Amber Rasmussen, WHNP

For Amber Rasmussen, nursing has always been more than a profession. It’s a passion.

“Ever since I decided to be a caregiver, or realized my call for this work at a young age, I have vowed to care for people the best I know how and to help navigate the system for care that I am not able to provide,” says Amber Rasmussen, a nurse practitioner on the VCU Health Women’s Health team. “I strive to help patients express their needs, educate on care topics, and work together to meet their health goals.”

Rasmussen specializes in caring for high-risk pregnant women as part of the Maternal Fetal Medicine team, providing whole-patient, family-centered care. As a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), she focuses on caring for pregnant women with diabetes, blending clinical expertise with a deep commitment to helping families navigate complex health needs with confidence. Her focus spans obstetric care, family planning, lactation support and postpartum follow-up.

Before joining VCU Health, Amber spent more than a decade at Mayo Clinic Health System in Minnesota, where she provided obstetric and gynecologic care and as an OB/GYN instructor. She became a leader in programs such as Centering Pregnancy and the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, advancing collaborative, evidence-based approaches to maternal care.

“The diversity and inclusive care provided to the Richmond community and many other parts of Virginia was appealing to me coming to work at VCU,” she says. “All people have health care needs, hopes and dreams for their families. My personal philosophy came with me from Minnesota: the needs of the patient come first.”

At VCU Health, Rasmussen is one in a vast multidisciplinary team of obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, ultrasonographers, genetic counselors, social workers, nurses, midwives and endocrinologists. She sees her role as both caregiver and guide, helping patients coordinate care and ensuring they feel supported at every step.

Rasmussen earned a nursing degree from Carroll University in Wisconsin and her master’s degree in nursing, specializing in women’s health, from the University of Cincinnati. Throughout her career, she has paired clinical care with a commitment to education, serving as an instructor in obstetrics and gynecology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and precepting NP and physician assistant students (the PAs recognized her as Preceptor of the Year). Her academic interests include family planning, lactation and innovative models of prenatal care. She has presented her work on the role of advanced practice nurses in women’s health.

Outside of clinic, Rasmussen is a walker, reader, and a Midwesterner exploring her new home on the East Coast.

Advice to patients: Write down questions and bring others along to appointments to ensure clear communication of needs and important follow up.