Sidney Regional Welcomes Two New Doctors

Sidney Regional Medical Center has two new doctors on staff with similar backgrounds.

Dr. Sara Sholar has joined the staff as a doctor of osteopathic medicine and medical doctor. In addition to studying medicine, she has a focus on osteopathic manipulation therapy.

She graduated from medical school in Florida, moving to Orlando after growing up North Carolina.

“This is my first job out of training,” she said recently.

She has three years experience in family medicine with experience in delivery and treating families. She added the D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) and had an extra interest in women's health when finishing school. Her goal was to be able to practice the full spectrum of health needs, from delivery to family issues. Some of her focus includes prevention and lifestyle: nutrition, activity, disease prevention and smoking.

She and her husband arrived in Sidney in mid-August, between the Cheyenne County Fair and Oktoberfest. She is intimidated by the small town charm of Sidney. To the contrary: it is familiar in a general sense.

“I grew up in a small town,” she said. “My husband and I fell in love with Sidney when we came here.”

She said a funny fact about them is she and her husband are high school sweethearts.

“We just celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary,” she said.

She works primarily in the clinic, and called to the hospital when needed.

“I really like it. Everybody's been very nice, very welcoming,” she said.

She and her husband and their two dogs enjoy outdoor activities. Her husband is an artist who is working on developing an online presence.

She chose to pursue medicine after an experience taking care of a young pregnant mother. Through the mother's miscarriage, she and the mom developed a relationship that continued when she came back a year later, not wanting anyone but Sholar to take care of her.

Dr. James Popovich is a family practice physician who completed a fellowship in women's health. He is originally from Tampa, Fla. He spent 1 ½ years in the Caribbean then lived in Michigan.

His stop in Sidney was one in a series of interviews.

“I interviewed a lot of small towns,” he said.

He said he and his family left Florida for the smaller, simpler lifestyle. He said much of Florida is too crowded for his family.

“I want a small town, and I want to live in that town the rest of my life,” Dr. Popovich said.

He said they already appreciate the open spaces of Cheyenne County.

He and his wife have four boys ages nine months to five years of age. Two of the boys already play hockey in a league in Cheyenne, Wyo.

When asked why he chose medicine, he recalled conversations with his grandmother when he was three and four years old. He didn't start college until he was 20, and then didn't fully get hold of the medical career until he was a junior-senior. He started college as a chemistry major.

He said one of his joys in medicine is delivery. He refers to the first time seeing a child as excitement.

“I love it,” he said.

In his one year fellowship, he delivered 200 to 300 babies, about 100 c-sections.

In his personal time, he likes to hunt. He is learning to focus on the “mulies” in the area after watching for white tails while in Michigan.

They are also remodeling a house near Lorenzo. He said it is a lot of work, but he loves it.

They are in a transition stage, a young family of six living in a rental with less than 1,000 square feet while preparing to move into a house and 320 acres.