Candy Critser has lived most of her life in Freeport, Ohio. She defines herself as a caring, compassionate, empathetic nurse practitioner, dedicated to advocating for the patient’s wishes, goals and quality of life. She hopes to earn ACHPN (Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse) status in 2020.

“My mission as the Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner is to help improve the quality of life for our patients and caregivers through focusing on the individual as a whole, not simply a diseased heart or diseased lung, but the entire person. I am devoted to sitting down with my patients and caregivers and really getting to know them and what is most important to these individuals at this time in life, what is quality of life to them, what are they hoping for. I am committed to offering education and advocating for ALL the options available to each unique individual, and supporting him in his decisions, while assisting in offering symptom management, emotional support, etc. so that this individual can continue to live the best life he can live.”

Candy is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses, and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. Since her time here she has emphasized the differences between hospice care and palliative care. Candy has served in her current role since 2014.

Candy has been married to husband Tony for 18 years and has two daughters. She enjoys running, biking, gardening with her husband, and baking with her daughters. Her favorite times are when the family spends time boating on Piedmont Lake and cheering on her Buckeye Trail daughters.