Why I chose to pursue a career in healthcare:

I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a nurse. What I didn't know is where that journey would take me. Nursing is a profession that allows for personal and professional growth and it offers many different paths to choose. I practiced as a registered nurse in women's health and oncology as well as nursing education for 13 years before returning to school to obtain my master's degree. Ultimately, I chose to become a nurse practitioner because I wanted to be a partner with patients along their healthcare journey. Through my dad's long cancer journey, it became very apparent to me that oncology would be my home and that I would be an advocate for each patient who crossed my path.

What I want my patients to know about me:

I want my patients to know that I truly care about them and their families. I am approachable and realistic, and I view patient care as team effort; the patient is the ultimate decision-maker and it is my job to educate and support each patient along their healthcare journey. I am passionate about prevention and surveillance of cancer and work closely with the surgical oncologists in our office to maintain the highest level of skill in our field.

What I do when I'm not seeing patients:

I am blessed to have a full life outside of work. My favorite job is being a mother to my two teenage children. I enjoy spending time outdoors whenever possible preferably in my gardens and with our two dogs. I also love hiking, traveling and country music.