Mohawk grad finds her passion caring for children

A Sycamore native found her passion for caring for people, especially caring for children.Whitney Stine graduated from Mohawk High School and earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Ashland University.In 2021, Stine started work at Ohio State University — The James Cancer Center. Then in 2016, she started her dream job at the Nationwide Children's Hospital.Stine later earned her nurse practitioner degree from OSU in 2018 and continued at Nationwide Children's Hospital.As a certified pediatric nurse practitioner, Stine assesses, diagnoses, prescribes medications and collaborates to provide the best care to her patients. She takes care of children in a variety of settings."I was always interested in the medical field," Stine said. She was just not sure where she would end up.Her first interest was in athletic training, but while taking a course at Heidelberg University during her senior year of high school, Stine realized it wasn't her passion.Stine said it was after her own personal hospitalizations and illnesses that it was through having great nurses she finally realized her passion would be in the nursing field."I enjoy caring for people and loved all of the different things that one could do or see with a nursing degree," Stine said.Following her first pediatric clinical at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Stine said she witnessed difficult, emotional cases, but knew this was where her passion furthered and she knew what she was meant to do."I have always enjoyed being around children," Stine said. "I love their playfulness and being able to find joy in many places."Stine said her time with Nationwide has been amazing and a dream come true."I enjoy that when you are treating children you are also taking care of the entire family," Stine said. "I love being able to bond, not only with the kids, but also with their parents."According to Stine, the children she has seen are resilient."I have seen some of the smallest babies in the NICU fight and overcome all of the odds and become smart and wonderful toddlers," she said. "I have also taken care of pediatric oncology patients and seeing their fight and strength was very powerful."While Stine enjoyed living and working in Columbus. She plans to move back to the area to work alongside Dr. Prasad Kakarala at Tiffin Pediatrics Associates. Kakarala has been in practice for nearly 40 years."Working at Nationwide Children's Hospital was a great experience," Stine said. "I learned so much from the doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses there.""I am excited to bring back what I have learned and the resources to my hometown," she said.Stine said she wanted to eventually move back home.With having her two sons, Chase who is two and a half and Cooper who is seven months old, Stine and her husband Brandon wanted to provide the same upbringing they had living in a small town."I have learned so much over the years from working with children — not only educationally — but also many personal lessons," Stine said. "I have learned that hope and faith in seemingly hopeless times can do wonders for people."