February 1, 2006

Dr. Ernest Perea Joins Hawarden Community Clinic

Dr. Ernest M. Perea

Dr. Ernest M. Perea has joined the medical staff of the Hawarden Community Clinic and Hawarden Community Hospital.

A graduate of the Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Dr. Perea completed his family practice residency at the Mercy Mayo Family Practice Clinic in Des Moines. Following his residency, he delivered care at the Chinle Navaho Reservation in Arizona, as a locum tenens physician in Ohio, and in many communities in Iowa.

“Dr. Perea brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to the Hawarden area community,” said Becky Jacobs, manager of Hawarden Community Clinic. “We are very excited to welcome him.”

Chad Markham, CEO/Administrator of Hawarden Community Hospital, said Dr. Perea would be an asset to the medical community.

“We know Dr. Perea will be instrumental in the further development of medical services and delivery of patient care of the highest quality,” Markham stated.

A native of New Mexico and former resident of southern California, Dr. Perea is fluent in three languages: English, Spanish and Russian. Prior to entering medical school, he was a Russian linguist in the U.S. Air Force, and later worked for the National Security Agency (NSA) in Washington.

Because Dr. Perea is fluent in Spanish, the Hawarden Community Clinic is looking forward to better serving the needs of Spanish-speaking patients, according to Dr. Perea.

“We welcome patients who speak only Spanish from throughout the area,” he said. “We will be very proud to serve the Hispanic community in language and culture.”

Upon graduation from the Creighton University School of Medicine, Dr. Perea was awarded the Dr. Maurice Stoner, MD Award, special recognition of the graduating physician who demonstrated the highest degree of compassion.