Barbara obtained her BSN and MS through the University of Arizona College of Nursing in 1986 and 1992. She was one of the first students to enroll in the University of Arizona, College of Nursing Nurse Practitioner Program when it opened in 1988, graduating in 1992. She has had various positions in her nursing career from medical-surgical nursing to intensive care and nursing education. Barbara became a Nurse Practitioner in 1992 providing care in a primary case setting. She was enlisted to develop, plan and implement a Women's Health Program in the VA system. She developed and nurtured the Women's clinic from a staff of 2 with 230 patients to a staff of 8 with 3500 patients. She has participated in a program that planned and implemented a Women's Health Clinic in Russia, traveling there twice in a two year period. Barbara furthered her education in women's health by obtaining a certificate from Emery University in Atlanta, GA in Colposcopy. She continued to work and partner with an OB/Gyn physician allowing her the opportunity to expand her practice in women's health and offer her primary care patients comprehensive health care. Barbara's entire Nurse Practitioner career has been within the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System. She have been employed with them for 28 years. However, she has had experience working in the community as well, in the area of Home Health Nursing.