Dr. Karlene Lawrence champions preventive healthcare to combat chronic illnesses

“Many chronic health conditions can be prevented through proper nutrition, regular screenings, and adhering to prescribed medications, ultimately leading to longer, healthier lives free from common illnesses.”

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This belief is held by Jamaican-born Dr. Karlene Lawrence, a certified Adult Health Nurse Practitioner with over two decades of experience in Preventive Medicine at various health centers in New York City and Long Island.

“Regular screenings for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and cancers like breast, prostate, and colon can lead to early diagnosis, simpler treatments, reduced healthcare costs, and more successful outcomes,” Dr. Lawrence explains. “Preventive healthcare and wellness have always been my passions. Early in my career, I realized the truth in the saying ‘prevention is better than cure,’ which has driven the focus of my practice ever since.”

Dr. Lawrence also highlights significant challenges, such as lack of affordable healthcare access, insurance constraints, stigmas towards certain health conditions, and biases against older patients and those with mental health issues.

“Additionally,” she says, “many people worldwide struggle to understand healthcare discussions or instructions due to low literacy levels. This barrier prevents achieving preventive healthcare goals. Unfortunately, the U.S. healthcare system can be complex and difficult to navigate, a long-standing issue requiring immediate resolution to ensure ‘best treatment’ for all patients.”

Dr. Lawrence was born in St. Thomas, Jamaica, and attended Holy Childhood Preparatory and High Schools in Kingston before immigrating to the USA at 17. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Molloy College with the aim of becoming a Nurse-Midwife. After obtaining a Midwifery and Women’s Health Graduate degree from New York University, she began practicing in outpatient settings in Queens and Brooklyn.

However, her focus soon shifted.

“I realized my care for female patients was incomplete because I couldn’t also care for their male partners. This led me to pursue an Adult Nurse Practitioner Post Graduate Certificate. Over time, I found my true passion was educating patients about illness prevention and wellness, rather than just treating diagnosed illnesses.”

In 2017, Dr. Lawrence returned to school and received a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree from SUNY Stony Brook University in 2019. During this period, she married educator, musician, and cultural historian LeRoy Graham Jr., who greatly supported her while she pursued her goals.

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Dr. Lawrence has received numerous honors, including The Louis and Rachel Rudin Foundation Scholarship, the New York State Advanced Nursing Education Traineeship Scholarship, and the New York State Primary Care Service Corps Scholarship. She is also a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Currently, Dr. Lawrence serves as the Doctor of Nursing Practice/Nurse Practitioner on a multimillion-dollar Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The program aims to transform the healthcare workforce and community in Brooklyn by establishing a new wellness clinic for adults aged 65 and older. The clinic will also serve as a training facility for students from all schools and colleges at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.

“My goal as a health and wellness educator-presenter is to increase awareness, comprehension, and adherence to preventive health screening guidelines, improve health literacy, and eliminate health disparities. I am passionate about empowering individuals through education to prevent diseases, promote health, and maintain wellness as they age in their own residences,” she states.

However, she acknowledges the challenges ahead.

“At the end of the day, we still need to address the issues in our healthcare system, and that won’t happen overnight. It is crucial that all healthcare stakeholders work together to find effective solutions. The lives of our fellow citizens depend on it.”