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UKIAH, CA — MCHC Health Centers is proud to welcome Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) Nuria Perez Gordillo. She will see patients at Hillside Health Center in Ukiah.
Perez Gordillo began her career in healthcare more than a decade ago when she was hired as a medical assistant in an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) office. “I worked my way up from a medical assistant to a licensed practical nurse to a registered nurse to a nurse practitioner,” she says. “I’m blessed and thankful to have done that full circle from being an assistant to now being a provider.”
Perez Gordillo has been interested in healthcare and the human body since she was a little girl. Things that bothered other people, like the sight of blood, never upset her. “I would get a scrape, go get some alcohol, and wash the wound myself,” she says.
Her father studied to be a doctor before their family emigrated from Mexico to the United States, a career he was not able to pursue after having children. “I know that was his dream,” she says. “My dad has been a big influence on me.”
Perez Gordillo earned an Associate of Nursing degree from Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville, Wisconsin, before graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Upper Iowa University. She then earned a Master of Science in Nursing from Frontier Nursing University in Kentucky, where she completed the Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner track.
As a WHNP, Perez Gordillo will provide well-woman care, reproductive and gynecological care, and prenatal and postpartum care. MCHC Care for Her Clinical Director Dr. Donna Smith says, “The moment the team met Nuria, we knew she was a good fit. She is kind and caring, but she is also intelligent and hard working. Like the rest of us she is mission-driven with her main goal being to bring thorough, comprehensive, non-judgemental women’s health care to the diverse communities in Mendocino County.”
Perez Gordillo understands that patients sometimes feel vulnerable or awkward when they seek women’s healthcare. She focuses on building good relationships with patients by helping them to feel safe and at ease, recognizing that approaching patients with curiosity, warmth, and genuine interest makes a big difference. “Being comfortable, calm, and confident is essential for transmitting a sense of ease to patients,” she says.
One way she helps new patients feel comfortable is by having the first conversation with them while they are in their regular clothes and not a medical gown, which can make people feel awkward. She welcomes open communication. “There’s no dumb question. I like to answer questions. It’s one of my favorite parts of my job,” she says.
Perez Gordillo is proud to work at a community health center that provides care for patients from all backgrounds and walks of life. “Working in a community health center, some patients may be coming in to see a provider for the first time in 10 years. They are likely already a little scared. This could be your one chance to offer the help they need. There is no room for judgment of any kind,” she says.
As a fluent Spanish speaker, sharing a common language is one of the ways she connects with patients. “That connection is so important,” she says. “I don’t think I’ll ever get over walking into the room to see a Spanish-speaking patient and saying, ‘Hola, buenas tardes,’ and seeing the relief in their face as they realize we share that language.”
The large Spanish-speaking population is one of the factors that drew Perez Gordillo to Mendocino County. She moved here recently from Wisconsin and appreciates the change in scenery and a break from cold winters. “I love how beautiful it is here. You can go on walks year-round. It is so peaceful, so calm,” she says. “And I really fell in love with the community. Everybody has been so welcoming and friendly.”
Outside of work, she likes dancing, Latin music, drawing, reading, going to the beach, and playing basketball and soccer. She has two cats, Luna and Neptuno, who she says do not live up to the reputation cats have for being aloof. “I don’t care what anybody says about cats,” she says with a laugh. “When I get home, they’re already waiting at the door.”
She is proud to provide quality healthcare to each person who seeks it. “I’m looking forward to helping the population that needs it most,” she says. “I want people to know that when they step into my office, they’re walking into a safe space with zero judgment. I will always do all that is within my power to give the best and most equitable care possible.”
MCHC Health Centers includes Hillside Health Center and Dora Street Health Center in Ukiah, Little Lake Health Center in Willits, and Lakeview Health Center in Lakeport. It is a community-based and patient-directed organization that provides comprehensive primary healthcare services as well as supportive services such as education and translation that promote access to healthcare.