Rooted in Nursing, Focused on Families

Washington Health (WH) combines cutting-edge technology, clinical best practices and a personal touch to care to for its diverse community. To that end, physicians in the Washington Health Medical Group (WHMG) are joined by Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) to care for the more than 300,000 residents of WH’s service area.

APPs work hand-in-hand with their physician colleagues across a variety of specialties including nurse practitioners (NPs) in family practice clinics across the WH system. Whitney Williams, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner (FNP) practicing at the Mowry Family Practice Clinic in Fremont. Meghana “Maggi” Bachu, DNP, FNP, practices at the Danielson Clinic in Newark. Both briefly considered medical school before deciding the FNP role was better suited to their practice and lifestyle approaches, and both have extensive experience across a variety of health care settings, emphasizing empathy and compassionate, high-quality care.

Whitney Williams, MSN, FNP-C: Caring for generations

For Williams, patient care begins with education, a core principle she believes is foundational to nursing and central to her approach as a family nurse practitioner.

“Education has always been a big part of the nursing model,” Williams said. “Patients often tell me, ‘No one has ever explained it that way before.’ That’s something nurses are trained to do. We listen to patients to get their perspective, then make sure they truly understand their care.”

That philosophy now shapes her practice, where she treats patients across the lifespan, from infants to senior citizens, often caring for multiple generations within the same family. Williams’ patient panel reflects that relationship-driven model of care.

“I’ll start with one patient, and then they refer their family members,” she shared. “Now I have teenagers, their parents, and grandparents all coming in. The community becomes your patient.”

This continuity gives her a deeper understanding of health beyond individual visits. Seeing families together allows for informal check-ins, broader context and stronger preventive care.

“It helps you see the bigger picture,” Williams noted. “If a child comes in, I can check in on the parents. If a parent comes in, I can ask about the kids. You build relationships that improve care.”

When she transitioned to advanced practice, Williams chose family medicine intentionally. The specialty allowed her to care for diverse populations while maintaining flexibility and continuity.

“Acute care gives you a strong foundation,” Williams said. “You learn what serious illness looks like, and that makes you more confident in outpatient care. Primary care is about seeing the big picture and knowing when something needs urgent attention.”

Local care, global outreach

Williams spent more than eight years as an ICU nurse in rural Northern California, where she gained broad clinical experience in high-acuity care before coming to WH in 2023. The setting demanded versatility, treating everything from critical illness to emergency situations unique to rural communities. She credits that advanced training in helping build a strong foundation in family practice. She is deeply committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care with a focus on improving patient outcomes, function, and overall quality of life.

Away from work, Williams is also committed to serving both her local and global communities in times of need. She served in adult leadership for Boy and Girl Scouts and worked on medical missions locally and globally. She also believes her personal experiences, including motherhood and her own health challenges, have strengthened her ability to connect with patients.

But it’s her day-to-day work with patients at the Mowry clinic that brings her the most satisfaction. Williams values practicing in a setting where primary care and specialty services are closely connected, allowing for coordinated care and strong referral relationships.

“I love being part of a system that’s truly connected to the community,” she said. “We provide comprehensive family practice, and when patients need specialists, they’re right there.”

Meghana “Maggi” Bachu, DNP, FNP: Treating the whole person

Bachu had plans for medical school, but after earning a BA in chemistry, she pivoted to nursing school and earned a BSN. Her clinical experience includes family medicine, community health and cardiac care. After working for several years as an RN, she earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Family Medicine in 2020 and completed a Family Medicine Nurse Practitioner residency at International Community Health Services in Seattle, Washington, in 2021. During the residency, she worked at a Federally Qualified Health Center, serving non-English-speaking patients and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team that included pharmacists, social workers, and counselors. She came to WH in 2025.

“There are very few NP residencies across the country,” Bachu said. “I was very grateful to have the opportunity to participate. It was very important for me to do a residency before I started my first job to solidify my practice.”

For Bachu, the foundation of effective primary care begins with a principle learned early in nursing education: treat the person, not just the condition. That philosophy shapes every patient interaction, from routine blood pressure checks to comprehensive annual physicals, and reflects a broader shift toward holistic, preventive care. Conversations often include lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, stress, exercise and mental health – all of which play a significant role in long-term wellness.

“Any condition in life isn’t straightforward,” she explained. “You can prescribe antibiotics or blood pressure medication, but you also have to talk about lifestyle changes and stress. Mental health impacts physical health in a big way.”

Education is a central component of this model. While lifestyle recommendations are not always easy for patients to implement, especially amid social and economic pressures, the goal is to empower patients with knowledge and support. Bachu noted patients need that reassurance and guidance.

The holistic model

Preventive visits are a cornerstone of holistic primary care. Annual exams, lab work, and routine check-ins offer opportunities to identify risks early and build stronger relationships with patients. Even seemingly simple visits can provide reassurance and encourage proactive health management.

At the same time, holistic care often requires collaboration across specialties. Primary care providers frequently coordinate with specialists, mental health counselors, and other health care professionals to address complex needs.

“Many patients benefit from a multidisciplinary approach,” Bachu said. “We make referrals for a variety of reasons, for mental health, specialty care or other support services. This coordination ensures patients receive comprehensive care while maintaining continuity through primary care.”

Ultimately, the goal of holistic primary care is to keep patients healthy, not just treat them when they become ill. Annual exams, preventive screenings and lifestyle discussions form the foundation of that effort.

“It’s like a holistic vaccine for your life,” she continued. “You’re coming in for a whole-body checkup — physical, emotional, mental, and even spiritual. Family practice allows you to look at everything. We help patients build healthier lives, one conversation at a time.”