My family is big part of why I chose medicine as a career. My mother and two aunts are nurses. One of those aunts is a Nurse Practitioner and seeing her passion for what she does every day was a true inspiration for me.

I have worked in such settings as intensive care, emergency and life flight helicopters, but I decided to become a Family Nurse Practitioner because it allows me to develop long-term relationships with patients. I want to help people get better and stay healthy. My goal is to help patients feel empowered about making their own healthcare choices. Preventative medicine and education are a huge part of that. I guide my patients as best I can, but it’s ultimately up to them to “own” their health.

I consider my patient a partner. I make it a priority to talk with them to ensure I fully understand their concerns. Together, we come up with a plan of care that they agree they can follow to help them stay healthy. Teaching patients lifestyle modifications and ways to improve their health is very important to me.