Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Paul.
Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When reflecting on my childhood, I remember watching my mom deal with the complications that came from being a Type I Diabetic. Witnessing firsthand the impacts of such a complicated disease and watching my mom self-inject insulin to help her with the management of her blood sugars opened up my curiosity about healthcare.
I remember trying to understand why family members died at a young age from preventable diseases such as kidney failure, or heart disease to name a few. As I entered high school, I narrowed down my career choices to becoming a doctor or a nurse. Despite the similarities between the two professions, I recognized that the paths diverged significantly. In my first semester, I had to make a decision. Contemplating the roles of doctors and nurses in the healthcare field, I realized that I wanted more time to extend compassion and care to every patient. Through observation, I concluded that nursing was the avenue through which I could achieve this.
Having made this decision, I pursued my Associate at Miami Dade Honors College and later transitioned to Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing to earn my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After graduation, I became a Critical Care Nurse. During my time at the bedside, my interest expanded to understanding individuals from a holistic perspective. I sought to comprehend how mental health, environmental factors, societal influences, and biological elements contributed to poor health outcomes.
My curiosity led me to leave the bedside and become an ambulatory nurse, where I learned about the realities that each of my once-hospitalized patients face within their communities. My determination to discover how I can be a voice and a beacon of light that drives change in the challenges that are seen in the communities that I worked with provoked me to enroll in school again and obtain my Master’s in Healthcare Administration. Following the completion of my degree, I went on to teach future nurses in the hospital setting and help with hopefully molding the future nurses of our healthcare world.
With the experience, I was gaining working in ambulatory care and teaching in the hospital setting, I was exposed to the various traumatic events that steadily plagued the patients that I encountered on a day-to-day basis. The more I heard stories, the more I wanted to understand how these dynamics played a role in the health of the patients. Furthermore, I wanted insights into how trauma, whether in an individual’s life or within a community, impacted both society and individuals. This curiosity has been a driving force in my journey within the healthcare field. As a result of my growing passion for seeing healthier people and communities, I transitioned into the role of a community-based nurse care manager.
Through this role, I primarily worked with the substance use population and other populations that suffered from limited resources, such as food, transportation, and housing which also impeded their ability to manage their health. As a Care Manager, I was able to broaden the way that I cared for patients and extend their care beyond their medical needs. The assistance that I provided patients focused on mental, physical, emotional, and social. This brought some level of happiness to me because for once, I was not in a place where I felt I was compartmentalizing a person to focus on just their medical needs when other needs were present as well.
As I continued to grow in my profession, I also began working with children and adults during my spare time as a psychiatric rehab specialist. In this role, I worked with the clients to ensure that they were provided with the additional support needed to cultivate areas of skill development and support which includes daily living, socialization, educational/vocational supports and opportunities, and leisure/recreation activities planning including community integration and community connections. This experience was the next push I needed to enter back into school and pursue my Doctorate of Nursing Practice as an Adult Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.
My education and my experience expanded my desire to further understand the impacts of trauma and how it can shape the entire individual and the effects this has on communities, society, and health. Working with children and adults from disadvantaged communities and backgrounds also has further cultivated my desire to focus on individuals and their holistic wellness, with aspirations to see healthier people and thus healthier communities.
Most importantly, my desire to further expand my knowledge became even more critical when I realized that several challenges plague black communities because of the underrepresentation of minorities in healthcare. I have learned that it matters when the right people are advocating based on their ability to relate or understand the cultural significance.
Everything in my professional experience has culminated in the reason behind my passion to see holistic approaches to wellness with an ultimate goal of addressing disparities and seeing healthier communities.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The journey has not been a smooth road by any means. Throughout my educational experience, I confronted instances of racism and marginalization as a Black student in predominantly white institutions. During my bachelor’s, professors made me feel insignificant and labeled me a failure, even suggesting I quit nursing school. In my doctoral pursuits, some professors sought to hinder my progress at every turn.
Professionally, I often found myself as the sole representation of a young Black female in various arenas, leading to misjudgments where passion was mistaken for anger. Advocating for the rights of the populations and communities I deeply cared for sometimes resulted in being labeled as defiant or difficult when my views didn’t align with certain decisions. These are just a few of the situations that I have dealt with throughout my career.
Despite these misunderstandings and challenges, my mission to improve the quality of care for every individual propels me forward. It’s disheartening to see entities in corporate, healthcare, or education sectors emphasizing diversity and inclusivity in their statements, yet their leadership makeup doesn’t reflect this commitment. Confronting this reality, I seize every opportunity to be a voice for the underrepresented and those lacking a voice. This focus on advocacy keeps me driven toward the goal, transcending the struggles along the way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, I’ve explored diverse areas of nursing, including mental health, community health, and population health. While my primary focus is on adults and geriatrics, I also engage with children and adolescents in a distinct capacity. Teaching nursing students is another facet of my work, allowing me to contribute to the foundation and development of future nurses’ careers.
My reputation is built on qualities like patience, compassion, and professionalism. Interacting with me, individuals are drawn to the level of patience I exhibit and my adept handling of challenging situations. Managing difficult scenarios with grace to achieve positive outcomes requires a unique skill set, and I am recognized for doing so.
What truly sets me apart is my commitment to continual growth for the betterment of society. Recognizing disparities in minority healthcare providers after completing my doctorate, I was disheartened by the lack of cultural awareness affecting the care of black patients. Though my initial intent wasn’t in primary care, I returned to school to obtain certification in adult and geriatric primary care, which I am still working on.
This decision stems from a desire to bridge gaps and raise awareness that healthcare isn’t one-size-fits-all—especially concerning race and culture. I aim to bring attention to societal injustices, the impact of trauma, and the lack of cultural awareness, working towards restoring communities for equal success, regardless of who we are or what we look like.
Obtaining my nursing degree has been a great accomplishment because it has opened up a world of opportunities that I did not envision in my entire life. I am grateful that I was led in this direction because ultimately I still landed where I started, a doctor, a teacher, and a nurse but most importantly supposed to see change.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t rely on the concept of luck; instead, I believe that God has bestowed favor upon me, guiding me to the right places and opportune moments. In various settings, casual conversations have unexpectedly led to opportunities for employment, speaking engagements, and projects.
I feel incredibly blessed to have individuals who advocate for and support my journey, propelling me to succeed in both business and personal growth. Gratitude fills me as I recognize that God has orchestrated my path, providing the necessary tools and resources for my journey. I don’t take being entrusted with people’s lives, and the opportunities that I have been given lightly or for granted.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.paul.16
