Nurse Practitioner at the University of Maryland Medical Center specializing in Thoracic surgery. 20 years of practice in healthcare, primarily critical care nursing spanning East —> West coast. Utilizes leadership role and clinical expertise to contribute to the profession of nursing by serving as a preceptor and mentor to nurses and nurse practitioner students. While completing a Master’s degree in Palliative Care during the COVID-19 pandemic, focused on mental health, resilience, and self-care for health care professionals. Most passionate about early access to palliative care for hospitalized patients to optimize QOL and alleviate suffering.