Claire Sexton, APRN, DNP, CNP, provides care with the Springfield Clinic Gastroenterology team and collaborates with Dr. Ashish Chopra

Claire earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Illinois Chicago and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Inspired by her mother, who is also a nurse, Claire knew from a young age that she wanted to pursue a career in nursing. “I loved the idea that one field could contain so many different opportunities,” she says. After spending the last four years in primary care, she found herself increasingly drawn to the complexity and challenge of gastrointestinal medicine. “I always love a challenge, so inpatient GI seemed like the perfect fit for me,” Claire says.

She is passionate about patient education and believes it plays a critical role in improving outcomes and treatment compliance. “I’ve seen such an improvement in outcomes when patients understand a disease process and become engaged in the treatment plan,” she says.

A Springfield native and Pleasant Plains graduate, Claire returned to central Illinois after college to begin her career. “It felt right coming home,” she says. During her nurse practitioner training, she completed clinical rotations in several areas of Springfield Clinic and was impressed by the positive culture and provider experience across the organization.

Outside of work, Claire enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, cooking and golfing.