About
Dr. Nicole Hemkes founded Advocate MD in January 2019 after a decade practicing across some of medicine's most demanding environments. She trained at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, graduating in 2006, and completed her Family Medicine residency at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Before starting the practice, she worked in emergency departments, inpatient and hospitalist roles, and outpatient clinics. Her career took her from inner-city Chicago to rural Alaska, and she credits that breadth of experience with sharpening both her clinical skills and her empathy as a healer.
Dr. Hemkes holds board certification in Family Medicine. She believes the DPC model empowers both physician and patient, restoring the direct relationship that good care requires. Her undergraduate degree in Biology, earned with Distinction at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, reflects the academic foundation she built before medical school. She lives in Madison with her two daughters, Margo and Mona, and spends her free time running, practicing pilates, gardening, and exploring Wisconsin with her family.
Education & Training
Undergraduate
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BS Biology (minor in Chemistry), graduated with Distinction, 2002
Medical School
University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, 2006
Residency
Family Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, completed 2009
Certifications
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Hemkes right for?
Dr. Hemkes is a strong fit for patients who want a consistent, relationship-driven primary care experience. She manages a broad range of chronic conditions including hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disease, depression, anxiety, and asthma. Patients dealing with multiple ongoing health concerns benefit from her emergency, hospitalist, and outpatient background. She also serves families and individuals seeking preventive care with a lifestyle medicine perspective.
Similar Doctors Nearby
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Hemkes treats a wide range of chronic and acute conditions. Her clinical focus includes hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, thyroid disease, arthritis, anemia, depression, anxiety, asthma, COPD, GERD, and migraines. She also provides preventive care, urgent care, and pediatric services for members.
Dr. Hemkes earned her medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in 2006. She completed her Family Medicine residency at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 2009. Her undergraduate degree in Biology came from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated with Distinction.
Yes, Dr. Hemkes holds board certification in Family Medicine.
Dr. Hemkes believes every patient deserves a true healthcare advocate. She focuses on building a direct, ongoing relationship with each patient, free from insurance and administrative interference. Her background spans emergency medicine, hospital care, and outpatient practice, which gives her a broad clinical perspective she brings to every visit.
Yes. Dr. Hemkes incorporates lifestyle medicine into her practice, addressing nutrition, exercise, sleep, and natural approaches to conditions like anxiety and weight management. She takes time in appointments to discuss the lifestyle factors that shape long-term health outcomes.
Dr. Hemkes completed her residency in 2009 and spent the following decade in emergency departments, inpatient settings, and outpatient clinics before founding Advocate MD in January 2019. She brings over fifteen years of clinical experience to her patients.
Dr. Hemkes practiced medicine in some unusually varied settings before founding Advocate MD. Her career included work in inner-city Chicago and remote rural Alaska, giving her a wide range of clinical experience. She credits that diversity with making her a more skilled and empathetic physician.
Doctor profile last updated March 24, 2026