At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, Couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community that are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to work with all people, with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.
Frontier Nursing University graduate Dr. Marli Parobek, APRN, DNP, FNP, PMHNP, is using her education from FNU to make a lasting difference in the lives of her neighbors. After earning her Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) post-graduate certificate and later her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from FNU, Dr. Parobek has continued to embody the university’s mission of serving communities through compassionate, accessible care as the owner of Precision Psychiatry in Vashon Island, Washington.
In recognition of her impactful work, Dr. Parobek recently received the 2025 State Award for Outstanding Contributions from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners for her work in Washington state. The award recognizes those who have made significant strides in advancing health care through practice, education, advocacy, research and leadership, and have demonstrated efforts to advance the image, profile and visibility of nurse practitioners. Dr. Parobek accepted the award during the 2025 AANP National Conference in San Diego, California in June.
Dr. Brooke A. Flinders with Dr. Marli Parobek in Vashon Island, Washington
Dr. Parobek credits FNU for instilling in her a deep understanding of what it means to give back, noting that the university’s online learning model allows students to remain rooted in their home communities, applying what they learn directly to the people they serve.
“Frontier keeps the dedication by keeping it small and personable,” she said.
Dr. Parobek’s practice is focused on medication treatment that is tailored to meet the specific mental health needs of patients. Through her practice, she is dedicated to delivering modern medical solutions with a practical application.
“I knew that there was such a need for mental health, and I wanted to venture into that as an entrepreneur,” she said. “It was explained to me once that we have these volumes of knowledge in our brain, and you can take the nurse out of the clinic, but you can’t take the clinic out of the nurse.”
Dr. Parobek said she finds caring for patients in a rural community especially rewarding
“I love being in a community where I’m serving my neighbors,” she said. “I see them at the grocery store, I see them at church, and that connection is what makes rural medicine in my eyes the most fulfilling. There’s no greater accomplishment than to have one of my current clients refer me to a family member, that they entrust me with someone that they love. That’s what I love about rural medicine: you are caring for the people that you know.”
In addition to running her own practice, Dr. Parobek leverages her expertise to mentor the next generation of healthcare professionals and advocate for health care policy in Washington State. She credits earning her DNP from Frontier Nursing University with equipping her for these leadership and advocacy roles.
“I feel so well-prepared when I’m in committee settings and I’m representing the island, or I’m at the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, or as I’m marketing my own business,” she said. “I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment because Frontier has such a good-quality program.”
We had the opportunity to visit Dr. Parobek during the Northwest leg of our Presidential Tour. Join us in the video below as we visit with her and other alumni in California and Oregon along the way:
Thank you, Marli, for exemplifying the excellence of FNU graduates by providing compassionate care for patients in your community and by helping shape the future of healthcare.
To read more graduate stories, visit the FNU Alumni stories page.
