• I offer a FREE Initial Consultation
• I offer TeleAdvocacy Service
• My geographical area of practice is Active PA NP license and Ohio RN license (pending)

Throughout my 22+ years in healthcare, friends, family members, and even colleagues have often reached out to me to help review lab results, echocardiograms, or to explain what their doctor said. I love doing this because I know firsthand how challenging the healthcare system has become — and how critical it is for patients to fully understand their medical care.

My passion for advocacy stems from real-life experiences where I’ve seen firsthand how critical it is to have someone knowledgeable on your side. Years ago, while working in Cardiothoracic Surgery, I cared for a patient who had recently undergone open-heart surgery, including a CABG and valve replacement. Temporary pacing wires are standard post-op, and we typically remove them only once the heart rhythm is stable. One morning, after rounding on nearly 30 post-op patients, a new attending surgeon from the University of Pennsylvania instructed me to remove a patient's wires once her rhythm was stable. Following the usual protocol, I gently pulled the wires, meeting a slight resistance — something common with this procedure. But moments later, the patient became pale, confused, tachycardic (fast heart rate), hypoxic (pulse ox dropped requiring oxygen) and hypotensive (low blood pressure). She looked up at me with beautiful blue eyes and asked, "Am I going to die?" I immediately responded, "We are going to take care of this and get you back to the OR right now. The surgeon is here. We've got you."

I knew right away she had a massive pericardial effusion (bleeding around the heart) caused by the pacing wires being stitched to the pericardium (a fibrous sac that surrounds the heart and great vessels), something the new surgeon had done but never communicated to me. I called the code and alerted the surgeon immediately, who was at her bedside within minutes preparing to take her back to the OR. After that experience, the surgeon’s respect for me grew tremendously — and he never failed to communicate his post-op details again.

This experience solidified my belief that clear communication, thorough oversight, and experienced advocacy can make the difference between life and death. It’s this dedication to patient safety and empowerment that drives my work today. My passion for advocacy goes beyond my professional experience — it’s deeply personal.

I had my own personal experience when having a MRI with contrast of my brain many years ago.
I wasn’t going to pull the NP card but I did. I asked the nurse to remove the face mask and told her I was a nurse practitioner and had worked at that hospital for over 15 years in the past. Additionally, I asked her how she would be able to tell if I am having an allergic reaction to the dye, had it gone into my vein, if my face was covered by the face mask? The nurse didn’t answer my question and informed my she would be getting another IV inserted. It was at this moment I realized that it is necessary to speak up to ensure safety and my personal well-being.

Reflecting on my personal and professional experiences over the past 2 decades, I realized that I have always been an advocate. This realization sparked a sense of purpose within me that I have never experienced before.