Our Someone 2 Know is a Physician Assistant at Northern Nevada Hopes (HOPES) in Reno. 

There, Kim Nischik, PA-C, is known for her compassionate approach to working with patients who are receiving treatment for substance use disorders.

With opioid overdose deaths increasing in our region, the medical center says she plays a pivotal role in saving lives.

Person-centered care is a practice in which patients actively participate in their medical treatment along with their health professionals.

You will see it in action at HOPES and it's an approach that physician assistant Kim Nischik deeply believes in. 

"We just like to meet people where they're at and so they come in, we talk about where they are, we talk about maybe what is going on in their life and we decide together what is an appropriate plan moving forward," says Nischik.

Nischik is a coordinator at HOPES for a program known as MAT or Medication Assisted Treatment; "Otherwise known as substance use disorder treatment and we provide care here for people with mostly opioid and alcohol use disorder".

According to several studies and even a Senate Bill passed in 2021 - Nevada has alarming rates of opioid misuse.  Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)  has proven to be an effective tool for HOPES patients.

“We have therapists, we have a nurse, we case  management, we have peer support and I work with this team who are so excited about what they do.”

Nischick says she is grateful her calling to be a medical provider brought her here.

“I feel privileged to be able to spend time with people who are willing to share very personal stories and sometimes trauma with me.”

Kim grew up in the Chicago suburbs, has lived in Reno for about 20 years and is now raising a family of her own; “We've spent some time volunteering for the Food Bank, both at the big events as well as packing boxes out at USA Parkway”. The family also spends a lot of time in the outdoors, in sports and supporting the community. 

Back at work, Nischik is hoping to grow the MAT program at Northern Nevada Hopes.

“There are not enough hours in the day to see everyone, so we  need more providers and more space to take care of everyone's needs.”

For more information about the medication-assisted treatment (MAT), other services provided by Northern Nevada Hopes, and employment opportunities visit: https://www.nnhopes.org/