Eric S Shay, MD

Catherine has always loved working with children and their families to help them be as happy and healthy as possible. Growing up, Catherine’s father emphasized being kind to everyone and to have a strong work ethic. Prior to going to nursing school, Catherine was a neonatal and pediatric respiratory therapist and an RN in a pediatric intensive care unit, which paved the way for her to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. One of her favorite things about coming to work every day is to meet newborns on their birthday! Outside of work, Catherine volunteers at a local elementary school’s reading program and the Kent County Humane Society.

Dr Sikkema wanted to be a doctor for most of her life and has always had a special interest in pediatrics. Her grandfather was a child psychiatrist, and she often witnessed his love for medicine. She knew she also wanted to do something that would bring her such joy. Because children have resilience in the face of illness, she finds interacting with them on a daily basis very rewarding. She loves interacting with children throughout her work day and often it feels like she gets to spend her day playing. She has a special interest in early childhood development. Dr Sikkema enjoys spending time with family, playing tennis and doing yoga. She is also on the board of Parent to Parent of Southwest Michigan.