Fulton Family Medicine announced last week that beginning in January, it will be open five days a week.

The clinic, staffed by owner Dr. Gail Fulton and nurse practitioners Julie McPherson and Marnie Devlin, had been closed on Thursdays but will now be open to patients at least half the day.

The increased clinic hours are possible because McPherson recently earned her doctorate in nursing practice. With her dissertation behind her, she is able to work more, said Kathy Henke, the clinic manager.

McPherson earned both her master’s degree and her doctorate from the University of Arizona — Tucson. For her dissertation, she evaluated the need in rural Washington for support groups for caregivers of individuals with early stage Alzheimer’s Disease, Henke said.

McPherson has worked at Fulton Family Medicine since January 2014 and sees patients of all ages.