Virtual-first specialty care across Washington In-person procedure days in Lacey, WA

Founder, Cascade Headache

I get migraine disease.

I've lived with migraine disease since I was five years old. That experience— the frustration, the trial and error, the feeling of not being heard— is what led me to specialize in headache medicine.

Sam Urkov, DNP, FNP-C, AQH · Nurse Practitioner · Headache & Migraine Specialist

Sam Urkov, DNP, FNP-C, AQH, smiling outdoors in front of a green landscape
  • Sam Urkov, DNP, FNP-C, AQH
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C)
  • Advanced Qualification in Headache Medicine (AQH)
  • Headache & Migraine Specialist
  • Founder, Cascade Headache

Training & Experience:

I spent a decade as an intensive care and surgical recovery unit nurse in hospitals across the country, where I developed a deep understanding of how pain manifests differently in every person. During my doctoral training, I focused my education on headache medicine, training in specialty clinics under experts dedicated to this field.

Today, I am the founder of Cascade Headache, a virtual-first hybrid clinic expanding access to specialty headache care across Washington.

I hold a Certificate in Advanced Headache Diagnosis and Management from Thomas Jefferson University, am a member of the American Headache Society, and hold my Advanced Qualification in Headache Medicine (AQH) certification. I attend headache and migraine science conferences regularly to stay current on the latest evidence.

I also practice as a headache specialist at a respected neurology clinic, Puget Sound Neurology, in Tacoma, Washington.

How I Practice:

My approach blends evidence-based medicine with holistic and integrative lenses. Sometimes, that means medication or procedures; other times it's lifestyle or diet changes, supplementation, non-drug treatments, or simply slowing down enough to notice what the body is trying to communicate.

Headache care is a long road and I see it as a partnership built on respect and trust. I collaborate with my patients rather than dictate.

At Cascade Headache, you won't be a number in a busy clinic. You'll be heard, respected, and supported as we build a plan together that fits your unique needs.

Migraine is part of my story, too!

Helping you reclaim your life from pain is the reason I do this work.

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