By Russ Pankonin

The Imperial Republican

When Dr. Jeff Kasselman left his family practice here in 2007 to become an anesthesiologist, he and his wife, Annette, always kept it in the back of their minds that they would like to come back.

On Saturday, that became official when Kasselman signed a contract with the Chase County Community Hospital to return as an anesthesiologist and critical care specialist.

Initially, Kasselman was to finish his anesthesia and critical care rotation at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha this June.

But just last week, Kasselman was notified he’s been accepted by UNMC for a one-year pain management fellowship.

As a result, Kasselman said he and his family would return in June, 2011.

While the fellowship delays his arrival by 12 months, Kasselman said it will be a great addition to the training he received at UNMC the past three years.

The pain fellowship will enable him to help patients with chronic pain issues or spinal-related pain to better manage that pain.

While he won’t be here full time until June 2011, he plans to return here periodically, where he covers the emergency room on weekends.

With his new speciality, Kasselman said the surgeons serving the hospital will be able to do more complex surgeries because he will be available for post-operative care.

In addition, Kasselman will be able to do regionalized anesthesia where a limb or other area of the body is deadened without having to put the patient fully under.

He is also trained in obstetric anesthesia, such as epiderals.

Hospital Administrator Lola Jones said the board is really excited about Kasselman’s decision to return.

Kasselman credited the hospital board for their progress over the past several years.

He said the leadership shown by the board was one of the main reasons he decided to come back.

“I wanted to work with them,” he noted.

Jones said having a doctor trained in pain management will be a great asset.

Now, referrals for pain management go to Denver, Cheyenne or Omaha, she said.

Kasselman will also be working in conjunction with the nurse anesthetists that serve the hospital.

Family eager to return

Annette said they are really looking forward to returning to Imperial.

With the additional year, she said that will enable their daughter, Katie, 17, to graduate from Papillion South High School next year.

That will leave Freddie, 13, and Susie, 15, at home when the family returns to Chase County.

Their oldest son, Paul, 21, will be deploying to Afghanistan in the fall with the Army National Guard.

Son Sam graduated from Papillion South in 2009 and is a freshman at Oklahoma Panhandle-State University. He’s studying photo journalism and is playing golf on a scholarship.

Since moving to Omaha in 2007, Annette has served as the clinical supervisor of Methodist Hospital Hospice program.