I have always enjoyed caring for others and seeing them heal and recover from an orthopaedic injury. Since the beginning of my healthcare career, I have cared for orthopaedic patients, and I found a love and passion for this population. I began my pre-nursing-school days as a nursing assistant at a hospital in Louisville on an orthopaedic floor. When I graduated from the University of Kentucky as a registered nurse (RN), I returned to work in that same unit.

As an orthopaedic nurse practitioner, I care for children and adolescents with orthopaedic injuries, surgeries, infections and other orthopaedic conditions. I enjoy my time at the bedside, taking care of orthopaedic patients admitted to the hospital. Teaching and reassurance are a daily part of my job for both surgical and nonsurgical patients.

While working as a bedside nurse, I completed my master’s degree and then went to work at Cincinnati Children’s. I knew this was the perfect job for me given my passion for orthopaedic patients and being around children. I love seeing patients improve and recover after an orthopaedic condition or injury.

When I’m not working, I’m taking care of my two children — getting them to school and their activities. When we can get away, we enjoy traveling to the beach.