Nikoletta D. Antczak, PA-C

Physician assistant fulfills her dream as a healthcare provider

“I want my patients to live a healthy life so that they can continue doing what they enjoy most.”

Nikoletta was always more excited for science class than any other subject. Anatomy and physiology especially sparked her interest. That, coupled with her desire to help others, was the start of her career in medicine. “I discovered the physician assistant career in college, shadowed a PA in a hospital NICU, and I knew immediately that was what I wanted to do,” she says.

She found her passion in family medicine, pediatrics, and women’s health, but she couldn’t choose between the three. Luckily with Vanguard Medical Group, she didn’t have to. “I love that I get to do it all at Vanguard,” she says.

Patients say that Nikoletta is personable and approachable. She takes the time to educate patients about their health and encourages them to ask questions. “We’re trained with all this medical knowledge and now it’s my job to be able to explain what that means in lay terms to my patients. I want them to fully understand their options, and the risks and benefits of treatment.”

She stresses the importance of preventive care and regular wellness checkups. “A lot of patients actually ask why they have to come yearly,” she says. “That’s the time when we evaluate their health from head to toe. We want to make sure that we’re not just looking at one aspect of the patient, such as during an urgent care visit. We’re looking at the big picture.”

“My mother brought us over from Poland for a better life,” adds Nikoletta. “Now that I’m a healthcare provider, I feel as if I’m fulfilling her dream—and mine.”

When she’s not working, Nikoletta loves watching movies, cooking new recipes, and spending time with family.

She has two rescue dogs, Maui and Athena, and a cat, Raven.