I confess my career path has been somewhat unexpected. I never thought I would be working with patients to slow the aging process and improve their metabolic health by optimizing hormones, health habits, and reducing overall inflammation.
I started my Nurse Practitioner career at a time when HIV was the “new plague” and I found myself caring for a very sick patient population with limited treatment options and social support. The relationships that I developed with these patients were life changing and working as a Nurse Practitioner at that time I began to realize that avoiding illness and safeguarding one’s health were non-negotiable. The saying “Health is Wealth,” has never rang more true.
“Every patient is unique and I am passionate about listening to their stories, taking their health concerns seriously, and partnering with them to meet their health goals.”
It is absolutely clear in this day and age that we have nothing without good health. For the last 16 years I have been part of a very small group of health care providers devoted to evaluating hormone levels in patients. By using a holistic approach, I have worked to decrease their risk for illness, provide symptom relief, and improve their overall wellbeing. Every patient is unique and I am passionate about listening to their stories, taking their health concerns seriously, and partnering with them to meet their health goals.
Education
My medical education started at home in rural Pennsylvania. I was lucky to grow up in a family that valued eating whole foods with a mother who prepared almost everything from scratch. We were fortunate to have a large garden in the summer and I reaped the health benefits of growing our own plants and food. I now realize the invaluable health rewards of growing up not eating highly processed foods and having an active, loving childhood! I always knew that I would be a healthcare provider, but I was never sure what role I wanted to pursue.
I went on to graduate in 1994 from the Pennsylvania State University (WE ARE!) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. I subsequently went back to graduate school in order to pursue a more impactful role and graduated with a Masters of Science in Nursing as a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner from a collaborative program between George Mason University and the George Washington University School of Medicine. I have continued to further my education in integrative, anti-aging, and conventional medicine by attending conferences, completing certifications in HRT, intermittent fasting, aesthetics, and by studying with experts in my field. On a daily basis I listen to expert podcasts regarding all aspects of health optimization and continue to read everything I can get my hands on about extending the human health-span.