NorthShore University HealthSystem provides patients with quality, accessible GI care delivered by knowledgeable gastroenterologists and other highly skilled GI specialists, including advanced practice nurses (APN). APNs are registered nurses who have achieved master’s and/or doctorate-level graduate education. They possess the advanced knowledge and clinical training that makes them vital members of the healthcare team.
Our APNs work in concert with our physicians to ensure timely medical attention, provide thorough follow-up care and assist with patient education and the support of healthy lifestyle behaviors. Dedicated advanced practice nurses for NorthShore’s Gastroenterology Department have extensive experience caring for patients with gastrointestinal conditions. The outpatient services they offer include:
- Routine patient follow-up
- Urgent consultations and evaluations
- Prescription refills
- Ordering lab work, imaging and other diagnostic tests
- Performing FibroScan® tests (available only at Skokie Hospital)
- Patient/family support and resources
GI APNs
Our APNs manage their own weekly clinics, where they see patients for follow-up and urgent visits, the clinics are held at the following locations:
Lena Colletta, APN, CNP
Glenbrook Specialty Suites
2150 Pfingsten Road, Ste. 3000
Glenview, IL 60026
9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays
Evanston Specialty Suites
1000 Central Street, Ste. 800
Evanston, IL 60201
9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fridays
Lena Colletta, APN, CNP, has worked at NorthShore since 2005 and steadily built on her extensive nursing experience. She began as a patient care tech, became a registered nurse and now, is a GI nurse practitioner with a special interest in caring for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Lena earned her BSN degree at North Park University in 2007 and worked as a surgical intensive care nurse in a level one trauma center for eight years. Taking a brief hiatus, she returned to her alma mater to pursue an advanced nurse practitioner degree and graduated with honors in 2015. As an advanced practice nurse, Lena is confident the time spent with her patients encompasses more than just diagnosing and prescribing, she believes her patients expect and deserve a relationship of mutual respect and reciprocity.
Kristhine Fidel-Nague, APN, CNP
Skokie Ambulatory Care Center
9650 Gross Point Road, Ste. 3900
Skokie, IL 60076
1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays
9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Tuesdays
9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fridays
Kristhine Fidel-Nague, APN, CNP, entered the nursing profession in 1998, completing her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of the Philippines. She worked for the U.S. Veteran’s outpatient clinic in Manila before coming to the United States. Joining NorthShore in 2005, Kristhine first worked as an oncology nurse for three years prior to becoming a GI nurse specialist. She has vast experience seeing patients with a variety of gastrointestinal conditions. After earning a master’s degree at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, she recently started working as an APN in the area of hepatology and seeing patients with liver disorders. Because liver health often depends on good overall health, Kristhine works hard to educate her patients on making healthy lifestyle choices, from diet and sleep to stress reduction.
Amy Pawasarat, APN, CPNP
Evanston Specialty Suites
1000 Central St., Ste. 800
Evanston, IL 60201
8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesdays
Glenbrook Specialty Suites
2150 Pfingsten Road, Ste. 3000
Glenview, IL 60026
10 a.m. to 7 p.m., 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month
8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Fridays
Skokie Ambulatory Care Center
9650 Gross Point Road, Ste. 3900
Skokie, IL 60076
10 a.m. to 7 p.m., 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month
Amy Pawasarat, APN, CPNP, has more than 15 years of experience as a nurse practitioner in pediatrics. She graduated with a BSN from Boston College and then completed her graduate work at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Amy has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings to provide care for children with cardiac, renal and immune system problems. Her background includes extensive experience with pediatric primary care and HIV at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. From her strong primary care background, she learned about common GI conditions in pediatrics and has been able to expand her knowledge in the pediatric GI clinic here at NorthShore. She has been a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners since 1998. She enjoys teaching her patients and their families about their medical conditions and how to incorporate healthy changes into their day to day life.
Susan Taylor, APN, CNP
Endeavor Health Medical Group ‒ Evanston
1000 Central St., Ste. 615
Evanston, IL 60201
8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Tuesdays
Evanston Specialty Suites
1000 Central St., Ste. 800
Evanston, IL 60201
8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays and Fridays
Glenbrook Specialty Suites
2150 Pfingsten Road, Ste. 3000
Glenview, IL 60026
8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays and Fridays
Susan Taylor has more than 20 years' experience caring for patients with gastrointestinal disorders. She has 6 years experience as a GI Lab nurse, 8 years experience as the office nurse in a GI private practice and has worked as an APN at NorthShore since 2011. She has worked in both acute care and outpatient settings. Holding a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, she went on to earn her master’s degree in nursing at North Park University in Chicago. She has been a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners since 2011. Her current area of expertise is with Advanced Therapeutics (patients with biliary tract and pancreatic disorders or cancers), but regularly sees patients with general GI issues in the clinic. A strong patient educator, she believes that informed patients are better able to take an active role in managing and improving their health.
Jucy Tiesenga, APN, CNP
Glenbrook Specialty Suites
2150 Pfingsten Road, Ste. 3000
Glenview, IL 60026
7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays
Vernon Hills Specialty Suites
225 N. Milwaukee Ave., Ste. 1500
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
7 a.m. to 3 p.m.,Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
Jucy Tiesenga honed her skills as an ICU nurse for six years, first at Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago and then at NorthShore Glenbrook Hospital. An advanced practice nurse, she has managed GI patients in the acute inpatient setting as well as provided outpatient care at Skokie Hospital for the past five years. She graduated from Chicago’s North Park University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing. She has been a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners since 2011. She relies on her solid clinical knowledge, strong listening skills and effective communication to develop individualized treatment plans for her patients. She can treat treat all areas of GI including general GI, IBD and liver disease.