I earned my Masters of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON) in 2000.
I enjoyed working with the complex medical needs older adults experienced more than any other population, so after graduation, I started working with a geriatric practice in Wilmington, North Carolina. I worked full-time for five years as a FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home and office visits).
I transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I have maintained my clinical practice and board certification, while my primary roles have been as a Nurse Scientist and Nurse Educator.