Biography

Back in the year 2000, I accepted a part-time position as a Nurse Practitioner in a start-up bariatric surgery program. Although I had no idea what bariatric surgery was at that time, I thought this would be a great stepping-stone to give me some experience. Little did I know, this specialty would become my passion.I am an ANCC and AANP certified Family Nurse Practitioner. I am also a Certified Bariatric Nurse through the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). I have worked in the specialty of metabolic and bariatric surgery since 2000 including preoperative/postoperative out-patient care as well as in-patient care. I have been employed in both academic and community-based programs as both a Nurse Practitioner and a Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Coordinator. I have been actively involved in the ASMBS, most recently as the Integrated Health President, but including committee membership on several Integrated Health committees. I continue to stay actively involved in the ASMBS and hope to expand my contributions to the international community through the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO). I have recently been appointed IH Secretary for IFSO.