U.S. Air Force Veteran, Oncology Nurse Practitioner, and mom of two – Kristina Knickerbocker’s life has been dedicated to serving our country and our community.
Growing up, Kristina and her family enjoyed church and volunteered with local food pantries. She learned the meaning of hard work early, juggling multiple jobs to put herself through school. Passionate about helping people, Kristina followed in her grandmother’s footsteps and pursued her nursing degree before joining the Air Force.
Her service in the Air Force brought her to the Miami Valley. As a major and nurse in the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Kristina led teams to improve medical care for active duty, veterans, and military families. Her work was instrumental in developing and implementing solutions that directly resulted in better health outcomes and increased medical readiness for servicemembers. To continue her service, she transitioned to the 445th Aeromedical Staging Squadron where she bolstered deployment readiness for both military and humanitarian objectives.
While serving in the Air Force Reserves, Kristina found her passion while working at The Ohio State University Medical Center as a Neuro-Oncology Nurse Practitioner, helping cancer patients across the region. She has witnessed the broken healthcare system firsthand – from understaffed facilities to skyrocketing premiums and prescription costs that force patients to choose between treatment and groceries.
The healthcare system failed Kristina during her pregnancy and second childbirth when frightening complications resulting from not being listened to by medical professionals proved nearly fatal. This eye-opening and painful journey underscored the importance of patients being their own advocates.
Today, Kristina and her husband Bret, an attorney and small business leader, are proudly raising their two young children in the Yellow Springs area near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
