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Our Providers

Continuous Care
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Dr. Priyantha Ranaweera

Interventional Cardiologist

Priyantha Ranaweera, MD, MHCM, FRACP, FACC, is a Harvard-trained interventional cardiologist. He started Heart and Vascular Clinics in 2012 to better serve the needs of the Flint Hills region.

Caring for patients in the Manhattan area since 2007, he created Manhattan Medical Group in 2018 to provide an integrated care model with primary care and specialized care.

Under his leadership, Manhattan Medical Group is dedicated to the long-term success of patients’ health and the community.

Dr. Ranaweera completed his undergraduate work in Sri Lanka and an internal medicine residency in New Zealand and Australia. He continued his education with the following training:
 

  • Coronary Angioscopy Training in Japan

  • Coronary CT Fellowship in Germany

  • Cardiology Fellowship in Australia

  • Peripheral Interventional Fellowship at Harvard Medical School

  • Coronary Interventional Fellowship at Harvard Medical School

  • Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership from Harvard University

Dr. Priyantha Ranaweera, Interventional Cardiologist

Dr. Ranaweera diagnoses and treats patients with peripheral artery disease, coronary artery disease, and arrhythmias among other cardiovascular diseases. He specializes in peripheral interventions, heart catheterizations, pacemaker and ICD implants, and general cardiology.

 

Dr. Ranaweera sees patients at our Manhattan, Junction City, Wamego, Abilene, Clay Center, and Council Grove clinic locations.

Larry Pierce 

Physician Assistant

Specialty: Primary Care

Larry Pierce Jr., PA-C, joined Manhattan Medical Group in March 2021 after serving 21 years in the United States Army. Larry has over ten years of experience in family medicine. He was awarded a Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

 

Outside of work, Larry loves to hunt and is an expert at taekwondo. He currently volunteers at the Global Traditional Martial Arts (GTMA) school in Junction City, Kansas. Larry is also a big fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Colorado Avalanche professional hockey team.

 

Last but not least, his advice to his patients is that we must enjoy life to the fullest as we have only one! 

Larry Pierce, Physician Assistant

Becca Haugaard

Nurse Practitioner

Specialty: Wound Care

Becca Haugaard, APRN-FNP is certified in both wound care and foot care. Becca leads our Wound Care Clinic.

 

She Specializes In;

  • Compression Therapy

  • Sharps Debridement

  • Adjunct Therapy Including Human Skin Equivalents and Wound Vac

She is also certified to do routine foot care and can provide diabetic foot checks and diabetic foot care.

Together with our vascular specialists, she also provides surgical debridement of non-healing wounds.

Becca Haugaard, Nurse Practitioner

Abby Suddarth

Physician Assistant

Specialty: Cardiology

Abby Suddarth, PA-C, is a certified Physician Assistant who is excited to offer virtual telehealth appointments.

She graduated from the Butler University Physician Assistant Program with a bachelor’s degree in health sciences. She initially joined Dr. Ranaweera at Mercy Regional in the fall of 2007 when her husband was stationed at Fort Riley. She has also worked in Internal Medicine and Soldier Readiness Processing.

She enjoys spending time with her family, homeschooling their three girls, practicing her photography skills, reading, and exercising.

Abby Suddarth, Physician Assistant

Tyson Nickelson

Nurse Practitioner

Specialty: Cardiology

Tyson Nickelson, MSN, FNP-C is an advanced practice nursing provider with extensive experience in healthcare, particularly in the care of cardiac patients and in the Intensive Care Unit.

He Specializes In:

  • Cardiology

  • Diseases Affecting Veins

Tyson Nickelson, Nurse Practitioner

Emily Ebert

Nurse Practitioner

Specialty: Cardiology

Emily Ebert, MSN, FNP-C

Dr. Lakshika Ranaweera

Medical Doctor

Specialty: Behavioral Health

Dr. Lakshika Ranaweera, MD, is a board-certified Psychiatrist with Manhattan Medical Group. She provides care for all forms of adult psychiatric problems. Dr. Ranaweera has a special interest in mental health related to women and pregnancy.

Education, awards, and recognition:

Residency: Adult Psychiatry at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, KS

 

Chief Resident: Veterans Affairs in Kansas City, MO

 

Doctor of Medicine: North Colombo Medical College in Ragama, Sri Lanka

Outside of the office, Dr. Ranaweera enjoys traveling, music, dancing and spending time with her family.

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Tonya Grider

Nurse Practitioner

Specialty: Cardiology

Tonya Grider, MSN, FNP-C

 

​Tonya is passionate about her role as a nurse practitioner, focusing on compassionate care and patient education, particularly in cardiac health. 


Her educational background includes an Associate's Degree in Nursing from Baker University, followed by a BSN and MSN with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration from Colorado Technical University.


Her nursing career has been focused in trauma and emergency medicine for over 25 years. 

Tonya enjoys a range of hobbies such as gardening, reading, exercising, playing the piano, and engaging in various craft projects. She is married and has three children and has recently been blessed with a grandchild.

She is a sport enthusiast for many sports. She has a deep connection to football with her years of support for her husband's career.

In her advice to patients, Tonya emphasizes that "faith does not make things easy; it makes them possible," reflecting her commitment to empowering patients in their health journey.

She joined Manhattan Medical Group in 2024. 

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