What made you come to Arkansas from Texas?
I moved to Arkansas from Texas on a scholarship to attend the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff has a rich history of developing world leaders. How was your HBCU experience?
My HBCU experience was life changing. I believe that attending UAPB helped make me into the person I am today. UAPB gave me the environment to grow and excel in. Before coming to the yard, I was timid and not very outgoing. I was able to come out of my shell. The people I met there became family, which made it easy to move to Arkansas post graduation. Because of UAPB, I was able to get an education, and go into my career as a nurse. I was more than prepared and felt confident in my future endeavors because of the lessons and experience I was afforded by “Dear Mother.” Going to UAPB was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.
What made you go into the medical world?
My biggest influence into the medical field was my mother. My mother was a nurse, so I was introduced into healthcare at a very young age. In high school, I took a health science class which further solidified my decision to go into the medical field. I’ve always been intrigued by the human body, health, and medicine.
Speak on problems that covid has brought. How do you see room for innovation and change post-covid in the real world and workspace?
Post Covid-19 revealed many of the deficits we have as a country. I think one of the most significant issues brought on by Covid was staffing issues. Being in healthcare and working through a pandemic, I witnessed first hand how strained the healthcare system is here. I believe that making health care available/affordable to all, putting more emphasis on preventative care, and increasing the number of healthcare providers (through governmental support for health professional schools) would create better health outcomes in the future. This would help to alleviate some of the pressure on our healthcare system and providers. Staffing has become a huge issue everywhere but especially in healthcare. More providers and smaller patient-to-nurse ratios would help improve the current status of the workplace.
What’s something a reader should know about the medical world?
We are in charge of our health. Many people take a “treatment” approach to health instead of a “preventative” approach. Eating right, exercising, and taking care of ourselves are some of the most important investments we can make. Black people are already in disparity amongst other races in health-related issues. It’s important that we educate ourselves. Health literacy is one way to shorten this gap.
Why did you choose the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as your advocacy cause?
This society is dear to me because of losing my mom to a form of leukemia. Donating to this cause helps to advance research in developing a cure for blood cancers, provides financial support for cancer patients, and improves patients’ access to education and quality care.
