Courtesy of Catalina Island Health
In honor of National Nurse Practitioners Week (Nov. 9-15), Catalina Island Health is celebrating its Nurse Practitioners Santa Dominguez and Karla Perisho. It is also highlighting the journey of ER nurse Emily Hopkins as she works to become a nurse practitioner.
“A nurse practitioner (NP), sometimes called an advanced practice nurse, is a registered nurse with advanced training in administering patient care,” according to the May Clinic College of Medicine and Science website.
“They are qualified to meet the majority of patients’ healthcare needs; in fact, 60 to 80 percent of primary and preventive care can be performed by nurse practitioners according to the American Nurses Association,” the website said.
CIH shared the following interview with Emily:
CIH: How long have you been an ER nurse at CIH?
Hopkins: For 4 years.
CIH: Have you worked other places? If so, where?
Yes. I worked as a healthcare assistant in the critical care float pool for five years then became an anesthesia assistant while attending nursing school. For many summers, I was also the Health Officer at Camp Cherry Valley at the Isthmus. After graduating from nursing school, I worked in a level 1 Emergency Department before coming to Catalina Island Health.
CIH: When did you decide to become a nurse and why?
Hopkins: When I was 16, I developed a severe case of pneumonia and was hospitalized for several days. I was amazed at how the nurses could make me feel so safe and comfortable even on my worst days in the hospital. Because of their care and compassion, it inspired me to pursue nursing so that I could provide the same comfort to others.
CIH: Where did you go to school?
Hopkins: Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah
CIH: You are now working to become a Nurse Practitioner. Was that always your goal?
Hopkins: No. When I first decided to pursue nursing, I was drawn to the relationship nurses form with their patients, families, and friends. From my past experiences, I didn’t believe that same level of connection existed in a provider role. I loved being at the bedside and I felt fulfilled there.
However, after moving to Catalina and starting my career at the hospital, my perspective changed.
I saw how the clinic and emergency room providers developed these close, trusting, and long-term relationships with patients in our community. I saw that it is possible to have the same connection, empathy, and attentiveness that I value as a bedside nurse while also having the ability to provide care on a deeper level. It made me realize that becoming a nurse practitioner would not take away from the connection and relationships I love but instead allow me to grow them. I began to see that this is the right path for me.
CIH: Who or what inspired you to pursue this?
Hopkins: A couple of years ago, a local islander and friend named Charlie Canby, who has since passed, told me that he believed I would be an excellent nurse practitioner. I grew fonder of the idea over time and discussed my plans with both family and colleagues who agreed that I should pursue this path.
CIH: Where are you currently studying?
Hopkins: West Coast University in Irvine, CA
CIH: How long is the program to become a nurse practitioner and where are you in that process?
Hopkins: It takes 2 years. As of November 2025, I am halfway done.
CIH: You’ve also been working alongside providers in the clinic as part of your schooling, correct? Please describe the impact of being able to do that here at CIH.
Hopkins: Yes, I currently work 36 hours a week in the emergency department and other units within the hospital while also attending school full time.
Each week, I complete 16 hours of nurse practitioner clinical rotations. Being able to complete my clinical hours here at Catalina Island Health while working alongside Dr. Dan Cooper, D.O. and Santa Dominguez, FNP-C have been incredibly valuable.
It has allowed me to learn from exceptional providers who understand the needs of the community while also maintaining a balance with my work schedule and personal life.
CIH: When will you graduate?
Hopkins: Summer of 2026.
CIH: What is your favorite part about living and working on the island?
Hopkins: In larger hospital systems, you often have many patients at one time, engage in selective tasks, and quickly transfer patients from the ER to other units.
This makes it difficult to get to know your patients. In the ER here, I can develop meaningful, long-term relationships.
I have more time to really get to know patients and follow up on their well-being after they leave the hospital. Seeing the impact of my care on their lives is rewarding and is one of my favorite parts of working on the island.
CIH: What are you doing when you are not working?
Hopkins: I love to swim in the mornings with the Catalina Island Swim Club, hike, read, free dive, and spend time with my husband and family.
CIH is grateful for the compassion and professionalism of Santa, Karla, and Emily, along with all the providers and staff who work so diligently to keep the community healthy.
About Catalina
Island Health
CI Health’s primary care physicians and family nurse practitioners provide the island community with a solid foundation of care.
The medical clinic is located at 100 Falls Canyon Road, Avalon, CA, up the street from Avalon’s City Hall on the bottom level of the hospital. Its hours are 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Visit CatalinaIslandHealth.org or call 310-510-0096 for more information or to make an appointment.
The emergency room is staffed 24/7 with a UC Irvine Emergency Medicine Physician and supported by the CI Health’s laboratory and diagnostic imaging departments to meet the acute medical needs of Catalina Island’s residents and visitors.
With the use of patient satisfaction surveys, patients consistently rank CI Health’s emergency services as one of the best in the nation.
The hospital’s main number is 310-510-0700. For more information, visit CatalinaIslandHealth.org.
