Spirit Lake, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — A Spirit Lake family and obstetric physician will be leaving the daily practice of medicine for an administrative job with Avera early next year.

Dr. Mara Groom from Lakes Regional Family Medicine will become the Chief Medical Officer for Avera Medical Group. The organization says her focus will be on physician relationships, clinician well-being and engagement, quality care, service lines, and leadership development.

Groom received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University, and recently completed her Masters of Business Administrator from the University of Tennessee.

Lakes Regional Healthcare CEO Jason Harrington says although he’s sad to lose Dr. Groom as a member of the local, medical community; he’s excited for the next chapter of her career.