Marina Kostyuk, APN, is a nurse practitioner and a member of the neurology team at Summit Health. Ms. Kostyuk’s biggest reason in pursuing a career in health care is to contribute to creating healthier communities. Being of service to people and helping them achieve optimal health and functioning, she says, is a rewarding profession.

Neurology is central to Ms. Kostyuk’s nursing experience and expertise. “I took care of patients with acute cerebrovascular and chronic degenerative conditions of the nervous system, helping people to regain and maintain their functions,” she adds.

Ms. Kostyuk’s approach to patient care is to empower patients through building their self-belief and confidence to enable their active participation in the plan of care. At every visit she reinforces adherence to a healthy lifestyle and meaningful daily interventions and activities by focusing on a holistic approach in all domains of the patient’s well-being.  The most satisfying thing to Ms. Kostyuk as a health care provider is to see how much patients improve with application of evidence-based practice.

As a community educator, Ms. Kostyuk feels that an important role of providers is to reach out to the community they serve by addressing health issues that impact the community the most.  The highest priority for her department is to educate people to recognize neurological emergencies such as stroke and concussion.  

Outside of providing health care to patients, Ms. Kostyuk loves hiking and says it is her sacred time to connect with nature. Art, travelling, and connecting with people are additional passions that keep Ms. Kostyuk very busy when she is not seeing patients.