Colleen L. Linari, APRN

I have worked as a nurse practitioner in primary care for the past decade managing a large senior population in the Southbury area. I’m excited to join the Geriatric Assessment Program in the same community. Before becoming an NP, I worked as a medical/surgical nurse in rural Vermont which led to my interest in chronic disease prevention, healthy aging and preventing caregiver burnout.

I am committed to helping my patients safely remain independent while aging. I love working in geriatrics because it is a specialty that allows me to form lasting relationships with patients and their families.

In my free time, I enjoy skiing, cycling, traveling and spending time with my young son and husband.

Why should someone choose you to care for their health?
I always listen to my patients and strive to provide individualized care to each patient while treating each one as I would wish to be treated.

What is the most important thing your patients should expect from their professional relationship with you? What do you expect from them?
You can expect I will work with you and your caregivers to optimize your health. I will advocate for you in any way that I can to help you meet your goals. In turn, I hope for honesty and openness from my patients.

How do you spend your valuable personal time when you’re not caring for patients?
I love to spend time with my 7-year-old son and my husband. We enjoy skiing, cycling and being outdoors as much as possible. 

Why did you choose your specialty and what is its greatest reward?
I love working in primary care as I believe in promoting wellness rather than simply treating illness. I have gravitated to the specialty of geriatrics more recently as I have helped care for my own aging family members and have seen the impact of quality healthcare across generations. The greatest reward is seeing my patients leading healthy lives and remaining active and independent over time.