Penny Vinnedge, PA-C

A physician assistant in vascular surgery

Penny Vinnedge initially planned on a nursing career in high school. But then she read about physician assistants and pursued that as a career because physician assistants are allowed more responsibilities, such as making a diagnosis and treatment plan, and prescribing medications.

"We are more involved in decision-making and still remain hands-on with patients," she explained. Her time at Marshfield Clinic Health System is split between assisting with surgeries, performing her own procedures such as sclerotherapy injections to treat varicose veins, and meeting with patients before and after their surgeries.

Vinnedge grew up near Medford, Wisconsin, and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

During her training, she had a large number of clinical rotations at Health System locations in central and western Wisconsin, which drew her back here.

She and her husband, Tom, a real estate agent in Marshfield, have two children. She enjoys camping, fishing, kayaking and cake decorating.

Speaks: English