Kathryn Sams, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CNE

"I strive to see the whole person and partner with patients in evidence-based care that considers all aspects of their life situation."

A board-certified nurse practitioner, Kathryn Sams engages patients in addressing physical, behavioral and social issues related to substance abuse and evaluates the appropriateness of combining medical assisted therapy (MAT) with other therapies to treat addiction. A strong believer in partnering with patients to take ownership of their situation, she works with them to develop a treatment plan that considers all areas of their lives and connects them to available recovery resources and support services.

Areas of Expertise

• Addiction medicine – Providing prevention, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment services for individuals with an unhealthy use of substances, including nicotine, alcohol, opioids, prescription medications or other drugs, or substance-related health conditions
• Addiction recovery – The process in which an individual acknowledges their condition, seeks and engages in treatment and works to prevent relapse.
• Alcoholism – An unhealthy use of alcohol, encompassing alcohol abuse, dependence and addiction, that results in significant mental or physical health problems.
• Medical assisted therapy – The use of medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies to treat substance use disorders.
• Substance abuse – An inability to control use of substances, like legal or illegal drugs, alcohol or medications, due to an imbalance in the brain or a mental disorder.

Video Visits

Mrs. Sams offers virtual visits in certain circumstances for patient follow-up. If interested, ask about the option when scheduling.

Background

A Minnesota native with a passion for nursing, Mrs. Sams has spent nearly her entire career in family practice and urgent care settings where she provided a full range of medical and diagnostic services, including annual physicals, walk-in care, and treatment of chronic and acute conditions, as well as alcohol and substance abuse.

A teacher at heart, she regularly makes time to speak on community health topics and has educated at University of Texas Arlington in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program since 2017.

Outside of work, Mrs. Sams enjoys volunteering, taking annual mission trips to Honduras, playing pickleball and tennis, boating, swimming and visiting with her grandchildren.