Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellen Brown.
Hi Ellen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I began my nursing journey over 25 years ago as a CNA. At the time, my marriage fell apart, and I became a homeless single mother of four, balancing work and kids while attending nursing school. Throughout my career, I have worked on medical-surgical floors, the ER, trauma units, and intensive care units. My work has taken me across the nation, and even into Haiti, Cambodia, and Guatemala. In Haiti, I provided volunteer care at a compound in Fond-Parisien. I assisted the doctor in emergency care, which at one point included helping deliver a baby with no light except a headlamp. (The generator for the compound had run out of fuel for the night.) In Guatemala, I was part of a team that ventured into the jungle to provide surgeries for underserved communities. I even made a brief appearance in an episode of “Trauma: Life in the ER” on Discovery Health (TLC then)!
In 2019, I earned my BSN, then MSN in 2022, and became a Nurse Practitioner. I served on the Utah Board of Nursing for 4 years. Later, I decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of owning my own practice and started Stacy Wellness Center.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I was in my NP clinicals during the COVID shutdown, and many of my preceptors were not taking students. I had to complete my clinical training out of state and missed some of the training in obstetrics and pediatrics, which caused me to drop my track from FNP to Adult Gerontology. In addition to attending school full-time, I worked full-time in the ICU, which was a very difficult experience during the pandemic. It was a physically and emotionally taxing time.
Another hurdle was the issue of Independent Practice for nurse practitioners. Many states refuse to let NPs practice without a supervising physician. I was very grateful and relieved when the Utah legislature passed the Independent Practice Law.
Launching a business hasn’t been easy, and we have had to work through a number of issues, but we remain optimistic as our name is getting out there!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Stacy Wellness Center offers bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, medically supervised weight loss, and peptide therapy. In addition to those treatments, we offer aesthetics, including laser treatments, Botox, fillers, and microneedling.
For BHRT, weight-loss and peptide treatments, and general medicine and urgent care, we typically see patients via virtual appointments to provide a more convenient, easier, and cost-effective experience for our clients. Our office works with local compounding pharmacies to ensure our patients receive high-quality medications. Peptides are prescribed through a 503a compounding pharmacy in Texas.
One of the primary reasons I started Stacy Wellness was that, as a patient and a woman, I often felt that while I was being “seen” in the office, I was not really being heard by my primary care providers. It took many years for me to figure out that some of my health issues were related to hormones. Once I started my own practice, I knew I had to integrate medicine with lifestyle and nutrition counseling as part of a holistic, personalized approach to treatment. I wanted to make sure that all my clients never become just names and numbers on a chart, and that everyone received treatment plans tailored just for them.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Be open and receptive to everyone you meet, and do not rule out anyone as a contact, colleague, or mentor simply because they are not in your specific field. Don’t dismiss someone simply because they lack a degree or academic pedigree. Experience and wisdom come from all sorts of people from all walks of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stacywellness.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacywellnesscenter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Stacy-Wellness-Center/100094118422439/
