Emily Woodruff has been a medical assistant for 4 years and has 5 years of experience in the medical field. She obtained her CCMA at First Institute in Crystal Lake. She feels that caring for our patients is not just physical, it involves emotional, mental, and spiritual care as well. She views her role as an advocate for patients and helping them navigate the health system. The patients’ health and well-being are her priority.

Emily has several close friends who are union members, and she understands the hard work they do each day, and appreciates the importance of the unions to her friends. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking with her dog, Blue, and kayaking.

Nicole East started her career with a diploma from Ravenswood Hospital School of Nursing, then went on to finish her bachelor of science at Purdue University Northwest and completed her master of science in nursing at Lewis University. She is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with nearly 20 years of experience in emergency medicine, urgent care, and dermatology. Nicole has a passion for healthcare promotion and believes in individualized, patient-focused care. She is positive, compassionate and comes from a long line of healthcare professionals.

Nicole is a Chicagoan who grew up around the trades. Her husband is a lieutenant with a local union fire department and a member of the AFFI and IAFF, and her father is an active member of Cement Masons’ Local 502 and Carpenters Union Local 58. She has 4 children who all play hockey, and as a family, they enjoy the outdoors, hiking with their 3 dogs, and spending time at the ice rink.