Janet was blessed to be born in a small town (Stuart) in southwest Virginia, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, in a community filled with love and purpose, where people looked out for each other and were considered extended family.
After High school, she pursued a career in Radiological Sciences at Durham County General Program of Radiology (affiliated with Duke University & UNC of Chapel Hill). She worked in the private sector and at the National Institutes of Health, performing functional MRIs as a research assistant for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Janet was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and ovarian cancer in 2017. Being in the medical field helped her navigate the care that she needed.
Although we have a good healthcare system in this country, we can have a better one focusing more on prevention. With this in mind, Janet decided to go back to school to pursue a master’s degree in Health Promotion (Maryland University of Integrative Health). She now encourages people to make positive lifestyle choices and create sustainable behavior, which ultimately contributes to a national healthcare system shifting to prevention, education, and wellness.