Areas of Interest

  • Acid Reflux
  • Colon Cancer Prevention and Screening
  • Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
  • General Gastroenterology
  • Hepatobiliary Diseases
  • H. Pylori
  • Liver Conditions & Diseases
  • Pancreatic Disorders & Diseases
  • Pancreatobiliary Pathology
  • Weight Loss and Lifestyle
  • Women's Digestive Health

PA Cook graduated magna cum laude from Saint Louis University with a Bachelor of Arts in biology and summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Medical Science from the university’s physician assistant program. She furthered her education at the University of Nebraska, where she earned a Master of Medical Science in physician assistant studies.

PA Cook has worked as a physician assistant in several specialties, including family medicine, emergency medicine, and gastroenterology. Most recently, she cared for patients at Lee Health Medical Group Internal Medicine in Cape Coral. In addition to her clinical experience, PA Cook has been dedicated to educating future healthcare providers. Since 2020, she has served as an assistant professor in the physician assistant program at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). Her leadership and commitment to excellence in education have earned her multiple Golden Apple Awards from NSU's Student Government Society.

A long-standing member of professional organizations such as the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants (FAPA), PA Cook has also held leadership roles, including president and vice president of the Missouri Academy of Physician Assistants (MAPA), and has contributed to advancing the profession through legislative and advocacy efforts.

Beyond her clinical and teaching roles, PA Cook has co-authored research published in peer-reviewed journals and has been a featured speaker at regional and national conferences. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and joined Associates in Digestive Health in 2024.

University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.
Master of Medical Science, Physician Assistant Studies, 2004 

Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Mo.
Bachelor of Medical Science, Summa Cum Laude, 1984 

Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Mo.
Bachelor of Arts, Biology, Magna Cum Laude, 1983 

I donate some time on weekends to shelters housing dogs and cats - walking them, cleaning pens, giving them some human attention. 

I enjoy tennis, power walking, reading, learning Spanish. Love playing and caring for my dogs, Crested Geckos, and dwarf hamster. 

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) 

Florida Academy of Physician Assistants (FAPA) 

I strongly believe in the importance of preventive medicine, and colonoscopies are a key part of that, particularly for the early detection of colorectal cancer.

Beyond cancer, digestive health is critical to overall well-being, yet many people don’t realize how much their digestive system impacts other aspects of their health. Conditions like IBS, Crohn’s disease, food sensitivities, and malabsorption issues can be debilitating and often go undiagnosed or untreated for years.

With growing recognition of the gut’s influence on everything from mental health to immune function, there’s an increasing need for providers who not only diagnose these conditions but also educate patients on the importance of early prevention and proactive care. This can include proper screenings, nutritional counseling, and lifestyle modifications to support long-term digestive health.