How many years have you been practicing and where did you graduate from?

I graduated from Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida and then went to graduate school at the University of South Alabama, where I graduated as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in December of 2022. I was a Nurse from 2018 - 2022, and then a Nurse Practitioner from 2023 forward.

What do you enjoy most about serving Appalachian Mountain Health patients here in Western NC?

I love the diversity of the people that we see. I also really enjoy increasing access to care and reducing barriers to care. I’m also all about the primary care integration model that we have at AMH, where I’m kind of housed in the primary care setting - so it’s really helpful to collaborate with other team members.

What is your approach to patient care?

My personal approach is generally to build rapport and really strengthen a therapeutic alliance. I try to stay curious and really understand the person that I’m meeting, mostly because individualized care and person centered care is very important to me.

What is one piece of health advice you find challenging to follow yourself?

It can be difficult to adhere to the general rules of exercise and sleeping well, or reducing caffeine intake. If I had to distill it down to only one thing, it’s probably difficult to follow health advice at all.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

Crêperie Bouchon in Asheville.

Do you have any special interests?

Child adolescent care, first-episode psychosis, and substance use disorders. I have two Weimaraners, so they keep me busy! I enjoy mountain biking, playing with my dogs, watching movies, and reading.

What languages are you fluent in?

English.