Nurse Anesthesia Program. This is the only rotation of its kind in the country.

In their spare time, the Kellers enjoy scuba diving and watching Wichita State athletics. Ron is an avid four wheel drive enthusiast and amateur mechanic, spending nearly as much time under his old jeep as inside it.

Marc is a native of Hutchinson, Kansas. He received his nursing degree from Wichita State University, and upon graduation, worked in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, in Wichita, KS. Marc received his anesthesia degree from Kansas Newman College, in Wichita.

Marc has spent much of his anesthesia career as a rural anesthetist, providing anesthesia services for community hospitals. He is currently the Director of Anesthesia Services at Memorial Hospital, in McPherson, KS. He was among the first anesthetists in Kansas to offer obstetrical epidural services in a community hospital setting. Marc was also a pioneer in delivering rural pain management services, and still has a robust practice in this specialty.

Marc, along with Ron Keller, teamed together to form a unique experience for the anesthesia students from the University of Kansas. This one-of-a-kind rotation provides exposure to community hospital, pain management, and dental office anesthesia for these students. No other rotation of its kind exists among university anesthesia educational programs.

Marc is married with two children. His wife, Carla, is heavily involved in community service, and their children are both in college. Marc's hobbies include fine wines, scuba diving, karate, weight lifting, and flying. He is an accomplished pilot, with an instrument rating, and a current interest in aerobatics.

Ryan was born and raised in Kansas. He lives with his lovely wife, three lovely children and two dogs. Some of his hobbies include woodworking and home remodeling. He has been in healthcare for thirteen years.

Ryan chose nurse anesthesia as a profession when he was fifteen years of age. He acquired his certification as a nurse's aide and worked in a retirement community and hospital part-time to gain experience and to finance his educational goals. After obtaining his Registered Nursing degree he moved to the Kansas City area, where he worked at the Kansas University Medical Center in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit for four years. He completed his Masters Degree in Nurse Anesthesia in December 2005, and became Board Certified in January 2006.

In addition to our office-based dental anesthesia practice, Ryan is a staff anesthetist at Memorial Hospital, in McPherson, KS.

"I look forward to working with you and/or your loved one!" - Ryan Morgan MS, CRNA

Ryan lives in McPherson, Kansas, but was originally from Topeka. After graduating from Washburn Rural High School, he attended the University of Kansas where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 2001. Upon graduation, he was employed at Children's Mercy Hospital where he worked in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. After three years PICU experience he entered the Nurse Anesthesia program at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He received his Master's Degree in Nurse Anesthesia in 2005, and is currently working at Memorial Hospital in McPherson, Kansas, and also providing dental office anesthesia services with Special Anesthesia Services in Wichita, Kansas.

In nursing school he met and married his wife of six years, Heather. She worked as an RN at the University of Kansas Medical Center in the Medical Intensive Care Unit. Heather is now a stay-at-home mom who cares for their little girl who keeps them both very busy. Outside of the hospital and dental offices Ryan enjoys spending time with his family, and playing as many rounds of golf as he can sneak in.

"I look forward to the opportunity to help provide you and your family a pleasant and stress free dental experience".

Abbey Travis, CRNA, MS

Abbey grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas, and currently lives in McPherson, Kansas. She moved to Kansas City to attend the University of Kansas School of Nursing, where she received a Bachelors of Science in Nursing.

Abbey worked in Kansas City, in the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit for one year before moving to Wichita, where she spent the next year working in the Surgical ICU at Wesley Medical Center.

Upon being accepted to the Nurse Anesthesia program, Abbey moved to Fort Worth, Texas, to attend Texas Wesleyan University. Her program's clinical training included rotations in Wichita and Topeka, as well as a pediatric rotation at a Children's Hospital in Fort Worth Texas. She received her Masters of Science degree in Nurse Anesthesia in December of 2006.

Abbey and her husband Scott are expecting their first child at the beginning of 2008. They enjoy watching most sporting events, including baseball, basketball, hockey, football, and racing. Abbey also likes to play softball, run, read, and take naps.

Office Staff

Kim Gates

Kim Gates grew up in Medicine Lodge, Kansas and graduated from high school there. She attended Dodge City Jr. College, receiving a degree in marketing, and also attended Fort Hays State University. Kim moved to Wichita in 1979 and currently lives in Derby, Kansas.

Kim has many years of medical office experience, and has been the Office Administrator for Special Anesthesia Services since September of 2000. Patients and families have benefited richly by the fact that she is the parent of a child with special needs. Her personal experience has led to an understanding and empathy which Kim displays in her caring attitude.

Kim is married and has 2 children. Her favorite activities are going to all of her children's sporting events and school functions, as well as traveling with her family.

Heather McCreight

Heather McCreight was born in Wichita, Kansas and has lived there as well as Eastern and Western Kansas where she graduated high school in Ashland, Kansas. She attended both Fort Hays State University and Wichita State University graduating with honors from the latter in Art Education, with a minor in Art History. She worked as an elementary art instructor for six years in the Wichita Public Schools. After receiving her second endorsement in Elementary Education, she taught in the Derby School District as a fourth grade teacher and math specialist.

Heather is married and has two grown children and one amazing grandson. Her favorite activities revolve around family and friends. Her hobbies include interior design, writing poetry, and creating children stories and songs. She also loves to study art and history, and once her son is out of college, hopes to pursue her masters in these two areas of study.

She has been employed as an office assistant at Special Anesthesia Services since January 2007.