Andrew Kester, NP, is a Houston native who earned both his Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner) from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas. He is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and brings over 13 years of nursing experience, including eight years as a nurse practitioner. He began his career caring for critically ill patients in high-acuity ICU settings, including cardiothoracic, medical, surgical, and Level I trauma ICUs at Baylor Scott & White in Temple, as well as the surgical liver transplant ICU at Houston Methodist in the Texas Medical Center. He also served as an adjunct nursing instructor at his alma mater, mentoring undergraduate nursing students in clinical practice. As a nurse practitioner, Andrew has practiced in primary care, ENT, and internal medicine as a hospitalist, building a broad clinical foundation that informs his current work in gastroenterology, where he has been practicing since 2022. He has a strong interest in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and pelvic and defecatory disorders, and particularly enjoys the diagnostic process of identifying complex conditions to help patients regain quality of life. Andrew is passionate about building strong patient relationships and believes trust, open communication, and education are essential to managing chronic and complex GI conditions. He strives to empower patients to take an active role in their health. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, attending church at The Austin Stone, woodworking, and cheering on the Astros.