Founded as a not-for-profit organization in 1892 by Richard A. Guthrie, MD, Endocrinologist, Joseph W. Hume, MD, Obstetrician/Gynecologist, and Leslie W. Nesmith, MD, Retinologist, Great Plains Diabetes (GPD) provides clinical care and education to patients and families of all ages.
The organization participates in innovative research, provides telehealth services, public and professional education, and youth activities including the day camp Camp Live Well for children.
Great Plains Diabetes operates an Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner clinic supported by Rami Mortada, MD, Endocrinologist, as collaborating physician.
We accept most insurances for our clinical services as well as self-pay. As a non-profit, we accept donations that allow us to offer services to everyone with diabetes as well as support healthy community activities.
Surrounded by staff and friends from decades of health care service, Dr. Richard Guthrie receives Lilly’s 10- and 25-year medals for living with diabetes on insulin.
Pictured are Terry Burlakoff, Lindy Childs, Rita Pedigo, Julie Dvorak, Debbie Hinnen, Kirby Conley, Drs. Diana and Richard Guthrie.
Our Providers
Belinda Childs
Belinda Childs is Executive Director and a Diabetes Clinical Nurse Specialist at Great Plains Diabetes. She is also an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Nursing at Wichita State University. She graduated from Wichita State University with a Masters in Nursing, Diabetes Nurse Specialist. She started working with Drs. Richard and Diana Guthrie at KU Medical School-Wichita in 1979, moved to MidAmerica Diabetes Associates and was with them from 1985 until Dr. Guthrie’s retirement in 2014. She then founded Great Plains Diabetes Clinic with the support of the Board with Julie Dvorak, RN,CDE and Rita Pedigo. Mrs. Childs served as editor for Diabetes Spectrum from 2001 to 2005, is the editor of The Complete Nurses Guide to Diabetes Care, and has authored several publications. She is a member of American Association of Diabetes Educators, the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, and the American Diabetes Association (where she is a past president of Health Care & Education) and the Kansas Advanced Practice Nurses, currently serving as a Director, CNS. Mrs. Childs is the 2010 recipient of the American Diabetes Association's Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award and the 1997 recipient of the American Diabetes Association Dr. Rachmiel Levine Award. She also served on the 2005/2012 ADA Advisory Panel on hypoglycemia and has served on the International Hypoglycemia Study Group board since it’s inception. She has been married to Rick since 1975, has two adult children, and enjoys her farm on weekends in North Central Kansas.
Amanda Ast, FNP-C, BC-ADM
Amanda is a family nurse practitioner who is board certified through AANP and also is board certified in Advanced Diabetes Management. She has been with Great Plains Diabetes since January of 2018. She provides diabetes care and education for all ages as well as provides pump education and is certified for implantation of the Eversence Glucose Sensor. She was drawn to diabetes care because she has a niece and sister-in-law with type 1 diabetes. She is married to husband, Chris, and they have three children, Wyatt, Emma, and Lilly.
Our Staff
Kris Johnson
Kris was initially a volunteer for Great Plains Diabetes as her father was a founding father of Great Plains Diabetes Research, Inc in 1983. She still volunteers as a member of the Board of Directors and serves as secretary of the Board. She works part time in the office as an office assistant, helping schedule new patients for care and education, as well as other clerical activities. She graduated from Wichita State University with a BA in Human Resources and has a banking work history. She is married and has one daughter.
Lisa Molt, RN
Lisa joined us in August of 2020 as a diabetes nurse. She has been a nurse for over 11 years with an expertise in cardiac care. She is married, has a young daughter and loves to cook. She enjoys supporting others who may be needing extra motivation or encouragement.
Rita Pedigo, Office Manager
Rita is a founding staff member of the Great Plains Diabetes Clinic. She came with Belinda Childs, APRN and Julie Dvorak, RN, CDE to open the diabetes clinic after working at MidAmerica Diabetes Associates for 8 years. She has been instrumental in guiding the development of the clinic policies, insurance contracts, credentialing for the providers and is the smiling face and cheerful voice that our patients hear when they call our office. Rita has taken a lead in the public diabetes event that we have hosted for 4 years, Live Well with Diabetes. She is a wife, mother of 3, and grandmother of 5.
Allison Childs, RN, BSN
Allison works a few days a week supporting people with diabetes at Great Plains Diabetes. She works full time at Via Christi Hospital on the oncology unit. She started working at MidAmerica Diabetes Associates in medical records when she was in high school, volunteered at Camp Discovery in high school and continues to be a camp nurse. She graduated from Newman University as a nurse in 2011.
MaKenzie Tade
MaKenzie is a premed student at Kansas University. She has worked with us for nearly 2 years as medical assistant and special projects coordinator. She is not afraid to tackle any project she is given. She covers vacations/time off when she is home from college and is able to do some work via the internet while at school as well as managing special projects. We continue to encourage her to choose the field of endocrinology in her future.
Our Board
Steve Hayes, President
Doug Minson, Vice-President
Kris Johnson, Secretary
Casey Woolfolk, Treasurer
Frankie Francel, Consultant
Bill Cantwell
Debbie Hinnen
Bob Hamrick
Will Hukle
John Smith
Micheal Varenhorst
Paul Weishaar
Diana Guthrie
Matt Thibault
Tammy Taylor
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