Roaring Fork Family Practice

Andrew W. Gisleson, DO

Medicine has always been a calling for me and I grew up with a sense of helping others. I was a typical Midwestern kid living in the farming community of Osage, Iowa, where the values of hard work, respect and giving back were instilled at an early age. I received a Bachelor of Arts from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and my medical degree from Des Moines University, where I chose my emphasis in primary care. As a family medicine physician my broad training allows me to care for newborns to older adults and everyone in between, and I enjoy using this broad knowledge base to solve daily puzzles and adapt to an ever-changing pace. As a physician in the community I have the opportunity to be a leader in the town I serve, just as my own mentors were in my life. My wife and I have two daughters and are excited to raise them in the valley.

Specialties: pediatric care (newborn and adolescent), adult care and geriatric care.

Haley Hoffman, DO

Dr. Hoffman joins Roaring Fork Family Practice in January 2023. To schedule an appointment with her, call 970.963.3350.

Chad J. Knaus, MD

Dr. Chad Knaus is a board-certified family medicine physician at Valley View’s Roaring Fork Family Practice. His education, training, and medical work have taken him to rural destinations around Colorado and the world, including Puerto Rico, Peru, and Guatemala. The last name may be familiar. Dr. Gary Knaus is the longstanding and much-beloved family physician at Roaring Fork Family Practice, and he is Chad’s father. In fact, the two job share in their roles as family medicine physicians.

Dr. Chad is bilingual in Spanish and English. He is well-versed in the full spectrum of rural family medicine, including emergency medicine, pediatrics and geriatrics. Dr. Chad credits his father as a role model. “He’s done nearly everything in family medicine and taken care of a wide variety of people,” says Chad. “His practice has included patients of all ages, and he draws on lots of different skills to take excellent care of people.”

Specialties: pediatric care (newborn and adolescent), adult care and geriatric care.

Dr. Knaus speaks English and Spanish

Karen Locke, MD

Dr. Locke joins Roaring Fork Family Practice in January 2023. To schedule an appointment with her, call 970.963.3350.

Daniel R. Smith, DO

I graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. I did my residency at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver where I met my wife, Diane, who was an ICU nurse there. We spent several years working in Rifle where I worked as a family practitioner and now we live in New Castle with three high-school aged boys. Being a part of the RFFP team allows me to have the time to really listen to my patients. Care needs to be made personal for each individual.

Specialties: pediatric care (newborn and adolescent), adult care and geriatric care.

Lauren F. Sontag, MD

I grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona where my mom was a nurse for one of the beloved local family doctors. I attended medical school at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and still strive to uphold their motto, “The needs of the patient come first.” Prior to joining RFFP in 2014, I completed family medicine residency at St. Mary’s in Grand Junction. I also have a master’s in public health with a special focus on geriatrics and gerontology. It is my privilege to work in primary care: developing relationships with patients, participating in happy moments as well as challenging or sad ones, and being the provider whose job it is to care for the whole person. Though we all practice a broad scope of family medicine, I particularly enjoy caring for babies and children, young women and older adults. During free time, you’ll find our family walking our dog around Carbondale, at children’s events or enjoying the ski slopes.

Specialties: pediatric care (newborn and adolescent), adult care and geriatric care.

Dr. Sontag speaks English and Spanish

Kimball J. Spence, DO

I came to Carbondale in 1992, joining doctors Herrington and Knaus at RFFP. The practice was perfect with obstetrics, pediatrics, and a nice blend of urgent and preventative care. I had just completed my family medicine residency at the University of Nevada, Reno and prior to that, internship at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s hospital in Denver. Before medical school at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, I spent six years as a Forester, ski patrolman and paramedic in Flagstaff Arizona. I strive to maintain a personal relationship and health partnership with patients. Finding a balance between listening and advising, touch and technology, and helping people achieve their peak health potential is my continued passion. My family and I have embraced the Roaring Fork Valley, its fine lifestyle and the many wonderful, diverse, and remarkable people living and working here. It has been a pleasure to be a part of this community, and a privilege to provide medical guidance and care to people of all ages.

Specialties: pediatric care (newborn and adolescent), adult care and geriatric care.

Elizabeth Flood Spidell, DO

I joined Roaring Fork Family Practice in 2010. I grew up in Glenwood Springs and as a young child often found myself at Valley View Hospital; my father was the local pediatrician and I loved tagging along while he saw babies in the nursery. I was drawn to family medicine because of my interest in caring for the whole patient, and often the whole family. I enjoy working with patients of all ages and backgrounds (from infants to the elderly). With each person in my care I take time to listen, and to make a true connection; and then we work together towards health care goals.

I received my training in Family Medicine at St. Joseph Hospital in downtown Denver, and went to medical school in Pomona, California at Western University. Before attending medical school I lived for a year in the Pacific Islands and Nepal teaching English. I also studied Spanish in Guatemala during three separate trips throughout medical school and residency. On my days off you will usually find me spending time with my husband Mark and our two young sons- taking advantage of our beautiful surroundings by skiing, hiking, biking and running (or lately, simply playing in the dirt). It is a privilege to work with such a wonderful team of providers and staff within the amazing community of Carbondale and the Roaring Fork Valley.

Specialties: pediatric care (newborn and adolescent), adult care and geriatric care.

Dr. Spidell speaks English and Spanish

Riley Flake, PA-C

I am honored to be a member of the healthcare team at Roaring Fork Family Practice. I graduated from High Point University in North Carolina with my Master of Physician Assistant Studies. I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Life Science at Kansas State University. I have had experience in the healthcare field ranging from pediatric medicine, behavioral health, family medicine, and working with underserved populations. I also enjoyed teaching anatomy and physiology in the lab at Kansas State. Growing up, I had a wonderful family practice provider that saw not only my immediate family, but my grandparents and great grandparents. I am grateful to have the opportunity to do the same for my patients. Listening, supporting, and advocating for patients is a passion of mine. I believe family medicine offers a unique setting to build relationships and to take an approach to treating the whole person, not just the disease. I also believe in focusing on patient-centered care that is individualized. Developing long-term, meaningful relationships with patients is a true gift.
My husband and I truly enjoy living in the Roaring Fork Valley. We enjoy numerous outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and running. We also love being active members at our church and immersing ourselves in the community.

Specialties: pediatric care (newborn and adolescent), adult care and geriatric care.

Andy Henrichs, PA-C

I joined Roaring Fork Family Practice in 2014. I attended the Physician Assistant (PA) program at the University of Colorado where we were trained with a focus on pediatrics in addition to the standard primary care focus of most PA programs. Prior to becoming a Physician Assistant, I worked as a Certified Athletic Trainer for eight years tending to injuries of student athletes. Five of those years were at Roaring Fork High School and Valley View Hospital Rehab Services.

Specialties: pediatric care (newborn and adolescent), adult care and geriatric care.

Shana Light, MSN, APN, NP-C

Shana is the newest family nurse practitioner at Valley View’s Roaring Fork Family Practice. She began there in 2011 as a registered nurse, where she utilized a diverse skill set to provide quality coordination of care, chronic disease management, and patient education before moving into her new role. Shana attained her Master of Science in Nursing from Walden University in 2020 in preparation for her new duties at Roaring Fork.

“My work challenges me every day, but it also gives me so many rewards. I like to teach patients how to make small changes that have big impacts on their wellbeing, and how to take control of their chronic diseases so they can get out and live their lives.”

Specialties: pediatric care (newborn and adolescent), adult care and geriatric care.

Alyse Poll, NP-C

Alyse is a nurse practitioner with over 10 years of experience in the healthcare field, 4 of which have been focused on advance practice. She obtained her Masters of Science in nursing at Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota with a special focus in adult/ gerontology primary care. Alyse earned her post-master’s certificate from the University of Cincinnati in family practice in 2018.

She recently moved back to the Roaring Fork Valley after practicing for 3 years in Alaska. She enjoys being in the great outdoors with her husband Dan and their newborn son Josiah.

“I enjoy teaching patients about the benefits of lifestyle changes to optimize their health and wellness. I am excited to be back in the valley and serve my community.”

Specialties: geriatric care, adult care and pediatric care (ages two and older).

Jennifer Bouchet, LCSW

Jennifer Bouchet, LCSW, is the Behavioral Health Provider at Roaring Fork Family Practice. In this role, she provides counseling and helps individuals and families connect to resources that help support physical and mental health. Jennifer has been with Roaring Fork since May of 2015.

Jennifer received her Master of Social Work from the University of Denver in 1996, though she says that, “raising my three kids has been one of my best educations.” Her work focus has included advocacy, social work support in home health and hospice settings, and private practice counseling before coming to Roaring Fork Family Practice. She has a particular appreciation of working with people through their grief.

Jennifer is a self-professed home-body although she does enjoy the bike path and the ski slopes. She is trying to like snowboarding as she doesn’t know if she’ll have the energy to Telemark ski forever. Jennifer has discovered the love of being read to by audiobooks through the library system, cooking with her husband as a delightful endeavor and her love of strumming on the ukulele while singing along, is a work in progress.

Carbondale | 978 Euclid Avenue | Carbondale, CO 81623 | 970.963.3350

Basalt | 350 Market Street (Willits Town Center) | Suite 200 B | Basalt, CO 81621 | 970.384.7115