Me, Professionally
I have been a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner with an emphasis in psychiatric and mental health psycho-pharmacology since 1999. In 1999, when I became a Nurse Practitioner, there were no programs or board certification for what is now a Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner - that is why I am a F.N.P. and not a P.M.H.N.P. (some people do ask). I have over 20 years of clinical experience in psychiatric/mental health nursing. Prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner, I was a Registered Nurse and ran inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric unit for seven years.
I have also owned and operated a pharmaceutical clinical trials business since 1999. During this time I worked on almost 100 clinical trials, many of which include the development of the medications we have used, currently use, and are yet to use in psychiatry. I have written my own protocols for original investigator initiated clinical trials and have presented my work at The American Psychiatric Association's Annual Meeting, The National Institute of Mental Health's Annual New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit (NCDEU) meeting, and also at the U.S. Psychiatric Congress Annual Meeting. I was the first nurse practitioner to be invited to The American Psychiatric Association's Annual Meeting to present original work in 2004.
Me, Personally
I am a rare born and bred native Idahoan. I have traveled all over the country and haven't found any where else I would rather live than Idaho. Although, Banff, Alberta, Canada comes in as a close second.
I have three adult sons and a daughter. I have five dogs; two pit bulls, a black lab, a miniature pinscher, and Francis, the Brazilian rescue office dog. I also have two horses. I love my dogs and educating people about the myths and truths of the pit bull breed (PitBullPositive.org, PitBullLovers.com, PitBullHappenings.com) There are times I have more dogs, depending on what the family or friends bring in.
All my kids have been on the Bogus Basin Ski Team at one time or another, so we love to ski! You can catch me on a hill somewhere during ski season. I am a gym rat and for some unknown reason, I enjoy picking up and putting down heavy things. I also like watching hockey and football.