Ryan Minton is a board-certified physician assistant and a 2017 graduate from the University of Washington’s MEDEX NW Physician Assistant Program. Since starting his career, he has practiced clinically in cardiovascular and emergency medicine and contributed to COVID relief efforts in New York City in 2021.

Ryan’s care philosophy centers on patient education grounded in evidence-based best practices. He believes a patient’s knowledge and understanding of their diagnoses and care plan are crucial components of chronic disease management.

Ryan has lived and worked in North Central Washington since 2020, and in his free time he enjoys backcountry and Nordic skiing and rock climbing. As a former professional ski patroller and self-proclaimed snow nerd, he is active in avalanche safety work during the winter season with the Washington State Department of Transportation.

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“In our country’s evolving healthcare climate, I believe it has never been more important to serve as an advocate for access and quality of rural healthcare delivery. I am excited and honored to join Mission Medical’s team and get to work fostering the regional relationships that prioritize the patient’s experience and quality of their cardiovascular care.”

Katie Bates, DNP, ARNP, FACC, is a board-certified cardiovascular nurse practitioner with extensive experience managing a wide range of cardiovascular disease and a specific focus in heart failure management.

She is passionate about improving access to high-quality rural cardiology care through innovation, technology, and patient and provider education.

In addition to her clinical expertise, Katie is recognized for her leadership within the American College of Cardiology via speaking engagements, publications, and national committee work.

She is passionate about expanding access to high-quality cardiovascular care and is committed to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care to rural communities.

Physician Associate | Preventive & Performance Cardiology
Mission Cardiology, PLLC

Joel Rhyner, PA-C, is a cardiovascular clinician dedicated to advancing preventive cardiology and performance-based heart health in North Central Washington. He serves patients across the spectrum of cardiovascular care, with a focused interest in lipid management, coronary artery disease prevention, cardiac rehabilitation, and optimizing cardiometabolic performance.

Joel currently practices in collaboration with board-certified cardiologists and leads initiatives in advanced lipid testing, ApoB and Lp(a) management, coronary artery calcium (CAC) screening, and evidence-based lifestyle interventions. He is passionate about identifying cardiovascular risk early and implementing personalized strategies that combine medical therapy, exercise science, metabolic optimization, and nutrition.

With a strong foundation in exercise physiology and performance training, Joel integrates clinical cardiology with structured exercise prescription, VO₂ and metabolic testing, and data-driven health optimization. He believes cardiovascular care should not only prevent disease — but empower patients to live strong, active, and purpose-driven lives.

Joel has been instrumental in developing preventive cardiology programs, lipid clinics, cardiac rehabilitation initiatives, and community-based cardiovascular screening efforts throughout Central Washington. He frequently collaborates with local health systems, first responders, and community organizations to expand access to high-quality cardiovascular care.

At Mission Cardiology, Joel’s approach reflects the practice’s core philosophy: Comprehensive. Preventive. Performance-focused. Community-driven.

Outside the clinic, Joel is deeply involved in fitness and endurance training and is committed to modeling the principles of cardiovascular health he teaches his patients.

Dr. Nayak is a cardiologist who has been practicing in central Washington since 2009.   He spent 16 years at Confluence Health in Wenatchee, where he also grew cardiology programs in Okanogan County.   He currently works at Kittitas Valley Healthcare in Ellensburg, and is excited to work with Lake Chelan Health to bring additional cardiology services to NCW through the formation of Mission Cardiology.  Dr. Nayak is also a clinical associate professor of medicine for the University of Washington medical school.

Prior to coming to Washington, Dr. Nayak served 10 years in the US Navy, where he completed his residency and fellowship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, as well as deploying to the MIddle East in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.   He did his undergraduate studies at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN and medical school at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA.

Dr. Nayak is passionate about innovation in healthcare and improving the delivery of cardiovascular care to rural regions, bringing together medical professionals for better collaboration.  He is the immediate past president of the American College of Cardiology Washington chapter and co-founder of Coltrain, a universal clinical collaboration platform fostering team-based care.