Athena Fertig is a board-certified nurse practitioner. Her experience in community health and emergency medicine working with patients who have limited access to care has sparked her passion for improving access to quality, affordable mental health care. She started her nursing career as a nursing assistant working in a nursing home at the age of 16. She went on to complete her diploma in Practical Nursing and continued to work in long term care until 1998 when she began working in an acute care hospital. She continued working in acute care and in 2003 she completed her Registered Nursing Degree. Athena graduated with her master’s degree in nursing from Creighton university in 2010. Since graduating, she has practiced in many diverse areas including community health, urgent care, preventative medicine, and emergency medicine. Her experience includes treating depression, anxiety, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Athena is a mother of three adult kids and has three granddaughters. She enjoys spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys exercising, playing chess, beautiful sunsets, and the ocean.