Age: 31
Family Nurse Practitioner at Florida Cancer Affiliates
Whether it’s a business or community involvement, what inspires you?
First and foremost, my patients inspire me. Their strength in times of extreme crisis is admirable in a way that words alone cannot describe. I am a nurse practitioner for Florida Cancer Affiliates and I am amazed and inspired with the level of commitment the providers, the staff, and myself give to our patients. This business has allowed me to flourish as a nurse practitioner and to give compassionate care to this community. I also belong to an amazing association called Black Nurses Rock, and more specifically, the Ocala chapter. Over the last two years, I have watched and seen this group transform the community. This group has provided community health care, scholarships to nursing students and care to those in the most need. I pride myself in being a part of this group in which I can give my time and treasure. More recently, I have become a provisional member of the Junior League of Ocala which has continued to make a big impact in this immediate community through volunteerism and empowering women through charitable action and leadership.
What aspirations do you have for yourself?
As I continue to volunteer my time in the organizations that I am a member of, I aspire to be a woman that is known for her care and compassion towards all in need of healthcare or simply give my time through volunteer work. After a decade of college and university education, I have finally achieved my semi-final goal, educationally speaking. I obtained my Master of Science degree as a family nurse practitioner and I aspire to one day return to school to obtain my graduate degree as a doctor of nursing practice. This Fall, once I give birth to my firstborn son, I aspire to be a loving and nurturing mother. I want to continue to empower other women through the story and my experience of the loss of my first pregnancy, to help women learn how to overcome pain, adversity, and understand how to deal with grief. I aim to continue providing quality care to my community through my career and further my education and one day be able to lead others, whether educationally or in the community in healthcare related events. Out of all of these things I aspire to be, most importantly is to continue to become a person who always treats others holistically, meaning, the whole person as a sum of all the parts, mental, physical and spiritual. I aim to grow deeper in my faith and I am to deepen my current friendships and strengthen my professional relationships in this community.
What is your favorite way to give back to the community?
My favorite way to give back to the community is through the groups I belong in and doing simple acts of kindness. I will be giving more of my time through volunteerism to the Black Nurses Rock association, Junior League of Ocala and through my church Blessed Trinity Catholic.
What is your favorite thing about the Ocala area?
It is truly difficult to narrow down my “favorite thing” about Ocala because it’s not a thing, but a feeling. This city has always felt like home to me. I moved here when I was 11-years-old and fell in love with the city and even when I left Ocala 11 years ago and shortly returned two years later, nowhere else every truly felt like home. If you allow your self to experience Ocala, you will see the richness of the culture and community. I truly love that our downtown is easy to immerse oneself into and is a very relaxing area to enjoy with family, friends, and even my dog Whiskey the Weimaraner.
