Dr. Nicole Heath Bixler is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her internship and residency in family medicine at Frankford Hospitals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While attending medical school, she earned a MBA in health administration at Saint Joseph’s University, also in Philadelphia. After working three years in the Philadelphia area, Dr. Bixler relocated to Spring Hill, Florida in 2007, where she practices at Immediate Medcare and Family Doctor of Spring Hill. Her clinical practice focuses on the geriatric population with outpatient and inpatient services. She has been an advocate of osteopathic medicine, participating in leadership roles at the national, state, and local levels. Dr. Bixler recently served as the president of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (2020-2022) and has served on that organization’s Board of Governors since 2013. She is a past president of the Florida Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) and of the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA). She has previously served on the Florida State Physician Workforce Advisory Council and currently serves on the Florida Prostate Advisory Council, both by gubernatorial appointment.

Dr. Bixler serves as a clinical associate professor and core rotation preceptor for rural family medicine to students from the Kiran Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine at NOVA Southeastern University. She is a core faculty member for the family medicine residency at HCA Oak Hill Hospital, where she serves as a preceptor for the family medicine inpatient service and regularly lectures on Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment and business in medicine topics. She was awarded the Glass Ceiling Award from the Business and Professional Women of Hernando County in 2011, which recognizes women who excel and lead in traditionally male-dominated professions. Through the ACOFP, she has received the Outstanding Young Osteopathic Physician of the Year Award in 2011 and the Outstanding Female Leader Award in 2015. Additionally, she was honored with a Certificate of Special Recognition from ACOFP in 2022 in recognition of her leadership during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and for her efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion for the organization. She has received the Family Physician of the Year Award and Educator of the Year Award from the Florida Society of ACOFP, and in 2020 received FOMA’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award. She is proud to be a full-time practicing family physician, working with her husband, Brian Bixler, MD. When asked, she will tell you that her most important and prestigious position is mother and role model for their three daughters: Avery, Ellory, and Lily.