Nursing: A Passion I Hold Dear to My Heart As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I've experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. I've experienced this several times during my pregnancy & while advocating for my son's medical rights. Today I’d like to share how these situations fueled the internal fire to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he wasn't breathing correctly. My concerns to his pediatrician and ER physicians were blatantly dismissed. I was openly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers & pretended I didn’t hear them mumbling things such as "Oh, Lord, it's her again!". After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Fred Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for an emergency tracheotomy. My child’s cyanosis wasn’t from acid reflux but rather a subglottic stenosis of the larynx! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said, “I would have made a great doctor.”! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor or no medical treatment, for fear of being ridiculed. While seeking employment as a Nurse Extern at Meharry Medical, I stumbled upon the pipeline program. This program allowed me to shadow Nurse Practitioners and volunteer at the Matthew Walker Health Center. Because the center offers primary, dental & specialty care such as OB/GYN, I was not only able to pour love and knowledge into an underserved community: I was able to develop as a nurse who provides soft skills & laughs while I refined my medical training. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions and open a practice in a low-income area to increase the wellness of people like me. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I aim to fulfill my HRSA obligation at the USA Women and Children's Hospital, where my son was born, bringing out journey full circle. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available know our story is meant to help uplift others, and what better way than in my community? As I continue my higher education, I plan to train healthcare providers on cultural sensitivity, which will plant the seeds of universally excellent healthcare. Eventually, I will attain my dream of being a nurse practitioner of women's health & with my practice; I will ensure excellent healthcare is attainable in impoverished areas. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

Nursing: A Passion I Hold Dear to My Heart As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I've experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. I've experienced this several times during my pregnancy & while advocating for my son's medical rights. Today I’d like to share how these situations fueled the internal fire to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he wasn't breathing correctly. My concerns to his pediatrician and ER physicians were blatantly dismissed. I was openly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers & pretended I didn’t hear them mumbling things such as "Oh, Lord, it's her again!". After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Fred Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for an emergency tracheotomy. My child’s cyanosis wasn’t from acid reflux but rather a subglottic stenosis of the larynx! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said, “I would have made a great doctor.”! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor or no medical treatment, for fear of being ridiculed. While seeking employment as a Nurse Extern at Meharry Medical, I stumbled upon the pipeline program. This program allowed me to shadow Nurse Practitioners and volunteer at the Matthew Walker Health Center. Because the center offers primary, dental & specialty care such as OB/GYN, I was not only able to pour love and knowledge into an underserved community: I was able to develop as a nurse who provides soft skills & laughs while I refined my medical training. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions and open a practice in a low-income area to increase the wellness of people like me. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I aim to fulfill my HRSA obligation at the USA Women and Children's Hospital, where my son was born, bringing out journey full circle. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available know our story is meant to help uplift others, and what better way than in my community? As I continue my higher education, I plan to train healthcare providers on cultural sensitivity, which will plant the seeds of universally excellent healthcare. Eventually, I will attain my dream of being a nurse practitioner of women's health & with my practice; I will ensure excellent healthcare is attainable in impoverished areas. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

Nursing: A Passion I Hold Dear to My Heart As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I've experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. I've experienced this several times during my pregnancy & while advocating for my son's medical rights. Today I’d like to share how these situations fueled the internal fire to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he wasn't breathing correctly. My concerns to his pediatrician and ER physicians were blatantly dismissed. I was openly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers & pretended I didn’t hear them mumbling things such as "Oh, Lord, it's her again!". After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Fred Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for an emergency tracheotomy. My child’s cyanosis wasn’t from acid reflux but rather a subglottic stenosis of the larynx! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said, “I would have made a great doctor.”! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor or no medical treatment, for fear of being ridiculed. While seeking employment as a Nurse Extern at Meharry Medical, I stumbled upon the pipeline program. This program allowed me to shadow Nurse Practitioners and volunteer at the Matthew Walker Health Center. Because the center offers primary, dental & specialty care such as OB/GYN, I was not only able to pour love and knowledge into an underserved community: I was able to develop as a nurse who provides soft skills & laughs while I refined my medical training. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions and open a practice in a low-income area to increase the wellness of people like me. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I aim to fulfill my HRSA obligation at the USA Women and Children's Hospital, where my son was born, bringing out journey full circle. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available know our story is meant to help uplift others, and what better way than in my community? As I continue my higher education, I plan to train healthcare providers on cultural sensitivity, which will plant the seeds of universally excellent healthcare. Eventually, I will attain my dream of being a nurse practitioner of women's health & with my practice; I will ensure excellent healthcare is attainable in impoverished areas. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I've experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as "Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions and open a practice in a low-income area to increase the wellness of people like myself. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally excellent healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn't gatekept. And although my time will be limited, I will also become a Professor Adjunct at a local nursing school because black nursing students face a lot of racism in their education journey, and having someone who relates & grades somewhat is critical to increasing the number of minority nurses in healthcare. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I've experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as "Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally excellent healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure that excellent healthcare isn't gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I've experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as "Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! I'm a nontraditional student because my son was born premature, and I was the sole caretaker. Over the years, he went from the NICU, stroke, tracheotomy & nonfunctional pituitary gland. I shed a lot of tears, but looking at it made me a better person and future nurse(I have plenty of experience, lol)! It's been 17yrs, and now that my son is healthier & mentally high-functioning, I can finish my studies. Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally excellent healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn't gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I've experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as "Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally excellent healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure that excellent healthcare isn't gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I've experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as "Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally excellent healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure that excellent healthcare isn't gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I’ve experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as " Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally great healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn’t gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I've experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as "Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally excellent healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will to ensure excellent healthcare isn't gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

I'm a nontraditional student because my son was born premature, and I was the sole caretaker. Over the years, he went from the NICU, stroke, tracheotomy & nonfunctional pituitary gland. I shed a lot of tears, but looking at it made me a better person and future nurse(I have plenty of experience, lol)! It's been 17yrs, and now that my son is healthier & mentally high-functioning, I can finish my studies. As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I've experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as "Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally excellent healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn't gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

I'm a nontraditional student because my son was born premature, and I was the sole caretaker. Over the years, he went from the NICU, stroke, tracheotomy & nonfunctional pituitary gland. I shed a lot of tears, but looking at it made me a better person and future nurse(I have plenty of experience, lol)! It's been 17yrs, and now that my son is healthier & mentally high-functioning, I can finish my studies. As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I've experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as "Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally excellent healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn't gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

I’m a nontraditional student because my son was born premature, and I was the sole caretaker. Over the years, he went from the NICU, stroke, tracheotomy & nonfunctional pituitary gland. I shed a lot of tears, but looking at it made me a better person and future nurse(I have plenty of experience, lol)! It’s been 17yrs, and now that my son is healthier & mentally high-functioning, I can finish my studies. As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I’ve experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it’s statistically plausible that minorities’ health concerns go unheard. I’ve experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as “Oh, Lord, it’s her again!” My fears for my son’s life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn’t been persistent, my son would’ve died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I’ve become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities’ pain management isn’t managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I’ve even joined my hospital’s Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally excellent healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn’t gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I’ve experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as " Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally great healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn’t gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

I'm a nontraditional student because my son was born premature, and I was the sole caretaker. Over the years, he went from the NICU, stroke, tracheotomy & nonfunctional pituitary gland. I shed a lot of tears, but looking at it made me a better person and future nurse(I have plenty of experience, lol)! It's been 17yrs, and now that my son is healthier & mentally high-functioning, I can finish my studies. As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I've experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as "Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally excellent healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn't gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

I'm a nontraditional student because my son was born premature, and I was the sole caretaker. Over the years, he went from the NICU, stroke, tracheotomy & nonfunctional pituitary gland. I shed a lot of tears, but looking at it made me a better person and future nurse(I have plenty of experience, lol)! It's been 17yrs, and now that my son is healthier & mentally high-functioning, I can finish my studies. I know ill always have a close hand in raising him but at least once e I complete school we won't be as poor, as we are now. As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I've experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as "Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor!

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I’ve experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as " Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally great healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn’t gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I’ve experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as " Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally great healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn’t gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I’ve experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as " Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally great healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn’t gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I've experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American only account for a small percentage of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as "Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As a PA, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a CNA, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally excellent healthcare. Eventually, I will become a Physician Assistant, and at an office location, I will ensure excellent healthcare isn't gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I’ve experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as " Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally great healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn’t gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.

In 2018, My favorite medical tech invention, artificial ovaries, was created. It's pivotal to cancer survivors because frozen ovaries might reintroduce cancer to their bodies. Engineered ovaries are compromised of protein & collagen and allow women to avoid post-cancer infertility. This is a significant win for women who have endured so much fighting cancer! As a woman who lost an ovary in 2008 from an ectopic pregnancy, I can attest that I went thru a mourning period after losing my baby & a part of my body. Mentally I grappled with feelings that I was less than a woman. This invention can help so many others who must have a salpingo-oophorectomy. The artificial ovary may also offer an effective alternative option for those without traditional assisted reproductive techniques, such as in vitro fertilization. In animal and human trials, the artificial ovary restored endocrine function, achieved in vivo follicular development, and resulted in successful pregnancies. For young female patients wanting to preserve their fertility, ovarian tissue transfer that can restore menstrual cycles and allow the woman to get pregnant “the old-fashioned way” – since hundreds of eggs remain intact within the follicles – would be a huge advantage over freezing a few eggs. Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients, so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally great healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn’t gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and if I had the opportunity to create something fun to make the world a better place, it would be mandated that everyone gets at least four weeks of vacation time.

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern, I’ve experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. In the U.S., African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. That said, it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times, but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born four months premature, and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing correctly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers, mumbling things such as " Oh, Lord, it's her again!" My fears for my son's life constantly fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After six months, we were blessed; Dr. Silver E.N.T. was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me; he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died. He then apologized that no one listened to me and said I would have made a great doctor! Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with a nonfunctioning pituitary gland. These experiences made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients so they receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern, I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and want them to feel equally loved by all professionals who treat them. I've even joined my hospital's Diversity & Inclusion group to help foster change. After graduation, I will train healthcare workers to embrace other cultures and provide universally great healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn’t gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and if I had the opportunity to create something fun to make the world a better place, it would be mandated that everyone gets at least four weeks of vacation time.

As a single mother of a disabled child and Nurse Extern , I’ve experienced the racial disparities in healthcare as a professional & a patient. I,n the U.S. African-American nurses only account for 11.3% of the healthcare field. With that said it's statistically plausible that minorities' health concerns go unheard. I've experienced this several times but today id like to share the experience that was the catalyst for me to study nursing. My son was born 4 months, premature and the moment I took him home, I realized he was not breathing properly. We became well known, as I frequently took him to his pediatrician and ER. Maybe I should say notorious instead of well-known: I was constantly mocked as having Munchausen syndrome by the healthcare workers mumbling things such as " Oh, Lord it's her again!" Constantly my fears for my son's life fell on deaf ears, and his cyanosis was attributed to acid reflux. After 6 months we were blessed, Dr. Silver E.N.T was on call and immediately prepped my son for emergency surgery: My child had subglottic stenosis of the larynx and required a tracheotomy! That day, Dr. Silver planted a seed in me, he said if I hadn't been persistent, my son would've died & he apologized that no one listened to me. Over the years, I've become accustomed to not being heard by medical professionals and have since also diagnosed my son with nonfunctioning pituitary glad as well. These experiences really made me worried for others, the patients who accept poor medical treatment for fear of being ridiculed. I strive to tackle medical racism in several directions. As an RN, I will listen to & advocate for minority patients so they too receive the best healthcare plan available. As a Nurse Extern I notice that minorities' pain management isn't managed with the same urgency as other patients & their hygiene routines are also skipped more often. I love all my patients equally and I want them to feel equally loved by all professionals that treat them. I've even joined the Diversity & Inclusion group at my hospital to help foster change. After graduation, I will start training healthcare workers on embracing other cultures to provide. universally great healthcare. Eventually, I will become a nurse practitioner, with my own practice will ensure excellent healthcare isn’t gatekept. Health is indeed wealth, and all people should receive exceptional care.