Associate Professor
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Nursing
I have a broad background in psychiatric nursing, with extensive training and experience as a psychiatric RN (2005) and board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (2013). My research interests have always focused on associations between trauma and mental health.
In 2016, I turned my focus to the effects of duty-related trauma exposure on first responders and found a dire need for more effective mental health services. I have built strong partnerships with fire and EMS communities across Arkansas and continue to build these relationships to establish trust and strong collaborations. As PI on three intramural and extramural grants, I have used community engagement strategies and qualitative methods to develop and pilot a mental health service model tailored for first responders.
I am also founder and owner of Journey Wellness clinic, where I provide therapeutic and pharmacological management of mental illness across the lifespan, with specialization in trauma-informed care.