Meet Nate Tapio, NP: Whole-Person Primary Care and HIV Care in Greater Cleveland & Akron
Finding a healthcare provider you trust can make a big difference. Nathan (Nate) Tapio, MSN, CNP, FNP-C, AAHIVS, brings nearly 20 years of healthcare experience to AbsoluteCare, where he cares for adults across Greater Cleveland and Akron.
His areas of focus include complex chronic conditions, kidney disease and HIV care. But for Nate, good care starts with the person, not the diagnosis.
He believes in listening, explaining things clearly and helping each patient build a care plan that works for their life. His goal is simple: help people feel heard, understand their health and take the next step toward feeling their best.
Nate at a Glance
- Credentials: MSN, CNP, FNP-C, AAHIVS
- Experience: Nearly 20 years in healthcare, including neurosurgery, correctional healthcare and community-based primary care
- Focus areas: Complex chronic conditions, kidney disease, HIV care and prevention, sexual health, and gender-affirming care
- Serves: Adults across Greater Cleveland and Akron
- Also: Eight years of service in the Army Reserve
We sat down with Nate to talk about his approach to care, what brought him to AbsoluteCare and what he wants both new and longtime patients to know.
Q. Nate, you’ve worked in healthcare for nearly 20 years. What made you want to become a nurse practitioner, and what do you love most about caring for patients?
I viewed the nurse practitioner role as the highest level of clinical practice within the nursing profession and a natural progression in my career. I started as a nursing assistant at age 17 and worked my way up to becoming a registered nurse in several healthcare settings, including hospital and operating room care.
I’ve always loved nursing, especially patient education. As I gained experience, I also recognized the need for more healthcare providers to help address unmet medical needs in our communities. What I enjoy most is seeing patients achieve positive outcomes and become engaged in their own care. My goal is to be a trusted partner and support patients throughout their healthcare journey.
“My goal is to be a trusted partner and support patients throughout their healthcare journey.” — Nate Tapio
Q. You recently joined AbsoluteCare. What brought you here, and what are you most excited about?
AbsoluteCare’s care model was very appealing to me because it takes a different approach to healthcare delivery. I believe value-based care creates greater health equity for patients with complex medical needs by providing more time, support, and resources than traditional healthcare models often allow.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked with patients who have faced barriers to accessing care, whether in correctional healthcare settings, volunteer work or community health centers. Supporting underserved and vulnerable populations has always been a particular area of interest for me, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see patients become actively engaged in their health.
I’m excited to be part of an organization that is focused on improving outcomes while addressing barriers to care. I also believe healthcare delivery must continue to evolve, and I appreciate the opportunity to help advance innovative approaches that better serve patients.
Q. Many patients live with more than one health problem. When it starts to feel overwhelming, how do you help them figure out where to start?
Whether the challenge is a medical condition, a new diagnosis, or a social need, I usually start by focusing on what’s most important to the patient. Sometimes that is not their medical condition at all. Housing, employment, childcare responsibilities, mental health concerns, or substance use disorders may be the issues that need attention first.
Nursing has always emphasized treating the whole person. The most effective treatment plan is one a patient can realistically follow. I try to identify the patient’s priorities and then work together to address challenges step by step over time. Healthcare is often a journey, and it’s important to meet people where they are.
“The most effective treatment plan is one a patient can realistically follow.” — Nate Tapio
Follow-up: How do you help patients who struggle to stick with a care plan?
At heart, I’m a teacher. Helping patients understand the “why” behind a medication, test, or recommendation often makes it easier for them to stay engaged in care.
We also have many tools available to simplify treatment, including:
- Mobile apps
- Streamlined medication regimens
- Long-acting injectable therapies, when appropriate
Understanding what matters most to a patient is critical. Some patients do well with visits every six to twelve months, while others benefit from more frequent follow-up. Our role is to provide support and resources that fit each person’s individual needs.
Q. What kinds of things can you help with as a primary care provider, from checkups and chronic conditions to preventive screenings?
My background is primarily in adult medicine. I earned my Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner certification in 2016 and later completed my Family Nurse Practitioner certification in 2024.
My nursing experience includes long-term care, inpatient care, and operating room nursing. As a nurse practitioner, I began my career in neurosurgery, caring for patients in outpatient, perioperative, and inpatient settings. I later transitioned into correctional healthcare and community-based primary care.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked alongside psychiatrists and mental health professionals and gained experience caring for a wide range of medical and behavioral health conditions. In 2024, I also earned my HIV specialist certification (AAHIVS).
My areas of expertise include:
- HIV treatment and prevention
- Sexual health
- Gender-affirming care
- Chronic disease management
- Medication management
- Preventive screenings
- Routine primary care
In addition, I served for eight years in the Army Reserve, which provided valuable experience working with military and veteran populations.
Overall, my goal is to help patients navigate healthcare with confidence while ensuring care is aligned with current evidence-based guidelines and best practices.
Q. Kidney disease can feel frightening at first. How do you help patients understand their numbers and protect their kidney health?
Like other chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease often develops without obvious symptoms. Many patients are surprised when they learn about changes in their kidney function because they may feel completely well.
I start by helping patients understand what their lab results mean and how kidney disease develops. Education about the underlying causes, risk factors, and preventive measures can make a big difference. Managing conditions such as diabetes and hypertension is especially important because they are among the most significant modifiable risk factors for kidney disease progression.
I also emphasize that kidney health should be monitored over time. Regular follow-up allows us to identify changes early and intervene before problems become more serious.
Lifestyle changes, avoiding medications that can harm the kidneys, and maintaining healthy habits can help protect kidney function. I often use visual aids, infographics, videos, and educational resources to help patients better understand their condition. Follow-up visits also provide opportunities to answer questions and reinforce key concepts.
Q. You have special training and experience in HIV care and gender-affirming care. What do you want people to know about the care you provide?
The most important thing patients should know is that I strive to provide inclusive, compassionate, and nonjudgmental care. We welcome and care for people of all backgrounds, identities, beliefs, and life experiences.
Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and comfortable when seeking health care. Creating an environment where patients feel heard, respected, and supported is extremely important to me.
Answering questions, giving patients the time they need, using inclusive language, respecting preferred names and pronouns, and ensuring care reflects each person’s individual goals and needs are foundational to working alongside each patient.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and comfortable when seeking health care.” — Nate Tapio
Follow-up: What would you say to someone who has been nervous or embarrassed to talk with a provider about their sexual health needs, including testing, prevention or treatment?
My goal is to create a safe and comfortable environment where patients can share only what they’re comfortable discussing. Most of the time, we simply need enough information to order appropriate testing and provide appropriate care.
We don’t always need detailed discussions about personal behaviors unless they’re relevant to a patient’s healthcare needs. What’s most important is ensuring we perform the right screening and preventive testing so we don’t miss anything important.
I encourage open dialogue, welcome questions, and support patients using language that feels natural and comfortable for them. My focus is always on providing respectful, patient-centered care.
Follow-up: What can a patient expect when they come to you for gender-affirming care, and how do you make sure they feel respected and supported?
Respect begins with using a patient’s chosen name and correct pronouns. We also work to ensure medical records accurately reflect that information whenever possible.
When discussing gender-affirming care, we:
- Review the patient’s goals
- Discuss treatment options
- Explain what hormone therapy can and cannot accomplish
- Set realistic expectations for timelines and outcomes
We also assist with supporting documentation and paperwork related to name and gender marker changes when appropriate.
Beyond gender-affirming therapy itself, we focus on providing comprehensive primary care and preventive health services tailored to each individual’s needs. If additional services such as mental health support or surgical consultation are needed, we are happy to help coordinate those referrals.
Q. Why did you choose to specialize in HIV care, and what has that taught you about caring for the whole person?
HIV is a unique chronic condition. Effective treatment exists, but access can still be complicated by insurance coverage, cost, and other barriers. Throughout my career, I’ve enjoyed working with patients who face healthcare access challenges and helping them overcome those barriers.
Many people living with HIV have healthcare needs that extend beyond the condition itself, including mental health, social, and preventive care needs. That experience reinforced the importance of treating the entire person rather than focusing on a single diagnosis.
HIV care often overlaps closely with primary care, and I feel fortunate to be able to provide both HIV treatment and prevention services under one roof to minimize multiple provider visits.
Follow-up: What should someone know about living well with HIV today?
HIV treatment has advanced tremendously over the years. Today’s therapies are highly effective, and most people who take their medications consistently can live long, healthy lives.
In addition to treatment, preventive care remains important, including routine screenings, recommended vaccinations, and regular follow-up appointments. With proper care and monitoring, most patients achieve excellent outcomes and maintain a high quality of life.
“Today’s therapies are highly effective, and most people who take their medications consistently can live long, healthy lives.” — Nate Tapio
Q. For people who don’t have HIV, can you describe PrEP, and who might benefit from talking with a provider about it?
Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a highly effective medication used to prevent HIV infection in people who are HIV-negative and may be at risk of exposure.
Anyone who believes they may be at risk for HIV should consider discussing PrEP with a healthcare provider. We often recommend considering PrEP for individuals who have had a sexually transmitted infection within the past year, but recommendations are always individualized based on a person’s circumstances and risk factors.
PrEP options now include both daily oral medications and long-acting injectable treatments. We also discuss other prevention tools, including doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP), which may help reduce the risk of certain bacterial sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia and syphilis, in appropriate patients.
Our goal is to help patients choose the prevention strategy that best fits their needs and preferences.
Q. If you could tell someone who has been putting off a doctor’s visit one thing, what would it be?
I often compare healthcare to routine vehicle maintenance. Most people understand the importance of taking their car in for regular service, and our bodies deserve the same attention.
Many health conditions develop gradually over time and are easier to prevent, treat, or manage when they’re identified early. My role isn’t to force anyone into a particular treatment or test. My role is to provide information, guidance, and evidence-based recommendations so patients can make informed decisions about their health.
We aim to meet patients where they are, answer their questions, and support them in achieving their health goals. It’s never a bad time to establish care or schedule a visit.
“It’s never a bad time to establish care or schedule a visit.” — Nate Tapio
We also welcome feedback. If there’s something we can do better, we want to know. And if a patient’s needs extend beyond the services we provide, we’re happy to connect them with the right specialists and resources.
Above all, I want patients to know they’re welcome here. We hope to be a trusted medical home and healthcare partner for individuals and families throughout Greater Cleveland and Akron.
Looking for Nathan (Nate) Tapio?
If you’re looking for a provider who will take the time to listen and understand the whole you, he’s now seeing patients with AbsoluteCare in the Greater Cleveland and Akron area. Contact AbsoluteCare to learn more about becoming a member or scheduling an appointment.
AbsoluteCare Akron Health Center
Phone: 330-918-6000
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm