Our Team
Dr. Spencer Carlstone, MD
Driven by a love for people and science, Dr. Carlstone brings both head and heart to his work as a primary care physician and founder of Sincera Health. After earning two degrees in economics from Baylor University, he followed his calling to medicine—earning his M.D. from the University of Iowa and completing his residency in Waco, Texas. For the next 17 years, he served the Pella community, with additional work in the ER and urgent care settings before launching Sincera.
For Dr. Carlstone, medicine is more than a profession—it’s a sacred trust. He sees the patient-physician relationship as a place of dignity, healing, and deep connection. He genuinely finds meaning in every part of his work, except all the forms and paperwork, he jokes.
Dr. Carlstone and his family have called Pella home for the last 19 years. It’s where he and his wife are raising their 7 children and planting deep roots in a community they love. Outside of the clinic, he’s often racing off to the next family activity, dreaming up his next big idea, or enjoying the simple satisfaction of doing something well—with gratitude for the One who holds it all together.
Podcast he’s listening to: Any The Bible Project. The Wilderness series was profound.
Currently reading: Coddling of the American Mind…for the last 4 years
Favorite ice cream: Yes…all flavors!
On his bucket list: See the Bavarian Alps
Favorite vacation spot: Colorado
Favorite Spotify artist: Brooke Ligertwood
A few of his favorite things: His wife, his kids, learning, mountains, salt water, workship & drums, TexMex (Lupe’s Tortilla, specifically), Good Bar-B-Que (ask him for his recommendations!), lunch with his buddies, that sense of getting something right, the relief of crawling into bed at night knowing I did my best and that He is God
What he would tell you about Sincera: It would take a whole website to describe it and even then, you would need to experience it to believe it.
Angie | RN
With over 30 years of nursing experience, Angie brings compassion, joy, and a deeply personal approach to patient care at Sincera. She has spent more than three decades “loving on people and helping them feel better,” including seven years working alongside Dr. Carlstone.
Angie describes nursing as an art—and it shows in the way she brings warmth, attentiveness, and grace to every patient interaction.
Originally from southeast Iowa, Angie has called the Pella area home for the past 30 years. She and her high school sweetheart, John, have three grown children and three equally wonderful kids-in-law. Whether they’re vacationing together or just spending a quiet evening at home, Angie considers her family one of her life’s greatest blessings.
When she’s not at work, you’ll find her: in the garden in the summer or reading a book in the winter
Favorite music genre: 70s hits or worship music
A few of her favorite things: Jesus, her black lab Indy, colored Sharpies, sitting on the porch with her husband, growing flowers, lightly browned chocolate chip cookies just out of the oven, fish tacos from la Mision Baja peninsula, a long bike ride on a cool day, and a really good backrub
What she would tell you about Sincera: If you want to be seen, heard and loved, come see us at Sincera. You’ll notice a difference.
Katie | BSN, RN
With nearly two decades of healthcare experience and a calling rooted in both compassion and faith, Katie brings depth, heart, and quiet strength to her role as at Sincera. Her journey to nursing began with a moment she’ll never forget—witnessing a tragic accident and feeling powerless to help. That moment stirred something in her. She realized she wanted to be someone who could help.
Katie began her healthcare career as a CNA, then earned her LPN in Texas, followed by her RN and eventually her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in Iowa. Over the years, she’s cared for patients across a wide range of specialties—including nursing home care, hospital settings, mechanical vent units, rheumatology, dermatology, and family practice. She’s passionate about working alongside gifted providers and giving her all to help patients feel seen, heard, and supported.
Originally from near Decorah, Iowa, Katie and her husband now live in Pella with their two children.
At Sincera, Katie feels like she’s found something truly unique. “It’s this amazing place where a doc had BIG dreams and made them a reality—and we’re lucky enough to be part of that journey. You walk in and know: this place is different.”
Favorite ice cream: Sherbet
Currently reading: Miracle Morning
On her bucket list: Traveling to Switzerland
Favorite vacation spot: #1 Turks and Caicos #2 Grand Cayman
Favorite Spotify artist: Forrest Frank and Morgan Wallen
What she would tell you about Sincera: You haven't heard of Sincera?! It's this amazing place where a doctor had BIG dreams and made them a reality, and allowed some of us lucky ones to join him on this journey. You walk in and realize right away that this place is different. This place is special.
Christi | Certified Medical Assistant
With over 31 years of experience as a Certified Medical Assistant, Christi brings a wealth of knowledge, steady hands, and a heart for patient care to Sincera. Christy has built her career across a variety of specialties—including orthopaedics, family practice, dermatology, and most recently, urology—before joining the team at Sincera.
For Christi, healthcare has always been a calling. “I just knew that helping people was what I wanted to do,” she says. “And I’ve never regretted that decision.” Her favorite part of the job? Knowing she made a difference—whether easing a patient’s worry, answering a tough question, or helping someone through a difficult moment with kindness and clarity.
Originally from Perry, Iowa, Christy now lives in New Sharon and is a proud mom of four. When she’s not at the clinic, you’ll likely find her outdoors mowing the lawn, working in the garden, or exploring new places with her Golden Retriever, Olli. She recently checked Niagara Falls off her bucket list and is eager to continue traveling and embracing new adventures.
Favorite podcast: Any crime podcasts
Top Spotify artist: Anything 80s!
Favorite ice cream: Mint chocolate chip
Currently reading: The Inmate by Frieda McFadden
Movie she never gets tired of: Barnyard
A few of her favorite things: Family, friends, any type of pasta, baking, NHL Hockey and Iowa Wild, Iowa State, crime shows, mowing her yard, seeing if she can keep her flowers alive for the whole summer
What she would tell you about Sincera: It is a place where the atmosphere is wonderful and relaxing and the staff is fantastic.
Teresa | Radiologic Technologist
With over 30 years of experience in medical imaging, Teresa brings expertise, precision, and heart to the radiology team at Sincera Health. Her career has spanned hospital and clinic settings, with specialties in X-ray, CT, MRI, fluoroscopy, and surgical imaging. Whether working in small-town clinics or large hospital systems, Teresa has always been driven by a desire to help others feel seen, supported, and truly cared for, especially in their most vulnerable of moments.
She thrives on the variety that radiology offers each day—but it’s the relationships she builds with patients that she finds most rewarding. Her high attention to detail ensures every image she captures is of the highest quality, giving our providers the insight they need to deliver excellent, personalized care.
Teresa lives in Pella with her husband Todd. They are proud parents of Clayton and Sydney (married to Alec), and new grandparents to their sweet granddaughter, Amelia. When she’s not at Sincera, Teresa enjoys reading psychological thrillers, traveling to sandy beaches, and spending time with the people she loves most.
Favorite ice cream: Mint chocolate chip
Something on her bucket list: Take a European river cruise
Favorite vacation spot: The sandy beaches of the Dominican Republic
A few of her favorite things: Family, a night out with friends, cuddling with her granddaughter, a Dutch Boy coffee from The Perk, Twizzler strawberry twists, tacos, reading the next good book
What she would tell you about Sincera: Sincera is a safe place offering truly compassionate, patient-centered care.
Sue | Radiologic Technologist
Sue brings a rich and varied background to her role as a Radiologic Technologist at Sincera Health. After earning her college degree, she spent several years teaching biology and science at Pella Christian High School before stepping into the role of full-time mom. Her passion for the human body and a long-standing interest in X-ray technology eventually led her back to school to pursue radiologic technology.
Sue has since worked as both a radiologic technologist and phlebotomist. She also spent time as a medical scribe for an optometrist before joining the team at Sincera. For her, the most rewarding part of her work is knowing she plays a small but important role in helping others heal.
Born and raised in a small Dutch town in Wisconsin, Sue has called Pella home for over 30 years. She and her husband are proud parents of three married adult children and grandparents to three precious grandchildren.
Podcast she’s listening to: Our American Stories, Crime Junkie, and This Podcast Will Kill You
Currently reading: Silent Night: The Story of the World War One by Christmas Truce
Favorite ice cream: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Movie she never gets tired of: It’s a Wonderful Life and Elf
A few of her favorite things: A good, bubbly fountain Diet Mountain Dew from Casey’s, white cake with LOTS of buttercream frosting, early morning runs—just her and God, seeing her kids and grandkids walk through the door, Lake Michigan, summer, a good antique store, walks with her husband
What she would tell you about Sincera: We are a small clinic with staff who is empathetic and eager to help.
Jessie | Medical Laboratory Scientist
With a steady presence and a heart for patient comfort, Jessie brings precision, efficiency, and kindness to her role. Since completing her Bachelor’s degree, Jessie has spent the past five years building a solid foundation in clinical diagnostics—combining science with compassion to support patients behind the scenes.
For Jessie, healthcare is about more than lab results. “I try my best to ‘be the calm’ in someone’s storm,” she says. Whether offering a reassuring word or simply showing up with a steady hand, she believes that comfort and care go hand-in-hand.
Jessie lives in What Cheer with her husband and daughter, and spends much of her time traveling to support her husband’s basketball coaching at Iowa Western Community College. When she’s not on the road or in the lab, you’ll find her on the farm or spending time with family.
Favorite ice cream: Chocolate
Movie she never gets tired of: The Blues Brothers
Favorite podcast: Anything true crime
A few of her favorite things: Iowa Hawkeyes, KC Chiefs, trying new food spots with her husband, tending to my flowers in summer, cooking & baking
What she would tell you about Sincera: We have a wonderful team here at Sincera. Everyone is top of the line and works together to give our patients the best care possible.
Amy | Medical Laboratory Technician
With a deep love for science, precision, and lifelong learning, Amy brings a unique blend of career experience to her role as a Medical Laboratory Technician. Before joining the medical field, Amy spent 25 years working as a licensed veterinary technician. In 2025, she earned her MLT degree and became ASCP-certified, following a calling that has always been part of her life—thanks to a family full of healthcare professionals.
Amy thrives behind the scenes, where her diligence and sharp attention to detail help uncover the answers that guide care and healing. “Getting results so people can start feeling better—that’s the best part of the job,” she says.
Amy lives in the country outside Knoxville with her husband Gene, daughter Willow, and sons Jack and Emmit. She also shares her home with her cat, Socks. When she’s not in the lab, you’ll likely find her enjoying quiet moments on the patio, preserving garden harvests, or planning her next trip—especially if it’s near the beach.
Favorite vacation spot: Isla Mujeres
Top Spotify artist: Dwight Yoakam
Favorite ice cream: Cherry goat cheese
Currently reading: The Flower Letters — a story subscription that arrives via mail (but you can often find her reading textbooks, too!)
Movie she never gets tired of: Sweet Home Alabama
A few of her favorite things: Spending time with family, pho, lengua tacos, fancy coffee, vintage car shows, sleeping in, a good beach day, relaxing in the sun, gardening and canning and dehydrating produce
What she would tell you about Sincera: This team is a great group of people who truly care about helping everyone feel better.
Nick Kuennen | CEO
Nick Kuennen serves as CEO of Sincera Health, combining his love for people, strategic thinking, and heart for service to help lead the clinic with purpose. Prior to Sincera, Nick spent two decades in the corporate world in a variety of IT and IT management roles.
Though his career began in technology, Nick felt a calling to make a deeper impact in people’s lives. That conviction ultimately led him to Sincera, where he could use his leadership skills to help build something different—a place where people feel known, respected, and genuinely cared for.
One of his favorite parts of the job? Working the front desk. “It gives me a front-row seat to the patient experience,” Nick says. “It’s where I can reconnect with friends in the community and also see firsthand how we can improve care.”
Nick and his wife, Sarah, live just outside of Pella with their four kids: Brynn, Carew, Elle, and Wren. Sarah, the Director of Little Dutch Academy, has earned her title as the family celebrity, thanks to the many hugs she receives from preschoolers.
Whether he’s at a kids’ activity, experimenting in the kitchen, or relaxing on his back patio, Nick is most at home when surrounded by family and faith. He loves golfing, the peaceful quiet of early mornings, and a good laugh—especially from The Office or Seinfeld.
Podcast he’s listening to: Huberman Lab
Current Spotify playlist: KB
Favorite ice cream: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Movie he never gets tired of: Anything by Mel Brooks
A few of his favorite things: Watching the Bears, keeping tabs on his fantasy football team, stadium dogs and cold drinks at Target Field, teaching his kids new skills, trying out new restaurants
What he would tell you about Sincera: This isn’t your typical healthcare location. Every detail—from the sights and sounds to the way we interact with patients—was thoughtfully designed to bring a sense of peace. God has blessed us with an extraordinary staff that works in unison to care for our patients well.
Hailey | Reception Admin.
Hailey Swan brings energy, hospitality, and heartfelt care to her role as Reception Administrator at Sincera Health. Originally from Bloomfield, Iowa, Hailey grew up in a close-knit, faith-filled family that nurtured her love for people and encouraged her to flourish.
Before joining Sincera, Hailey worked as an admission counselor at Central College, where she honed her natural gift for connecting with people. While her background wasn’t originally in healthcare, she had always felt a quiet pull toward the field—and when the Lord opened the door to Sincera, she stepped through it with joyful expectation.
Now, as the first face patients see when they walk through the door, Hailey is honored to help create an atmosphere of peace, warmth, and genuine care.
It’s a fitting role for someone who finds beauty in wildflowers, purpose in hospitality, and joy in every cup of coffee shared with her mom and grandma on a summer morning.
Hailey now lives in Pella, where she’s happily living out her “city girl dreams in a small-town setting.” You’ll often find her running the trails at Lake Red Rock, browsing the local health markets, or soaking in the twinkling lights of the winter tunnel downtown.
Favorite podcast: Culture Apothecary by Alex Clark
Top Spotify artist: Hardy
Favorite ice cream: Strawberry cheesecake
Currently reading: Good Energy by Casey Means
Movie she never gets tired of: La La Land
A few of her favorite things: farmers markets, The Iowa State Fair, dried lavender, paddleboarding, protein-packed waffles with bananas, peanut butter, and maple syrup
What she would tell you about Sincera: This is the place for peaceful restoration and positive results for your health and wellbeing!
Ashton | Patient Care Technician
Born and raised in Pella, Ashton Huizer brings an wide range of hands-on experience and heart-led care to her role at Sincera Health. A grad of Pella High School, she earned both her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Advanced CNA certifications before stepping into a variety of impactful healthcare roles. From providing care in a local nursing home to responding in the fast-paced environment of the emergency room, and now working as a Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT), Ashton has built a strong foundation in both clinical skill and patient-centered service.
In her current PRN role at Sincera, Ashton serves as both a Patient Care Technician and reception admin—a combination that allows her to support patients both clinically and personally. “Even in small, quiet moments,” she says, “I can see how much my presence and care mean to others.” It’s that kind of intentional, relational care that makes her such a valuable part of the Sincera team.
Ashton’s calling to healthcare runs deep and is rooted in family. Her grandmother, a lifelong nurse, inspired Ashton not just with her medical knowledge, but with her unwavering compassion and faith. “She showed me that being a nurse isn’t just about medical skills,” Ashton says. “It’s about showing God’s light through every patient interaction.” That’s the same heart Ashton brings to her work today.
When she’s not at Sincera or her dialysis clinic role, Ashton is often babysitting, spending time with her family, or enjoying the outdoors. She’s the second oldest of four siblings and especially loves fishing with her brothers and hanging out with her sister.
Favorite podcast: Girls Gone Bible and Bryce Crawford
Top Spotify artist: Josiah Queen
Favorite ice cream: Chocolate
Something on her bucket list: Go on a medical mission trip
Movie she never gets tired of: Home Alone
A few of her favorite things: Shopping, soccer (fun fact: Dr. Carlstone was Ashton’s travel team coach for a few years!), swimming, brown sugar shaken espresso, Cyclones football and basketball, boating with her family.
What she would tell you about Sincera: What an incredible place it is! Before Ashton started working here, she was a patient at Sincera Urgent Care, and the experience was unlike any other. There was minimal wait time, and she truly felt like the team cared about her as a person, not just a patient. Sincera made her feel welcome and valued. The compassion and genuine care she experienced were unmatched, and it’s that same level of empathy and professionalism that she now strives to offer to every patient she encounters.