"I was born and raised in Fulton County, Illinois. I grew up in Smithfield and Cuba areas. I currently live in Cuba (Wee-ma-tuk) with my husband, Mark, and 3 girls - Madison, 20 years old; Mackenzie, 17 years old; and Mollie, 7 years old. I became a nurse in 1997. I went to OSF College of Nursing for my bachelor's degree. While in nursing school, I applied and was awarded an externship through OSF Hospital and was a nurse extern on the general medical adult floor. After graduation, I worked at OSF in pediatrics and on Antepartum. My husband got transferred to Watseka, IL in 2003 and we relocated there. This is where I got my first interest in becoming a nurse practitioner. We were living in small, rural towns, and most medical offices were run or at least had several APN's. I applied to Mennonite College of Nursing and was accepted. I graduated with my MSN in May 2009. I first started my advanced nursing position at Graham Medical at Canton, IL. I worked there approximately 1 year and transferred back to OSF, where I had originally started my nursing career. At OSF, as an APN, I have worked at Morton Family Practice, Maternal Fetal Diagnostic Center, Prompt Care, and a follow-up clinic, which is where I continue to work. I have several interests and hobbies. I enjoy being with my family, exercising (running), and volunteering in my community. I am on a few committees: Red Dog CF - golf outing weekend; Mark Linder Walk for The Mind - raising money for brain tumor and brain cancer research at Illinois Neurological Institute and the University of Illinois; and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) planning committee for the annual Make Type 1 into None walk. I have a special interest in diabetes, as I have Type 1 diabetes, as does my sister, and my mom died from complications of diabetes. I am a certified diabetic educator (CDE) and Certified Diabetic Technology Clinician (CDTC) and I truly love it!"

pediatrics and on Antepartum.