Annie Condolon-Kohler, NP

Professional Profile

I want my patients to know that I truly like people, and that I truly care.

I knew I wanted to work in health care from a young age. Nursing was my first love. I had an aptitude for science and a dream to alleviate human suffering. Nursing school was a breeze. However, two decades ago in the Philippines, the nurses had no voice to influence a patient's care, and I am not one to take orders blindly, so I went to medical school. By the time I graduated medicine, the great nursing exodus to America was ending, and I was convinced by a friend to leave as a nurse to get automatic permanent residency in the U.S.

I worked for 11 years as a bedside nurse at Northbay Medical Center and enjoyed it, but I felt like it was time to prevent people from ending up in the hospital, rather than caring for them when they were admitted. This is why a decided to become a nurse practitioner.

The role of a clinician is not to be taken lightly, whether they are medical doctors, nurse practitioners or physician assistants. Being a Northbay clinician is extra special for me because it means that the bar is set high. I have to continually grow and become a better version of myself every day that I show up at work.

The Northbay Center for Primary Care, Green Valley was my first training site as a nurse practitioner student and Ehsan Ghods, D.O., was my first clinical preceptor. I have come to know the patients and staff and have found the center, like all of Northbay to be an extremely supportive place to work.

For patients, I want them to know that when you see a nurse practitioner, understand that our caring heritage directs us to practice medicine with heart. This is what I strive to do every day.

Education

• Masters of Science in Nursing, Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, California
• Doctor of Medicine, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines

Professional Memberships

• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
• Sigma Theta Tao International Honor Society of Nursing