One of the most important women in my life inspired me to make a career out of caring for other women. My grandmother was a cardiac nurse. Seeing her care for her patients sparked my interest in nursing, as I knew that I enjoyed helping people just like she did. After spending many hours alongside laboring women as a nurse, I knew I wanted to develop more lasting relationships with my patients, so I became a midwife. \n Educating my patients and making medical care more understandable and accessible are passions of mine. Both while teaching labor support classes and in a clinic setting, I am privileged to talk with women about their options and help them improve their care experience. At every stage of life, I want my patients to feel empowered to make their own decisions about their care. That includes teaching about midwifery care and explaining how it can be used alongside other obstetric care options. \n I am continually working to further my training and professional involvement so my patients can benefit from the latest advancements in midwifery and women's care. I am involved in the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. I also participated in an initiative to reduce primary cesarean section rates, and helped to implement and obtain data for a national sepsis risk initiative. Those efforts will benefit not just my patients, but maternity care as a whole. \n Our two young boys keep me and my husband busy outside of work. As a family, we love going to church, exploring nature, going on hikes, and making memories with extended family and friends. I am fortunate to get to spend a lot of time with my siblings and their kids, so my boys are close to their cousins. I'm also a big Carolina Panthers fan, and attend games whenever I can.