Holly Hink: 'Getting on Their Level'

Ashley Munn’s 3-year-old daughter Aspen is quiet and shy. Ashley says Aspen, “doesn’t really warm up to people,” so interactions with other adults can be a challenge, even something as simple as going to the doctor.

Struggling to find a practitioner who could help Aspen feel more comfortable during appointments, someone recommended that Ashley take Aspen to Campbell County Medical Group’s Kid Clinic, where practitioners specialize in working with children. Created through a partnership with Campbell County Health and Campbell County School District a few years ago, the Kid Clinic is a school-based pediatric clinic offering medical and counseling services for children.

Nurse practitioner Holly Hink joined the Kid Clinic last year, and when Aspen and her mom Ashley first met Holly, they were impressed.

“She’s very welcoming,” Ashley said. “Holly makes you feel super comfortable. She will sit and talk with you, and you’re never rushed out of the office.”

Although Holly is a nurse practitioner, Ashley affectionately refers to her as “Dr. Holly,” which speaks to the trusting relationship that Holly tries to build with each patient and their parents.

“I have only ever wanted to work with children,” Holly said. “It’s a different mentality of getting on their level,” which is exactly what Holly does during appointments. Usually she is down on the ground playing with a child or conversing with them about their favorite toy, or visiting about how school is going so the children feel comfortable with her.

“You have to allow the child to develop trust in you and be patient with them,” Holly said.

One of only a few school-based health clinics in the country and the only one in the state, the Kid Clinic is a unique mix of medical and mental health practitioners who can coordinate with school counselors to provide consistent care for children in the community.

Working with children from 2 weeks old to 18, Holly not only sees patients on the medical side of the clinic, but she also collaborates with the counselors at Kid Clinic so the children they work with have their needs met both physically and mentally.

“It’s a huge blessing having counselors right outside my office door,” Holly said. “Having them here in clinic with me is a huge benefit for patients. I can just walk across the hall and communicate with them.”

While Ashley is early in her parenting journey with Aspen and another baby on the way, she already sees herself bringing her children to the Kid Clinic far into the future. Because of Holly’s ability to help Aspen feel comfortable and address any concerns that Ashley has about her, Ashley said bringing her children to the Kid Clinic is an easy choice.

“It’s a different experience,” Ashley said. “Dr. Holly will sit and listen to you and your concerns.”

Holly wouldn’t have it any other way.

“My goal is to treat patients and families the same way I treat my own family,” Holly said.

The Kid Clinic is a school-based pediatric clinic in Gillette, Wyoming. The medical clinic serves children ages 2 weeks to 18 years old; and counseling services for children 4 years old to 21 years old. It is located at 800 Butler Spaeth Rd., across from St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Gillette, Wyoming. The Kid Clinic is open Monday-Friday from 8 am-5 pm. For more information, call 307-688-8700 or visit www.cchwyo.org/services/pediatrics/kid-clinic/.

Article written by Kim Phagan-Hansel, Wyoming freelance writer