As a Registered Nurse, I have worked in many facets of the profession over my 19 year career, but one of the most profound experiences was during my tenure as a Correctional Health Nurse at the Cook County Department of Corrections for over 6 years. During that time, I had the opportunity to work with many detainees who battled addiction. Additionally, I had the opportunity to work alongside many experienced psychiatrists who also had a long history of working with patients with or in recovery from Opioid Addiction. It was during this time, as well as many other encounters both personally and professionally, that I grew increasingly empathetic towards this population, and all I could think of was, “What Can I Do to Help?” Also over the years, I have worked closely with many organizations, volunteering my services to individuals with Opioid Addiction.

In the early 2017, I made the decision to finally start the process of opening my very own OTP. Understanding Addiction is tough to treat, because it’s a lifelong problem, in April 2018, I resigned my position as a Nursing Professor to focus on the clinic full-time.

“I want this to be a place where people can come and not feel judged, but still get the help that they are in need of.” Although there is no standardized way to measure success for addiction…, Serenity will work diligently to provide those in recovery, or currently battling opioid addiction; opportunity and resources to maintain a better quality of life!