Meet Dr. Nicole Florence, our 2025 Board President
April 28, 2025
Nicole Florence MD is a lifelong Central Illinois resident. She joined the Hoogland Center for the Arts board in 2023, and became our board president in January of 2025. She made her Hoogland stage debut in the leading role of the "Stage Manager" in our 2023 production of Our Town.
Nicole was born in Champaign and then moved to Springfield at 8 years old. She is a product of public schools and graduate of Springfield High School. After receiving a biology degree at University of Illinois –Champaign, Nicole pursued her medical degree at Southern Illinois School of Medicine. She also completed her residency there in Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics in 2000.
Dr. Florence remained committed to Springfield and practiced primary care for over 20 years at Memorial Health. Upon realizing the importance of lifestyle management and weight upon medical conditions and quality of life, she obtained her board certification in Obesity Medicine in 2014. Dr. Florence has been integral to the growth of the Memorial Wellness Center which provides a comprehensive team management for obesity including both surgical and medical options. She is now Medical Director and Bariatrician of the center. She is a speaker and provides education to improve the overall health and wellness of the central Illinois community.
Dr. Florence enjoys time with her husband, adult children, and grandson. She is active on local non-profit organization boards and is an amateur writer.