For most of my life, I focused on taking care of people. First in the Navy, then as a nurse, and now as a family nurse practitioner and medical director of my own holistic practice. I’ve always known that purpose runs deep in healthcare—you don’t stay in this field without some kind of calling to serve others. But what I’ve come to realize over the years is that those same skills that help us thrive in medicine also make us uniquely suited for something you don’t often hear healthcare folks talk about: real estate investing.

Now, I’ll be honest—I didn’t grow up dreaming about owning properties. I wasn’t reading finance books in my twenties or calculating cap rates in between shifts at the hospital. I was focused on getting through school, building a career, and doing right by my family. But as time passed and I gained more stability, I started looking ahead. I asked myself what kind of legacy I wanted to build, and how I could create something that would offer both financial freedom and a deeper purpose.

That’s when real estate entered the picture—not as a get-rich-quick scheme, but as a way to build something meaningful. And what surprised me most was how natural it felt. Because in so many ways, real estate and healthcare have more in common than most people realize.

We Know How to Care for People

At the core of both fields is one simple truth: people need safe, stable environments to thrive. In medicine, we talk about the social determinants of health—housing being one of the most important. If someone doesn’t have a secure place to live, their health is always going to suffer, no matter how good the treatment plan is.

As healthcare professionals, we’re trained to think about the whole person. We listen. We assess. We act with empathy. When you carry that mindset into real estate, it shifts your focus. You’re not just buying property—you’re investing in people’s lives. Whether you’re providing housing for families, renovating neglected properties in a community, or offering clean, safe rentals for working folks, you’re making a difference. And that kind of impact? That’s what we’re wired for.

I approach my investments the same way I approach my patients—with care. I want tenants to feel respected, not just managed. I want to respond to their concerns quickly. I want to improve the places I invest in, not just extract profit. That’s not just good business—it’s good humanity.

Discipline and Grit Go a Long Way

Let’s be real: healthcare workers are some of the most resilient, hardworking people on the planet. We’re used to long shifts, unpredictable days, and high-stakes decisions. That kind of mental toughness doesn’t go away when you step into real estate. In fact, it becomes one of your biggest advantages.

Owning and managing property takes patience, persistence, and a willingness to solve problems. Things break. Tenants leave. Markets shift. But if you’ve ever worked a night shift in the ER or handled three admissions back-to-back on a short-staffed floor, you know how to stay calm under pressure. You know how to assess, act, and adapt.

Those instincts have helped me time and time again as a property owner. When something goes sideways—and it always does—I don’t panic. I get to work. And I always remember the bigger picture: why I’m doing this in the first place.

Building a Future Without Burnout

One of the hardest truths in healthcare is that many of us burn out. We love the work, but the system can be unforgiving. There are only so many 12-hour shifts your body can take. Only so many emotionally heavy days you can carry before it starts to wear on you.

For me, investing in real estate was a way to create a backup plan. A way to build financial freedom so I wasn’t solely reliant on my clinical hours. It allowed me to create a future where I could continue to serve others—but on my terms. And that kind of freedom is priceless.

It also gave me a creative outlet. There’s something deeply rewarding about taking a neglected space and turning it into something beautiful. Something functional. Something that feels like home to someone else. It’s a different kind of healing, but one that taps into the same spirit of care that led me to healthcare in the first place.

A Legacy That Lasts

Now that my daughter Clara is pursuing a career in mental health, we’ve talked a lot about how to build a life that’s both fulfilling and sustainable. She’s seen the long hours I’ve put in, the nights I came home worn out, and the pride I’ve felt in owning my own practice. She’s also seen the joy I get from watching a tenant move into a newly renovated space or seeing a community improve because of thoughtful investment.

To me, real estate isn’t about escaping healthcare—it’s about expanding it. It’s about using the skills we’ve honed in our profession to do even more good in the world. It’s about creating stability for our families, options for our futures, and dignity for the people we serve.

I didn’t come to this with a business degree or a background in finance. I came to it with heart. With hustle. With a desire to create something lasting. And if you’re a healthcare worker who’s ever thought about investing but didn’t think you had what it takes, let me be the one to tell you: you do.

Because if you can care for patients, stay calm in chaos, and put others first—you already have the foundation. Real estate just gives you another way to build something meaningful on top of it.

And trust me, the view from here? It’s worth it.