Medical Training & Dedication
I applied only to one medical school: the Uniform Services University Of The Health Sciences. Acceptance there means earning the right to serve as a US Army officer. I put my focus and heart into that single application, knowing that serving as a military physician was my absolute calling. I was accepted right away. When I finished my Doctor of Medicine degree in 2011, those demanding years had built the deep strength and genuine commitment to patient care that still drives all my work today.
Residency & Hospital Medicine
Right after graduation, I went into three intense years of residency at Fort Benning's Army community hospital. This training wasn't limited; it was a comprehensive dive into the breadth and depth of family medicine, covering everything from delivering over 100 babies and performing countless procedures, to specializing in inpatient care. All that hard-earned, hands-on experience is exactly where I realized my true, lasting purpose in hospital medicine.
Special Operations & Battlefield Telehealth
Right after residency, my first mission was serving as the battalion surgeon for a special operations unit at Fort Bragg. This meant working on classified missions, focused entirely on ensuring deployment readiness across East and West Africa. The high-pressure environment quickly made me an expert in the unique health issues of international travel. It was here, while helping a soldier evacuate from Uganda for a ruptured appendix, that I performed my very first telemedicine visit. This powerful moment showed me exactly what true accessibility could mean.
Hospital Administration & Strategic Vision
I was stationed at Fort Campbell, working full-time as a hospitalist. Within just two years, I was promoted to the Chief of Inpatient Services. This quickly put me into high-level administration, meeting with the hospital commander regarding all adult and pediatric care. My role expanded further when I became the warrior transition battalion surgeon, managing other physicians and sitting on key quality committees. It was here I truly saw healthcare strategically, and I knew I needed an MBA if I were going to pursue the civilian roles I was qualified for.
Warrior Transition Unit Surgeon
The high honor of being nominated Fort Campbell's Warrior Transition Battalion Surgeon meant overseeing the program for soldiers transitioning out of active duty. This high-visibility role brought the responsibility of managing over 35 civilian individuals. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, I guided the unit, requiring quick learning and frequent national meetings. Crucially, I also served as the primary care physician for half the battalion. Seeing the intense challenges of transition up close, this experience was the final catalyst. It was then that I began moonlighting as a telemedicine physician, actively preparing my own path toward civilian practice.
Virtual Care Leadership & The Birth of RapidResponse
I found my first part-time telemedicine role, working off-hours during my hospitalist weeks. Within a year and a half, I was fortunate enough to quickly stand out and earn a full-time leadership position at MDLIVE. I completed over 20,000 phone and video visits, which, looking back, helped cement my place as a pioneer in early virtual care. I quickly realized my true future was transforming care for everyone. I oversaw half a dozen other full-time physicians, and I was grateful to set the bar for high-quality virtual support. Many of the original care guidelines were mine, and it is from this vital, high-volume experience that the idea for RapidResponse first took hold.
Executive Strategy & Scaling Care
After leaving the military, I stepped into executive telemedicine at Hims & Hers. My first major task was overseeing a complex, enormous consolidation, shrinking 50 professional corporations down to a dozen or less. This intensive work was my education on how medicine operates across the entire country, helping me acquire my 50 state licenses faster than ever. I moved into leadership, supervising hundreds of staff, and I was grateful to help launch the nation's first asynchronous behavioral health program. This experience showed me how we could scale care with integrity. That knowledge changed everything.
Fighting Stigma to Deliver Care
I became one of the first Professional Corporation Owners and Medical Directors for Wisp, a progressive sexual health telemedicine company. I frequently traveled, speaking and spreading crucial awareness. I helped launch some of the nation's first pleasure-focused and STD treatments, which were incredibly hard to access before this company existed. It was here I discovered my true passion: creating new ways to care for people in sensitive situations and breaking stigmas. This commitment set the entire tone for my new wellness brand, JellyMed, specifically its focus on festivals and the rave community.
Founding a New Ecosystem
My collection of "side gigs" eventually grew into Exilara Health, fueled by a simple realization: I loved business and had a passion for the startup industry. The pandemic created a strong foundation, leading to me helping over 500 small businesses enter the innovative care system. My own virtual clinic grew organically, demanding more of my time. As this grew, patients began seeking weight loss solutions as GLP-1 medications emerged. They demanded access, and I spent two years navigating the fiercely complex regulatory environment, battling 50 state rules and insurance companies. MeltOff was born from that struggle. It's the result of fighting to ensure people get the medications they need, and it remains my most popular brand to date.
Reaching the Corporate Summit
I was recruited away from my previous role to become the Chief Medical Officer at OpenLoop Health. This wasn't just another job; it felt like the final, deliberate climb of my corporate telemedicine career. I used this time strategically to learn everything about managing large remote teams, creating operational solutions, and running the business. This rapid professional growth happened while I was also finishing my Master of Business Administration (MBA). I started that degree during the pandemic while giving birth to my fourth child. This experience taught me that the biggest difference in any system comes down to how well you can lead, learn, and build.
Branding as "America's Favorite Doctor"
Coming out of the military, I had substantial expertise but very little public visibility. I was "discovered" on a client trip in California, and this began a three-year journey in creating a brand from the ground up. My first public identity was "America's Favorite Doctor" (AFD). I gained valuable experience learning the value of public speaking, traveling for site visits, and understanding marketing. After a couple of years, I realized my true passion was in owning and managing the business, and less in the practice of medicine. That was the catalyst. I made the decision to consolidate all my side hustles, resign from all employed positions, and finally work for myself. With the retirement of the AFD brand, I stepped fully into the role of CEO of my own self-funded clinic, Swell Medical (now Exilara Health). The name Swell, an acronym for my children's names, symbolized the combination of my last ten years of expertise and my independence as a fully self-sustaining business. The biggest reward isn't the title; it's the freedom to build something entirely focused on the people I serve.
Launching JellyMed and JMed+
I founded JellyMed because I believe care must meet people where they are. This revolutionary platform provides medical support right at festivals, events, and large gatherings. This isn't just about first aid. It's about making sure care reaches people when they are truly living their lives. This service includes on-site emergency and preventative care, telemedicine consultations, and active partnerships with organizers. To support this mission, I launched JMed+. This is a retail clothing line designed specifically for rave-goers, blending stylish festival apparel with true functionality. It's about empowering the community with tools that support their wellness, head-to-toe.
The EXILARA Ecosystem is Born
The next chapter was purely about building the solutions I always wished existed. SWELL Medical PC became EXILARA, a public promise for the future of human-centered healthcare. Under this new banner, the system of solutions expanded: MELTOFF: A weight-loss company born from my fight for patient access, offering personalized, evidence-based wellness solutions that treat the whole person. Rapid Response: A telehealth urgent care service designed to provide immediate support for individuals and events because help shouldn't wait. Hustle & Venture: These are dedicated to empowering other providers and entrepreneurs, offering the operational support necessary to scale their own practices and unique visions. Beyond the businesses, I expanded my presence as a Key Opinion Leader (KOL), sharing thought leadership and driving innovation across multiple sectors, especially through the I Am Wiser Podcast. This entire evolution is driven by one deep purpose: making truly accessible, human-centered care a reality for every single person, no exceptions.
Healthcare Visionary and Industry Leader
Today, the journey culminates in more than a title; it's a commitment for life. My foundation wasn't built on climbing a corporate ladder, but on blending sharp military expertise with pioneering telehealth. My core belief is what drove me to finally build the care system I always wanted for my family, and for everyone. This isn't just a legacy that talks about innovation; we live it every day. It's all driven by a deep, personal commitment to every single person who trusts us with their care.
