Kirsten Pickard, ARNP, FNP-BC, has joined Orcas Medical Center in Eastsound and is now seeing patients.

Pickard earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA in 2004. She earned her Master of Science, Family Nurse Practitioner, from Frontier Nursing University, Hyden, KY, in 2014.

Her clinical experience includes serving as a registered nurse at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center from 2004 – 06. Pickard began working at Jefferson Healthcare, Port Townsend, Wash., in 2006 as a clinical nurse in the Family Birth Center, completing her certification as a maternal-child RN-C. She was promoted to supervisor of the unit in 2009 and then served as Director/Clinical Nurse Manager from 2011-14. From 2014 – 16 she continued her work at Jefferson, while also working at Multicare RediClinics in Seattle and Island Hospital’s Anacortes Family Medicine, OMC and Lopez Island Medical Clinic.

She also is very involved in her home community Waldron Island where she volunteers as the Emergency Medical Coordinator. Supported by Island Hospital, Pickard is also initiating a trial of in-home primary care for Waldron residents.

Orcas Medical Center is located next to Orcas Center on Mt. Baker Road. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and appointments can be made by calling 376-2561.