Compassion First
We treat every patient with kindness, patience and genuine concern — the way we'd want our own families cared for.
Caring Hands Clinic exists to make healthcare what it's supposed to be — real medical care, provided for a fair price, focused on helping you and your family get better.

Caring Hands Clinic began with one provider's frustration over a healthcare system that too often put paperwork ahead of people.
Founder Jana Schenkel opened Happy Stork Midwifery Service in January 2021, then continued her education and graduated in 2022 with a Family Nurse Practitioner certificate from the University of Cincinnati. Through that journey — and in collaboration with Medical Director Dr. Mario Mirando, DO — the vision for a true multi-service clinic took shape.
The result is Caring Hands Clinic: a place where patients are seen as whole people, where care is decided between you and your provider, and where Christian values of compassion and integrity guide every visit.
"We all are here to care for you, because we care." Our purpose is simple — provide the medical care you need to help heal you and your family.
We treat every patient with kindness, patience and genuine concern — the way we'd want our own families cared for.
Fair pricing, clear answers and care recommendations made for your benefit — never dictated by an insurance company.
A holistic approach that looks after every area of your health and well-being, from prevention to treatment.
A dedicated team of nurse practitioners, registered nurses and support staff, led by an experienced physician medical director.

I am a Midwife and a Nurse Practitioner, creator and co-owner of Caring Hands Clinic. The basic frustration I have with our current healthcare access started when I joined nursing school. My husband and I have three kids — Otto, Sabrina and Dasha. Every single time the kids were sick or needed help, it took an unbelievable amount of effort and time to get anything done. And regardless of having insurance, we would always pay so much money for the basic things in healthcare. My husband and I created Caring Hands Clinic to meet the need of the community — to provide the care families need at an affordable cost, without much of the "red tape" that insurance companies require.

My name is Geraldine Darkwood — I go by Jeri. I have lived in the Nappanee–Wakarusa area all my life and graduated from Northwood High School, Class of 1984. I have two grown children, Tiffany and Travis. I graduated from Goshen College with my RN, MSN-NP-C in 2015 and worked at the Wanee Clinic for several years with Dr. Abel. My most recent position was rounding in nursing homes and assisted livings. I started working for Jana and Caring Hands Clinic in March 2024, going into homes to see patients. Working with Jana has been a wonderful experience — meeting patients in their own homes and assisting with their health care needs is the best part of my job. I am very excited to see the clinic open to offer more services to the community.

Rhonda L. Anderson is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and recognized provider in pediatric complex care. With over 12 years of advanced practice experience and a decade of prior leadership as a registered nurse in emergency and supervisory roles, she brings deep clinical expertise, systems-level leadership, and a passion for serving medically complex children and underserved communities. On a personal note, Rhonda has been married to her husband, Brad, for 23 years. They have three daughters — Abby, Kylie and Kaitlyn. Abby is obtaining her master's degree in psychology with a focus on counseling, while Kylie is working on her bachelor's degree in nursing. Their youngest daughter, Kaitlyn, was and continues to be Rhonda's biggest inspiration for advocating for families of children with special needs: Kaitlyn is 18 with CHARGE syndrome and autism, and Rhonda understands first-hand how difficult it is to navigate the medical system with a child who has special needs.

Hi, I am Autumn, and I feel blessed to be able to work at this community clinic. Having just graduated from nursing school at Ivy Tech, I am looking forward to the new opportunities God has for me. Health is my passion — physical, emotional and spiritual.

Hi, I am Ashlee. I am happy to help out in the office, and I look forward to serving you.

I feel like I have come full circle in life. I was born in Wakarusa, Indiana, and at the age of 8 my parents moved us to a small farm in Curtiss, Wisconsin. I graduated from college during the Reagan Recession and wasn't able to find a position in my field of study. I accepted the opportunity to move back to Indiana to be a caregiver for my great-grandmother in Wakarusa — the best year of my life, and where I was eventually led into senior healthcare. I have worked 16 years as a hotel manager, 16 years as an office manager at a nursing facility, and two years as a sales representative selling the ISNP program insurance. I have three roommates who don't pay rent and are extremely spoiled — all three are my rescue cats: Gracie (the shy one), Alita (by far the naughty one) and Mowglie (a lover boy). My hobbies include anything crafty — I love to sew, scrapbook, and make greeting cards and jewelry. My newest passion is sewing with cork fabric; I've made beautiful purses, wallets and earrings from it. My favorite quote: "Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional." — Walt Disney
Erica is a Nurse Assistant on our care team, dedicated to making every visit comfortable and welcoming.

We believe quality healthcare should be accessible and affordable. That's why we offer honest, fair pricing and flexible ways to pay.
New patients are always welcome. Reach out today to schedule your first visit at our office or in your home.