Family Practice and OB
Roland G. Beckering, MD
The longest-working of the local physicians, Dr. Beckering has practiced medicine for over 46 years and is board certified with the American Academy of Family Practice.
Dr. Beckering earned his under graduate degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN and then earned his MD from Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa. He came to this area in 1962, when he joined the staff of the Ashton Memorial Hospital in Pipestone. A long time resident of Edgerton, Dr. Beckering is married and has four children and six grandchildren.
Larry D. Christensen, MD
Dr. Christensen has practiced medicine in Pipestone since 1978, when he moved here to set up a family practice clinic. He and his wife Barb have three children.
All told, Christensen has 27 years of medical experience, He attended college first at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, then at Loma Linda (CA) University where he earned his M.D.
Gregory A. Cooper, MD
A practicing physician for more than 17 years, Dr. Cooper received his undergraduate degree from South Dakota Sate University in Brookings, and his medical degree from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion in 1983. He and his wife Sue are parents of three daughters and two sons.
Board certified with the American Board of Family Practice, Dr. Cooper first worked in Pipestone from 1987 to 1991. He then moved to Sioux Falls, S.D. to work at Central Plains Clinic, but returned in 1995 to join the Pipestone Medical Group.
Bruce W. Kocourek, DO
Dr. Kocourek is a graduate of the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, as well as the Kirksville (Mo.) College of Osteopathic medicine in 1985.
Dr. Kocourek is board certified with the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. Married to wife Diana and father of three children, he worked at the Jackson Medical Center prior to joining PMG in 1995.
Michael L. Lastine, MD
Dr. Lastine has practiced medicine for more than 29 years, serving in Pipestone for 27 of those since moving here in 1978.
He is a graduate of Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska, and a medical graduate of Loma Linda (CA) University in 1975. He is board certified with the American Academy of Family Practice.
Dr. Lastine is the father of five children.
Matthew D. Viel, MD
Dr. Viel joined the Pipestone Medical Group family in September of 2004. A graduate of Loma Linda University he did his family practice residency in Sioux Falls through the Family Practice Residency Program. He is based and resides in Edgerton, MN but works in all three Pipestone Medical Group locations.
Dr. Viel and his wife Jen have two sons James and Seth.
Myles F. Zephier, DO
Dr. Zephier is our newest physician on the local medical scene, joining in August of 2009. His Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine is from Des Moines University, Des Moines Iowa and completed his residency at the Sioux Falls Family Medicine Residency Program through the Center for Family Medicine Sioux Falls. S.D.
Dr. Zephier and his wife Melissa have three sons.
General Surgery
K. Theodore Devaraj, MD
Dr. Devaraj has been employed as the Pipestone Medical Group’s general surgeon since 1993, but he has a total of 43 years of medical/surgical experience.
Devaraj earned his medical degree from Christian Medical College
in Ludhiana, India in 1962. After serving an internship and
Residency in New York state, he moved with his wife and two children to Blue Earth MN in 1981.
Board certified with the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Devaraj’s general skills include gynecological surgery, colposcopy, some orthopedic procedures, and gastrointestinal endoscopy, including polypectomies and laparoscopic surgery.
R. J. Summerer, DO
Dr Summerer is a Board Certified General Surgeon who helps us cover surgical coverage. He practices in Madison, SD at the East Plains Surgical and comes to us with many years of surgical experience. He graduated from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines Iowa in 1988 and did his residency as Chief Resident at Des Moines General Hospital. He is married and has 3 children and lives in Wentworth, SD.
Other Providers
Cindy A. Sash, PA-C
Cindy has worked with the Pipestone Medical Group as a Physicians Assistant for Family Medicine for more than 10 years. Originally from rural Austin, MN she attended college at Kettering College of Medical Arts in Ohio, Physician Assistant Program, 1981. Cindy has twin daughters and lives in Pipestone with her two Shar-peis.
Heidi M. Thoreson, PA-C
Heidi joined the Pipestone Medical Group as a Physician Assistant in February of 2007. Heidi was born in Clear lake South Dakota and grew up in Lake Benton, MN. She graduated from the University of South Dakota Physician Assistant Program. Heidi lives with her husband in Dell Rapids, SD and enjoys running, Biking, Home Improvement Projects when she isn't working.
Pathology
Michelle J. Bleile, M.D. - Physician's Laboratory
Visiting Physicians
Cardiology (Heart Care)
Dietitian
Ears, Nose, & Throat (ENT)
Endocrinology/Internal Med
- Enrico Ocampo, MD - Tyler Health Care
Nephrology
Neurology (Nervous System Care)
- Eugenio Matos, MD - Matos Neurology
Oncology (Cancer Care)
Ophthalmology (Vision Care)
Orthopedics (Bone and Joint)
- Erik Peterson, MD - CORE Orthopedics - Sioux Falls, SD
- Corey Welchlin, DO - Centers for Specialty Care - Fairmont, MN
Urology (Urinary Tract Care)
