Risa Zimmerman, PA-C

Risa Zimmerman, PA-C, MPAS, MBA, is a Physician Assistant who works in ThinkQuick Walk-in Clinic at Think Whole Person Healthcare. She brings more than 30 years of clinical experience and is also the Associate Program Director at the College of Saint Mary Physician Assistant Program. Risa grew up in Friend, Nebraska, where she remembers spending summer days at the local pool and staying out until the 9 o’clock whistle meant it was time to go home. She earned her Physician Assistant degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in 1992, completed a Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies at UNMC in 2004, and received an MBA in Healthcare from Creighton University in 2020.

Risa’s interest in medicine began as a child after watching the television show “Emergency!” That early inspiration led her to become a Physician Assistant. For much of her 30-year career, she cared for patients undergoing stem cell transplants. Later, she became interested in urgent care and, more recently, in teaching and mentoring future PAs at the College of Saint Mary, where she focuses on healthcare policy, advocacy, and leadership.

For Risa, Whole Person Healthcare means working together as partners, with patients and their healthcare team. She believes a diagnosis or health issue affects more than just the body; it can also impact family, work, and emotional well-being. Risa’s goal is to guide patients through their healthcare journey with clarity, compassion, and teamwork, making sure they feel seen as whole people, not just medical cases.

After 30 years in medicine, Risa joined think to return to part-time clinical work while continuing to teach at the College of Saint Mary. She is motivated by a desire to keep strong, meaningful connections with her patients, the same relationships that inspired her to enter medicine. Risa values think’s approach to accessible, patient-centered care that focuses on whole-person health, allowing her to remain involved in direct patient care and to continue supporting high-quality, compassionate services.

Patients describe Risa as a caring leader who communicates clearly and ensures that both patients and their families feel understood and supported. Throughout her career, she has focused on building trust through genuine human connection, whether by sharing a story from her hometown, talking about family, or finding common ground. She always treats patients as people first, not just as diagnoses.

Risa is married and has three adult children. Her appreciation for family, community, and service influences her work. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones and hopes to travel around the Mediterranean Sea one day to explore its cultures, history, and landscapes.