Biography
Amber Rivard, F.N.P.-C., M.S.N., is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She sees patients of all ages at MidMichigan’s Family Medicine office on Long Rapids Road in Alpena.
Amber was born and raised in northern Michigan and is excited to be returning home. She was a registered nurse for more than eight years working in a fast-paced hospital setting before becoming a certified Family Nurse Practitioner.
Amber became a family nurse practitioner because of the joy it brings her when she develops an ongoing relationship with her patients and families. “I love to see the babies grow up into adults, young adults starting a new family and the elders enjoying and contributing to the mischief of daily life,” she said.
Philosophy of Care
“My philosophy of care revolves around shared decision making,” said Amber. “I want my patients to be active participants in their healthcare.”
She strives to have a patient-provider relationship that starts with trust, honesty and mutual respect. Amber wants her patients to feel comfortable bringing any concerns or questions to her without fear or judgement. “With a relationship like this, we can work together to reach their optimal health,” she adds.
Special Interests and Procedures
Amber feels the field of medicine is constantly changing and evolving with many advancements in disease management. “The most exciting development is a culture shift towards health promotion and prevention of chronic disease.”
Amber enjoys every aspect of family practice but her passion is in wellness promotion and providing patients with the tools needed for optimal health. She is especially interested in weight management as she knows it can be an emotional subject, but wants to assure her patients she is available to help them.
In her spare time, Amber enjoys spending time with her family. Her kids are constantly creating a new game or obstacle course for the family to try. She also enjoys reading all genres and is a Harry Potter nerd. Amber recently delved into trying new recipes while trying to improve her cooking skills as she is nowhere near as culinary inclined as her husband. “I try and he eats it,” said Amber. Someday she would love to have a hobby farm.
