Family nurse practitioner takes holistic approach to medicine

“I believe there are a variety of factors to consider in a person’s life when you’re treating their health,” says Smith, who began caring for patients in Suite 201 of the Lacey Medical Plaza with Dr. Najla Ahmadzia in September 2015.

Smith is from San Diego. She was 16 and in high school when she realized she wanted to seek a medical career.

“I enjoyed my biology teacher,” says Smith. “She made learning about the human body very interesting.”

Smith was fascinated with the miracle of life, conception and women’s health.

She earned a Master of Public Health in community health sciences and international health development from Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, La. She went on to earn a Master of Science in nursing and family nurse practitioner specialty from Vanderbilt University, School of Nursing in Nashville, Tenn.

She was a family nurse practitioner in Nashville before moving to the Central Valley.

“I enjoy the rural health setting,” she says. “The people are nice, and I find it rewarding to offer resources that aren’t available in urban areas.”

In her free time, Smith enjoys traveling the world, rowing and dancing.

She may be reached at the Lacey Medical Plaza, Suite 201, with a phone number of 559-537-0355.