Nisha McKenzie
Practice Owner
Physician Assistant - Certified
Nationally Certified Menopause Practitioner
AASECT Certified Sexuality Counselor
Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health
Hello everyone! I have been practicing medicine in Grand Rapids since 2002. After nine years of practicing women’s health within Family Medicine I saw the need to focus my studies on women’s sexual health, and from there realized the necessity to further diversify my studies to include LGBTQIA+, non-binary and trauma affirmative healthcare. This subset of medicine is vastly underrecognized and sadly not well addressed in medical/PA/NP schools. In fact I am now one of only three PAs in the country to be certified as a sexuality counselor and one of only two to also hold the title of Nationally Certified Menopause Practitioner. But I am working to get more of us doing this work! In the process of my postgraduate studies I began to see even more clearly the disparities in healthcare for marginalized groups and the many roadblocks my patients faced on their journey to health. I realized I could no longer sit back and wait for the healthcare system to do the right thing for my patients. I created the Women’s+ Health Collective to help people break down those roadblocks. I am committed to changing the systems and beliefs that have stigmatized sexuality, gender and women’s health through non-judgmental compassionate care rooted in evidence-based research. My goal is to continue to collaborate with diverse healthcare professionals to offer services that have proven to be effective in optimizing health. Our staff undergoes regular trainings in our continual effort to bring biases to light so we can do our best to ensure they do not negatively affect the healthcare we deliver. Every person who walks through our doors has the right to be heard and my hope is that each person feels invited, safe and comfortable here.
Education
Post-Graduate Sexuality Educator and Sexuality Counselor Certificate Program University of Michigan 2014
Master of Science in Medicine Western Michigan University Physician Assistant Program
Bachelor of Science, cum laude Western Michigan University
Major: Biomedical Sciences, Minor: Chemistry
Teaching
Affiliate Clinical Professor Grand Valley State University Physician Assistant Program
Guest Lecturer Western Michigan University Physician Assistant Program
Teaching Faculty University of Michigan Sexual Health Certificate Program
Publications
Sears, C., Barnhart, K. J., McKenzie, N. (2019, November). Assessing vibrator beliefs prior to and following vibe therapy recommendation: A focus on women who experience genital pain. American Public Health Association’s 147th APHA Annual Meeting and Expo, Philadelphia, PA.
McKenzie N. (2018, July). Female Sexual Interest and Arousal Disorder: How Can We Help When Our Patient’s Libido Hits the Brakes. Physician Assistant Clinics Journal, Women’s Health Issue.
Community Involvement
Certified HIV Testing Counselor, Grand Rapids Red Project
Preceptor, Physician Assistant Program, Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University, University of Michigan
Sex Trivia Planning Committee, Planned Parenthood of West Michigan
Advocacy Committee, International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health
Certified Sexuality Counselor Review Board Committee, American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists
Membership Committee Chair, Association of Physician Assistants in OBGYN