Mandie Kinderknecht, RN
Mandie Kinderknecht, RN, Program Director at Psychiatric Medical Care, has emerged as a transformative leader in rural communities across Kansas, where access to specialized behavioral health care is often limited. With 18 years of nursing experience and seven years leading an intensive outpatient mental health program for older adults, she is at the forefront of rural geriatric mental health services. Her dedication has helped bring structured, compassionate, and clinically sound mental health care to seniors who might otherwise face isolation and limited support.
As Program Director, Mandie oversees all aspects of the program, including patient referrals, intakes, admissions, and individualized care planning in collaboration with on-site therapists. She has been instrumental in opening and managing multiple programs across Kansas, ensuring older adults have access to essential mental health services close to home. The program addresses depression, anxiety, grief, and other challenges unique to aging, providing a critical safety net and earning strong community trust, with demand often exceeding capacity.
Mandie’s career began early as a certified nursing assistant in high school, which sparked her lifelong commitment to patient care. While raising three children, she pursued her nursing education at North Central Kansas Technical College, laying the foundation for a career defined by resilience and compassion. After a decade as a school nurse, she returned to her passion for geriatric care, focusing on the intersection of aging and mental health. Beyond clinical leadership, Mandie is a committed educator and advocate, conducting outreach at senior centers, schools, community programs, and Food is Medicine classes to reduce stigma and promote awareness. Through her vision, expertise, and dedication, Mandie continues to strengthen rural communities by improving mental health access and transforming the lives of older adults, one patient at a time.
• Northwest Kansas Technical College - ADN
• Northwest Kansas Technical College - RN
• Kansas Nursing Association
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Geriatric Mental Health
- Depression and Loneliness in Aging
- Grief Counseling
- Mental Health Education
- Community Mental Health Outreach
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
I love the education aspect of my job because I'm super passionate about mental health. A huge part of my role is going out to senior centers, clinics, Food is Medicine classes, foster grandparent programs, and really anywhere in the community to talk about mental health and break down the stigma. Even if our program isn't right for someone, I want them to know that it's okay to talk about mental health, and that I'm going to have resources to help them. What I really love is that we work with the same patients for a period of time as they're working through the program, so you really develop this relationship with these individuals. I get to see firsthand the difference that we're making every day, watching patients come in and then seeing their progress over the months or even a year or more they're with us. My patients are a big part of why this works for me. I love being able to tell people that they don't have to just accept feeling depressed or lonely because they're getting older - they can live a fulfilled life for the remainder of their years, and we can help them do that.