“While there’s life there’s hope.” This famous saying is often attributed to the 3^rd-century BC Greek poet Theocritus. This is a timeless sentiment that I try to live by, while striving to inspire hope in others.

I completed my undergrad degree at Oakwood University with a BS in Biology and minor in Chemistry. I earned my RN and MSN from Vanderbilt University specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. After practicing for a few years, I went back to school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), where I earned my DNP. Later, I returned to school again to earn my MBA from Western Governors University.

I am a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, and hold Family Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Diabetes Management certifications.

I have over 15 years of experience as a Family Nurse Practitioner in the public and private sector. During this time, I served in various clinical and leadership roles. My broad experience includes primary care, pediatrics, urgent care, women’s health, internal medicine, chronic diseases management, and endocrinology (diabetes-focused).

A few examples of key accomplishments during my clinical and leadership practice include: Led the development and implementation of onboarding and training programs for newly hired nurse practitioners. Obtained American Diabetes Association certification recognition for a diabetes education program and scaled services to satellite clinics for a large multi-site outpatient system. Implemented facility-wide performance measure improvement initiatives. Developed and piloted a telehealth education program and a diabetes prevention program (with demonstrated successful outcome measures). Developed, implemented, and scaled an inpatient diabetes program in a large multi-site organization. Facilitated clinician training initiatives (for physicians, residents, nurse practitioners and nurses) on diabetes care education and insulin management. Provided continuing education for clinicians in a variety of settings including, in person, live-virtual, and asynchronous interactive case-based online learning. During the COVID pandemic, I worked on a small integration team within a large organization that was responsible for supporting a range of mission critical initiatives by collaborating with stakeholders to understand processes, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop a comprehensive plan for integrating the process or service in a scalable manner. Examples of my projects include: Established a building permit approval process for new formation or expansion of complex or high-risk programs. Developed an Emergency Room suicide risk screening and prevention process to enhance quality and achieve regulatory compliance.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my career.  Still, I feel my heart yearning for opportunities to make direct positive impacts in the lives of others in a new way. I have seen first-hand the disparity gap in accessibility to quality healthcare widening. Prevention is a major key to combating the gaps and inequities in our healthcare system. The most powerful thing I can do to narrow the gap is to utilize my abilities to support people in making lasting changes toward improving their holistic health. As people are able to prevent illness, reverse conditions, and minimize complications, through healthier lifestyle behaviors, the gaps in quality and length of life and health will narrow.

In 2023, I laid down my stethoscope and picked up my entrepreneur hat to start Abundant LIFE, LLC. Abundant LIFE, LLC is a positive lifestyle change support organization. Our mission is to inspire HOPE, HEALTH and HEALING in a manner that is accessible to all. Although, I am no longer practicing direct patient care as a nurse practitioner, I leverage my years of education, skills, personal experiences, along with valuable lessons learned from my patients. My lifestyle behavior change support programs utilize effective coaching and teaching methods to reach people in a meaningful and motivating way. No one size fits all. However, I have developed a toolkit of resources and strategies used to EDUCATE, EMPOWER and EQUIP our clients, thereby helping them to initiate and sustain positive healthful behaviors and habits.