Our Staff at BrightStar Care® Central DuPage-Wheaton

Prior to arriving at BrightStar in 2013 , I served in multiple management roles both in the hospital and home setting over my 33 years in Nursing. I have previously served as our Director of Compliance, responsible for departmental analysis related to productivity, staff process improvement and client satisfaction resulting in improved patient outcomes.  This required a restructuring of all internal processes and direct involvement in process improvement initiatives to increase Home Health Compare, Staff and Customer Satisfaction Scores.  I then moved into the role of Director of Nursing and Compliance bringing my extensive regulatory knowledge and compliance with process improvement to take positive patient outcomes to the next level of clinical care from BrightStar to home and/or facility.  As of August 2022 I am a proud co-owner of our Wheaton franchise. I am most passionate about family-centered care, Dementia care and the concept of ‘aging in place’ and I love the fact that I am able to make a significant difference in the lives of clients by helping them stay safe and healthy wherever they reside.
 

My personal experience of caring for my father with Dementia and my special son with Autism inspired me to consider a transition from a successful 20+ year high-tech/telecommunications career to join BrightStar Care in mid-2009.

My mission was to expand our impact and brand leadership in the DuPage County communities has resulted in a positive experience for our elderly, children and special-needs ‘Anytime, Anywhere’.  Given my extensive product management/marketing, International Business and management experience, along with a Northwestern Kellogg MBA education, has proven to be wonderful asset in establishing our reputation as a quality and responsive provider-of-care within the DuPage County.  

Graduated from Miami University (OH) with a BS in Biology in 2004.  After college I started my own Senior care business in 2005 and sold the company in 2007 to join a Medicare certified Home Health company. Years later I began working in sales and management and eventually worked my way back to the senior care market as COO for a local home care company in Glen Ellyn. Today, I bring my experience and knowledge to BrightStar Care of Central DuPage-Wheaton taking care of our day-to-day operations, where I have the privilege to oversee the impact we have within our local community.

My love for the Healthcare industry started in 2014 when I passed the state exam to become a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant). I worked as a primary CNA in Dementia Care for 5 years. I absolutely loved it. During those years, I continued school and graduated from Illinois State University with my BS in Psychology in 2019. Coming out of college, I worked as a manager at a group home caring for those with developmental disabilities. After a year in that, I relocated up to the Chicagoland area and started my career in Healthcare Sales. It was important for me to be able to still make a difference, and with my new opportunity, I was able to provide for others by finding them quality care. I worked in a Home Care agency for a couple of years and then went into Skilled Nursing sales for a large rehabilitation facility. In July 2024, I relocated to this area and was introduced to the opportunity of Marketing Assistant here at BrightStar Care Central DuPage/Wheaton. I was drawn in by the professionalism and compassion. I am passionate about educating families in the surrounding area about what BrightStar Care is and the higher standard of care we provide.

To be welcomed into the places our clients call home, into situations that are often vulnerable and difficult, is a special honor. My adoption into the BrightStar Care family began in 2014; I have served in a variety of roles at our Central DuPage-Wheaton office over the years: Nurse Case Manager, Registered Nurse and Certified Nurse Assistant as boots on the ground field staff. I have flourished in this nurturing environment where respecting the needs of others and enriching the lives of each person we come into contact with is the core focus of our entire team. I have also worked as an inpatient nurse at Northwestern Hospital, Skilled Nursing facilities, Assisted Living homes and as a school nurse. These experiences have enriched who I am with a tremendous amount of knowledge and empathy, so that I may support our clients, their families and my coworkers in broader capacities. I deeply enjoy continuously improving my understanding of what the highest quality of care truly is, and that happens here. BrightStar Care is the passionate place I, and countless clients, consider home.

I began working with BrightStar Care in 2017. Bright Star has opened my nursing experience to all ages, and a variety of settings including home care, school nursing, facility staffing, and finally management. My prior experience was in Dementia and Long-Term Care. I started my nursing journey off young when I obtained my CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) during my final year of high school in 2008. The decision to pursue nursing came after my grandmother's passing. I lived with her and spent months at home with her on hospice. I began working in long term care in 2009 and continued to work as a CNA until switching roles to caregiver and home care in 2011. I obtained my associate's degree in nursing in 2015 through Morton College. I continued my first nursing job in long-term care and rehab until switching to Bright Star in 2017. I also completed my bachelor's degree in 2017 at Benedictine University. I currently work as part time Nurse Manager at Bright Star Care of Wheaton, primarily on weekends as my full-time position is working with special needs students. My favorite part of my job continues to be understanding my clients and being able to anticipate needs. Home Care offers a unique position to get to know a person on an intimate level. Knowing a person is what is key to helping them achieve the best quality of life possible. I believe that is what we do here and that is why I am happy to be a part of the BrightStar Care Central DuPage-Wheaton Team.

Healthcare is the cornerstone to life. It embodies all that we are as a whole. I’ve been in healthcare over 15 years, it has taught me so much more than taking care of myself and others. Having gone through just about every healthcare position from caregiver, optician manager, medical assistant to settling in an administrative role, I understand it from both ends. With experience in scheduling, insurance verification and authorization, management, customer support, intake as well as human resource. Holding a bachelor’s in business and having started my own small business in 2015, I take pride in learning from those that have the knowledge and skill to expand my own experience and business management. Holding certifications in creative writing, certified notary, loan signing agent and most recently a CPR instructor. Active board member on several non-profits that support kids, entrepreneurship, and the African American community. Joining Brightstar Care was because of the team, a team that not only offered that art of no limits but also the atmosphere surrounding our team is welcoming and friendly. I look forward to what is to come with our team, employees, and clients.

I initially joined BrightStar Care in 2010 as a field staff employee. The work I did in client’s homes and assisting within a multitude of facilities filled my desire to make a positive difference in every person I could reach. My years of experience in homecare, facility, and clerical work within the healthcare industry inspired me to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration with a specialization in Healthcare Management. I am blessed to return to this organization in an administrative role to improve the quality of life for my patients and uphold a high-quality standard for my employees. BrightStar Care has continued to allow me the opportunity to impact the lives of families in our community for the better and I look forward continuing to serve with the best of my ability.

Healthcare is an industry I’ve always had a deep passion for. Being able to provide patients with not just quality care, but to gain knowledge and support from an administrative standpoint is something that drives and encourages me to be resourceful. I’ve been in the healthcare industry for 14 years as a healthcare administrator. My experience stretches from medical insurance verification, and billing, to experience with patient accounts, verification approvals, and scheduling. With a certificate in Medical Administration Assistant, and an Associate in Applied Science from Rasmussen University. I’ve decided to expand my education and will be graduating this summer with a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Management. As I continue to further my education, BrightStar Care has allowed me to obtain and gain professional relationships with not just our clients, but our staff as well by connecting with them, and guiding them as they are the future of the healthcare industry.

Graduated from Western Governor’s University with my bachelor’s in science of nursing in 2018 with a passion to serve and make a difference in people’s lives. Having 5 years of experience in the hospital, nursing home and home health gave me confidence to transfer my skills to the home care setting. I am blessed to be part of the amazing Brightstar team in 2020 as a field staff working one on one with school age children who need medical care while attending school. This experience further strengthened my communication and relational skills with not only my client but with each person who are part of their lives. Although I am no longer working full time in the field, I am grateful to switch my position as a Nurse Case Manager starting this year of 2024 where I get to connect with clients and caregivers in the field. This position enables me to evaluate how our company can work together to provide excellent care for our clients and make our field staff feel supported.

I have been a Registered Nurse for nearly 30 years after graduating from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor’s Degree of Science of Nursing and a Bachelor’s of Art in Psychology. Prior to joining Brightstar, I held various roles in the Hospice Care field for the past 18 years. Those include, but are not limited to overseeing clinical excellence, compliance, accreditation surveys as well as oversight of clinical staff. Additionally, I have gained extensive experience in End-of-Life Care and Symptom Management. I am able to bring this knowledge with me and provide guidance to clients and families, assist with ensuring high quality of care and be an additional resource for skilled staff. Empowering clients and families and helping them to age in place. By following the principle of “do right by the client” to ensure they have the best outcome possible. I am extremely passionate about helping individuals maintain their independence as much as possible during difficult times.

Prior to joining the amazing team at Brightstar, I spent 22 years in primary care medicine with specialization in triage, case management, and care coordination for geriatric and high-risk patient populations as a registered medical assistant in private practice. I am excited to employ my years of clinical experience to develop long-term, caring, and supportive relationships with our clients to promote wellness within the community. I am proud to represent the mission of Brightstar and its commitment to personalized high-quality care. In my free time, I enjoy reading, camping, hiking, and spending time with my two teenage children.

My start in the healthcare industry started in 2013 working at Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation. There I was brought on board to help build a centralized call center by consolidating the calls from the individual practices to a centralized call center. Some of the practices that were under my management were Blum Cardiovascular Center, audiology department, and the Lake Forest Hospital. My focus was on improving patient care and experiences along with streamlining healthcare processes. With degrees in Business from Northeastern Illinois University and a degree in International Business from Colorado Tech University, I use that knowledge to help businesses and client partnerships work effectively in any business. I am happy to be aboard the staff here at Brightstar and assist the team with becoming the best in medical staffing and patient care.