Willis G. Parsons, MD

After graduating cum laude from Amherst College in 1983, I attended Vanderbilt Medical School, receiving my MD degree in 1989. I did my medical internship and residency as well as a Gastroenterology Fellowship at Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard University. I was chief medical resident at the Maine Medical Center where I also completed an ERCP Fellowship.

I am board certified in gastroenterology. My focus is in the management of pancreatic disease, gallbladder and bile duct disease, malignancy involving the GI tract and interventional endoscopy. As medical director of the GI Center at Northwest Community Hospital, I am interested in improving the quality of the patient care experience and evaluating the latest technologies that may benefit patient outcomes. For more information, read my article about how technology is improving patient care.

Beth Diviacchi, RN, MSN, APN

I am certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and have focused on GI care since 2006. I began working with Dr. Parsons in 2008 and also serve as a nurse navigator at Northwest Community Hospital for patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I received both my bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Colleen Himan, MSN, APN

I’ve been working with Dr. Parsons, focusing on interventional gastroenterology since 1999. I graduated from Rush University in Chicago with a bachelor's degree in nursing and then went on to get my master's degree in nursing and nurse practitioner degree from DePaul University.

Elizabeth Paddack, MSN, APN

I joined the practice during the spring of 2009 with seven years of nursing experience. I have experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings including cardiology, post-surgical, and wound and ostomy care.

I earned my bachelor of science in nursing degree in 2003 from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, and my master of science in nursing and nurse practitioner degree from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, in 2008.

Nurse practitioner

A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse (RN) who has completed advanced education (a minumum of a master's degree) and training in the diagnosis and management of common medical conditions, including chronic illnesses. Nurse practitioners provide a broad range of healthcare services. They serve as physician extenders, which often support patients requesting quick access to services. Patients may be seen quickly in the office by the NP, who communicates health information/data to the physician. The physician ultimately develops a plan of care for the patient and will perform any procedures that may be necessary. An NP can serve as a patient's regular healthcare provider.

Nurse practitioners see patients of all ages. The core philosophy of the field is individualized care. Nurse practitioners focus on patients' conditions as well as the effects of illness on the lives of the patients and their families. Informing patients about their healthcare and encouraging them to participate in decisions are central to the care provided by NPs.

Because the profession is state regulated, care provided by NPs varies. A nurse practitioner's duties include the following:

• Collaborating with physicians and other health professionals as needed, including providing referrals
• Counseling and educating patients on health behaviors, self-care skills and treatment options
• Diagnosing and treating acute and chronic illnesses
• Obtaining medical histories and conducting physical examinations
• Ordering, performing and interpreting diagnostic studies (e.g., lab tests, X-rays, EKGs)
• Prescribing medications