Alicia Swanger, AGACNP

Alicia Swanger is a board-certified adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner and the director of the Roper St. Francis Osteoporosis and Fracture Program. She cares for adults with osteoporosis and other bone-health concerns, focusing on evaluation, treatment and fracture prevention.

Alicia shifted her practice to bone health after a decade in hospital medicine, where she treated a wide range of conditions and previously worked in critical care, trauma, and liver and renal transplant. That depth of experience helps her coordinate care for patients with both routine and complex needs.

Alicia’s osteoporosis care includes bone density testing (DXA) and, when needed, lab evaluation to look for treatable causes of bone loss. She manages osteopenia and osteoporosis, including postmenopausal and steroid-associated osteoporosis, with plans that can combine nutrition and calcium/vitamin D optimization, weight-bearing and balance exercises, fall-risk reduction and evidence-based medications (oral, injectable or IV) when appropriate. She also focuses on secondary fracture prevention after a break.

Alicia believes patients should understand every aspect of their care and have a voice in decisions. She takes time to explain results and options, identifies each person’s health goals and builds an individualized plan so patients can keep doing what matters most to them.

Alicia earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She began her nursing career after receiving a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Oakland University and has taught as an adjunct clinical instructor.

Outside of work, Alicia spends much of her free time caring for and training her horses for dressage, a pursuit that has deepened her appreciation for patience, kindness and humility. She also enjoys time outdoors with her two dogs.