Katie Koester, APRN, credits her family with helping her become the person she is today.
“I always wanted to do something to help people by positively impacting their daily lives. My dad, who was a school teacher in Stewardson-Strasburg, served the community well by teaching and coaching his students. That instilled in me a greater sense of service,” Koester explained.
While she admires her father’s community service, she is quick to add that she was fortunate to have strong female role models where she learned the value of hard work.
“My grandmother was a mother of nine children and she had a way about her. She just took on whatever needed to be done in the community and in her church. My other grandma worked on a farm, and I spent a lot of time there. That really taught me hard work,” she said. “My mom is pretty incredible too. She started as a teller at a bank and has worked her way up the ladder to now serving as a senior compliance officer. It is amazing that she did all of this without a degree. She worked really hard and took opportunities to learn. I’m in awe of them all!”
Koester serves her community as an advanced practice provider at Altamont Medical Center caring for her friends and neighbors in her community.
“Sometimes a patient comes in and you can just tell that they need you. It’s my job to figure out what’s going on. They may need resources, and that looks different to everyone. They may be struggling mentally, they may have a new baby and feel overwhelmed or they may be an older person who just needs to know what’s going on with their health,” Koester explained.
“I appreciate that I can work and serve the community at the same time. In my role as a nurse practitioner, I have a unique opportunity to get to know my patients individually and many times, care for the whole family. That’s pretty special!”
Koester spends time talking with her patients, not just about their health, but about their lives. “My ability to provide quality care grows when I know more about them,” she added.
Koester enjoys her work in primary care and came to the Altamont Medical Center with experience in women’s health and pediatrics.
She earned her bachelor degree in nursing at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, and a Master’s degree in nursing at Indiana State University. She works alongside Family Practice Physician John Opilka, DO, and Advance Practice Providers Kim Burgess, APRN, Randi Berg, APRN and Heather Forys, APRN.
To make an appointment with Koester, call 618 483-6151. The Altamont Medical Center is located at 8 N. Third Street, Altamont. Same day appointments are available.