Our Doctors and Staff

Family Practice Associates P.C.

Meet the Providers

At Family Practice Associates in Kearney, NE, our providers offer medical care for patients at different stages of life. Our physicians are board certified in Family Medicine through the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM). The clinic has been recognized in the Best of Kearney awards since 2017, and Dr. Jessica Hatch and Jami Pritschau have also received individual recognition. Our team provides routine care, evaluation of common health concerns, and guidance on next steps when medical care is needed.

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Anna Bock, M.D.

Dr. Anna Bock joined our clinic in July 2023, as a resident of the UNMC Advanced Family Medicine Training Program. Dr. Bock spends three half days per week at the clinic, caring for patients of all ages. We are honored that Dr. Bock has also chosen to start her career with Family Practice Associates upon completion of her program in July 2025, as a full-time physician. 

Dr. Bock is accepting new patients.

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Kassandra M. Davis, M.D.

 Dr. Davis completed her undergraduate degree at Wayne State College and received her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Medicine in 2015. She completed her family practice residency through UNMC’s Rural Residency Tract in Grand Island in 2018. She joined Family Practice Associates PC on July 16, 2018, and provides a full range of family care services, including OB care. 

Dr. Davis is accepting new patients.

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Jessica M. Hatch, M.D.

Dr. Hatch received her undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and received her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She completed her residency through UNMC's Family Medicine Rural Training Track at Kearney in June 2013. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Medicine. Dr. Hatch joined Family Practice Associates PC in August 2013. Dr. Hatch was awarded Best of Kearney (Doctor) in 2024. Dr. Hatch is accepting new OB patients and newborns.

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Laura A. Hatch, P.A.-C

Laura Hatch completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska at Kearney before earning her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Medicine in 2004. Laura is board certified through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She joined Family Practice Associates PC in 2012.

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Amy J. Herbig, M.D.

Dr. Herbig completed her undergraduate education at Wayne State College and received her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Medicine in 2003. She completed her residency in family medicine through UNMC’s Rural Training Track in Kearney, in 2006. Dr. Herbig is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and has been a member of Family Practice Associates PC since 2006. Dr. Herbig is accepting new OB patients and newborns.

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Robert C. Messbarger, M.D.

Dr. Messbarger graduated from Kearney State College and received his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Medicine in 1990. He completed his family practice residency through UNMC in Lincoln in 1993. Dr. Messbarger is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and has been a member of Family Practice Associates PC since 1993. Dr. Messbarger has recently accepted the inaugural Associate Dean for the UNMC College of Medicine's regional medical school campus in Kearney. He will also continue his practice at FPA on a more part-time basis after October 1, 2024. 

Dr. Messbarger is accepting new OB patients and newborns.

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Kyle S. Myers, M.D.

Dr. Myers received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2013. He then completed his residency through the UNMC Rural Residency Program in Kearney, spending his final two years at Family Practice Associates PC. Dr. Myers joined Family Practice Associates PC as a full-time provider in July 2016. 

Dr. Myers is accepting new patients, including OB patients and newborns.

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Jami Pritschau, M.D.

Dr. Pritschau graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University where she was a member of the NWU track and field team. She received her medical degree from UNMC in 2017 before beginning her residency in Kearney. Dr. Pritschau joined Family Practice Associates PC in August 2020. She provides a full range of family care services, including OB Care. Dr. Pritschau was awarded Best of Kearney (Doctor) and Fan Favorite for providing OB and Gynecology Services, in 2025. 

Dr. Pritschau is accepting new patients, including new OB patients and newborns.

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Abby Richardson, M.D.

Dr. Richardson joined us on January 8, 2024! Dr. Richardson received her medical degree from the University of Science, Arts and Technology in the British West Indies in 2018. She completed her family medicine residency through UNMC's Rural Residency Program, spending two years at our clinic from July 2020 - June 2022 before joining CHI Kearney Clinic where she built a busy practice. We are happy to welcome her back to FPA on a permanent full-time basis. Dr. Richardson is bilingual (English/Spanish) and practice full-range family medicine and OB. Dr. Richardson is accepting new patients, including OBs.

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Tara Stecklein, P.A.-C

Tara Stecklein completed her undergraduate studies at Newman University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Biology before earning her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2011. Tara is board certified through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Tara joined Family Practice Associates PC in July 2018. 

Tara is accepting new patients.

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LeAnne Larson, ARNP-NP

LeAnne Larson completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska Medical Center at Kearney before earning her Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner at Clarkson College in 2014. LeAnne joined Family Practice Associates PC in 2015. 

LeAnne sees patients in our walk-in area.

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Kendall Niehaus, D.O.

Dr. Kendall Niehaus joined Family Practice Associates on July 15, 2024. Dr. Niehaus completed her undergraduate education at St. Cloud State University. She received her medical degree from Des Moines University in 2023 before starting her residency program through UNMC. Dr. Niehaus will spend two half days per week at our clinic, caring for patients of all ages. 

Dr. Niehaus is accepting new patients.

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Amy Pape, APRN, FNP-C

Amy Pape completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska at Kearney before earning her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2020. Amy joined Family Practice Associates PC in 2022. Amy sees patients in our walk-in area. Amy has also joined Dr. Messbarger and Dr. Myers in providing prenatal visits to OB patients.

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Michaela Parrish, P.A.-C

Michaela Parrish completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln before earning her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at UNMC in 2018. Michaela is Board Certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She joined Family Practice Associates PC in 2022. 

Michaela sees patients in our walk-in area.

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Kayla Steenson, P.A.-C

 Kayla Steenson completed her undergraduate degree at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln before earning her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at UNMC in 2017. Kayla is Board Certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. 

Kayla joined Family Practice Associates in 2018, and sees patients in our walk-in area.

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Tucker Vahle, M.D.

Dr. Tucker Vahle completed his medical degree at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine before starting his rural residency program through UNMC. He joined our clinic in July 2025, and will spend the last two years of his residency with us. Dr. Vahle spends two half days per week at the clinic, caring for patients of all ages. 

Dr. Vahle is accepting new patients.

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Justin Engberg, M.D.

Dr. Justin Engberg completed his medical degree at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine before starting his rural residency program through UNMC. He joined our clinic in July 2025 and will spend the last two years of his residency with us. Dr. Engberg spends two half days per week at the clinic, caring for patients of all ages. 

Dr. Engberg is accepting new patients.

Team

Co founder, Chairman, Executive Director

UNMC Rural Residency Program

Family Practice Associates is proud to be a site for UNMC's Rural Residency Program.


Residents from UNMC spend two years with us, under the supervision of Program Director, Dr. Jami Pritschau, and our other physicians. The following providers are currently practicing with us:

  • Kendall Niehaus, D.O.
  • Tucker Vahle, M.D.
  • J.T. Engbert, M.D.



Are you a resident or medical student who wishes to learn more about our program?

Learn more about what the rural residency program is like in Kearney by watching these short videos: Family Practice Associates Residency Program; CHI Good Samaritan Hospital.