path – conda executable not found in pycharm

I want to use my conda environment in pycharm. But there was no option at all:enter image description here

The python executable does not exist in the drop down menu: enter image description here

however I have no problem activating the environment from command prompt. And the PATH for executable is present for this virtual env:

shutil.which('python')
'C:\\Users\\<my user name>\\AppData\\Local\\anaconda3\\envs\\physioNet\\python.EXE'

although strangely enough, where python yields nothing.

I am using windows and latest version of pycharm (2023.1.2). I have also already seen stackoverflow.com/questions/73538040/cannot-add-conda-environment-to-pycharm-conda-executable-path-is-empty-even-wh and stackoverflow.com/questions/49714910/anaconda-not-available-in-pycharm

I am not really a proficient user in such an area so any idea would be greatly appreciated.