
Hello
My name is Heidi and I am a board certified Nurse Practitioner specializing in the management of headache disorders. Aside from being an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, I also have an Added Qualification in Headache Medicine from the National Headache Foundation. Thank you for considering my headache clinic to be a part of your healthcare.
My Story
I started working in healthcare when I was just a teenager, providing home care for elderly individuals until I turned 18 years old. I then became a certified nursing assistant and worked in a transitional care unit in a nursing home in Geneva, NY. I decided I wanted to further my education, so I enrolled at FLCC and obtained dual degrees in Nursing and Liberal Arts. I started as a brand new RN at Upstate Medical University in the Medical ICU in Syracuse, NY in August 2011. From there I worked in the adult ICU float pool (Burn Unit, Surgical ICU, Neuro ICU, Cardiac ICU). I simultaneously enrolled at Upstate College of Nursing and completed the BSN program in December 2014. I ended my time at Upstate Medical University in June 2016 after working in the trauma ED for some time. In July of that same year, my husband graduated from a residency in Orthopedics through Upstate Medical University and off we went to NYC for his fellowship. We spent one year in the city and even had our first child - Jackson - while there. Upon completing his fellowship, we moved back to the Rochester area and he became a partner at Greater Rochester Orthopaedics where he currently practices, (Dr. Michael Yip - Upper Extremity Specialist), and I enrolled at St. John Fisher College. I graduated with an MSN in August 2019, took my board certification exam (and passed!), and had our second child - Henry - about 1 week later.
For work, I was lucky enough to find Ontario Neurology Associates and practiced under them for a little over 3 years as an AGACNP-BC, providing general Neurological care to many patients. In April 2023, I left Ontario Neurology Associated to open my own private practice. I have taken a special interest in headache disorders and find being able to provide patients relief from one of the most common, most debilitating disorders in the world is very rewarding. I have watched patients go from daily headaches for 30+ years to essentially complete headache freedom. Not only is that in itself very rewarding, but gaining the trust of a patient who has given up trying to control their headaches because "nothing has ever worked" is great motivation to provide my very best care. I truly feel that being able to provide care to others is a privilege not to be taken lightly, and as a provider I believe I owe it to my patients to continually learn and grow so they are getting the best care possible. I opened the first (local) Nurse Practitioner owned and led Headache Clinic, specializing in the management of various headache disorders! I look forward to getting to know you and providing you with exceptional, individualized care.
Aside from work, I am a very busy mom of 4 children, Jackson and Henry whom I mentioned above, and twins Anna and Charlie who were born during the COVID pandemic. My husband and I both place a lot of value on family, hard work and setting a good example for our children. We are constantly on the go and would not have it any other way!