Kristine Pantchenko, APRN

Dr. Kristine Pantchenko is a primary care provider who is board-certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She achieved her Doctor of Nursing Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Sacred Heart University. She has a significant background in oncology and hematology. She aims to increase access to primary care services and foster interdisciplinary and multispecialty clinician communication to provide holistic and informed care. She believes that patient education is the cornerstone of preventive care and deploys engagement strategies to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors. 

Why should someone choose you to care for their health? 
I care about forming professional relationships with my clients. I must provide a supportive environment that encourages trust and open communication. Health solutions should be individualized for each patient, and developing rapport and mutual understanding leads to positive outcomes and timely interventions. I understand that a good outcome is dependent on a team effort between the patient and the provider. 

What is the most important thing your patients should expect from their professional relationship with you? What do you expect from them? 
As a patient, you can expect to be greeted with a caring and professional attitude. This visit is for you, and I will offer you my undivided attention. I will communicate with all members of your care team to ensure the services that I provide are informed and congruent with their goals of care. I will be responsive to your calls and promptly address your concerns. I offer culturally sensitive care and see every client encounter as an opportunity for learning. I expect my patients to use our professional relationship to their benefit by sharing their health goals in addition to their current challenges. Trust is an important foundation of any relationship. 

How do you spend your valuable personal time when you’re not caring for patients? 
My hobbies include piano playing, barre, yoga, cycling, hiking, travel and exploration, art and decorating, and volunteering for causes and missions. Spending quality time with my friends, family, partner, and Shih Tzu is of the utmost importance to me. I am a committee member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society of Nursing - Mu Delta Chapter and belong to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Nurses Association, CT Nurses Association, and Oncology Nurses Society. 

Why did you choose your specialty and what is its greatest reward? 
I chose primary care after identifying a gap in health services that I observed while working in an oncology setting. Much can be done to preserve and improve health, and prevention and early intervention are the keys to positive health outcomes. The greatest reward is knowing that I made a positive difference in someone’s life. I value the connection that I form with my clients and feel privileged to become a member of their care team.