Mara is passionate about her patients and finds helping people extremely fulfilling.

"My mother is a medical office assistant, and I grew up watching her work at our local doctor's office. I think that influenced my decision to go into medicine the most," Mara said.

She grew up in Stronghurst, Illinois, and has always enjoyed living in a rural community. "…rural health is always a necessity that is one of the reasons I chose to stay with OSF and work for their rural clinic here in Monmouth," Mara said.

Mara chose OSF HealthCare because she wanted an organization that would provide her with an opportunity to expand her career. She started as a registered nurse and then went to the OSF College of Nursing for her nurse practitioner degree.

She chose Family Medicine because it gives her the best of both worlds — pediatric and adult patients. Her clinical interests are in well-child exams, adult preventative exams, illness visits and chronic disease management.

"I enjoy the variety that working in a large clinic provides. Plus, you have the support of multiple staff members should a question arise," Mara said. "I try to treat my patients as I would expect to be treated at the doctor's office. I want to minimize their wait time and address all of their issues and concerns."

She likes being outdoors, walking in the country with her Golden Retriever, and enjoys going on nursing mission trips to Africa.