UNSUNG Podcast

From pre-dental school dropout to primary care practice owner, Casey Lulay's path was anything but straight. In this episode, he takes us through his journey from mobile visits in foster homes and nursing facilities to owning a building in Oregon and becoming the first clinic in the state to earn a health equity designation. In this episode, we discuss: How he started by moonlighting on the side b...

Most people would think twice before opening an independent practice in New York City. Dr. Sophie Brown didn't. In this episode, she takes us through her journey from bedside nurse to founder of Family NP Healthcare Services in Flushing, and what it really takes to build something sustainable in one of the most competitive healthcare markets in the country. In this episode, we discuss: How a retir...

We've all had those "if only" thoughts, but Duet partner Tamara Washington realized you don't need a winning ticket to pivot your career. In this episode, Tamara takes us through her transition from the monotony of the OR to launching her own independent practice in Texas. In this episode, we discuss: The Leap of Faith: Why Tamara decided to leave the comfort of a structured clinical environment t...

On The Duet Podcast , Nicole Bennett, DNP, PMHNP, MN, shares how a "happy accident" career path led her into psych NP work and eventually practice ownership. She talks about why she refused the 15-minute, prescription-only model, how isolation shows up for owners (even inside organizations), and the mindset shift from "clinician who runs a practice" to true business leader. You'll also hear how sh...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. April Odom, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC to talk about resilience, purpose, and building a practice on your own terms. From becoming a teen mom and first-generation college graduate to launching and growing an independent NP practice, April shares her honest journey, the pivots that shaped her path, and why patient-centered, preventive care remains at the heart of everyt...

Peggy Zapantis, APRN, MSN, FNP-BC shares how she pivoted from primary care into aesthetics and wellness, then unexpectedly became a true business owner when her practice was sold to private equity and the "aesthetics division" was essentially handed to her to take and build. We talk books of business, hiring the right team, opening a second location, why "boots on the ground" beats social media fo...

How does someone who never imagined business ownership end up running a thriving primary care practice in a small Florida beach town? Stephanie Sanchez, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, ARNP, shares how a retiring physician, a supportive partner, and a willingness to learn opened the door to becoming a practice owner. Stephanie walks us through her path from ICU nurse to critical care NP, the unexpected offer to...

How do you turn a mission to reduce rehospitalizations into a multi-location, 22-NP group? Logan Andrews, APRN, FNP-BC, shares how a QAPI deep-dive sparked a house-call practice that now spans clinics, SNFs/ALFs, and mental health sites across North Florida. We cover leaving a bad contract, earning autonomous practice, scaling with a 1099/commission model, building case-manager pods, and why "powe...

In this episode of The UNSUNG Podcast, Dr. Efrat Lamandre sits down with Julie Foster, FNP. From a nudge to "do it on your own" to leading a multi-provider integrative clinic, Julie shows how clarity of mission, mentorship, and steady systems can carry you through hard days and toward sustainable growth.

In this episode of The UNSUNG Podcast, Dr. Efrat Lamandre sits down with Frank Rosenberg, FNP-C, founder of Tempe Primary Care in Arizona, and proof that sometimes diving in before you feel "ready" is exactly what it takes. From thrifting exam tables to delegating with trust, balancing clinical care with business ownership, and navigating the steep learning curve of billing and coding, Frank's sto...

In this episode of The UNSUNG Podcast, Dr. Efrat Lamandre sits down with KC Arnold, FNP – founder of The Diabetes Center in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and proof that sometimes crisis sparks the greatest breakthroughs. After more than a decade in the Air Force and years of nursing experience, KC thought she had her career mapped out. But when Hurricane Katrina shut down her clinic and left her fut...

In this episode, Dr. E sits down with Peggy Roberts, DNP, NP, founder and CEO of Trust Women's Healthcare, to talk about launching her practice during COVID while keeping her 9-to-5, navigating public criticism, imposter syndrome, and bias, and scaling from two patients on day one to two thriving locations in Brooklyn and Long Island. Peggy shares what it took to build a women's health brand that...

In this episode of The UNSUNG Podcast , Dr. Efrat Lamandre sits down with Mary Pasternacki, FNP, BC - founder of The Women's Place in Pennsylvania and living proof that sometimes, when the ground falls out from under you, it's actually the push you needed. With nearly two decades of nursing experience and no formal business training, Mary found herself at a crossroads - and chose to bet on herself...

When Massachusetts granted independent practice authority, Shannon Kriehn, FNP-C didn't hesitate. She left her job with one month's notice, took out a $60,000 loan, and opened Better Way Primary Care from scratch. Three years later, she serves 4,000 patients with zero marketing and a bold philosophy of letting patients lead their care. This is what it really looks like to build an NP-led practice...

In this episode of The UNSUNG Podcast, Dr. Efrat Lamandre sits down with John Mandeville, FNP-B founder of Granite State Family Health in New Hampshire and proof that purpose can come from the most unexpected places. After walking away from a corporate health system with no plan and no backup, a tick bite (yes, really) kicked off a journey that led to his own thriving clinic—now serving over 700 p...

In this episode of The UNSUNG Podcast, Dr. Efrat Lamandre sits down with Dr. Lorraine Bock, DNP, ENP-C, FNP-C, PHRN, CEN, FAANP - a trailblazing NP who's spent 20+ years building patient-first practices rooted in community and care. From practicing before NPs had prescriptive authority to running two thriving clinics in different states, Lorraine's story is one of resilience, advocacy, and trustin...

In this episode of The UNSUNG Podcast, Dr. Efrat Lamandre sits down with Eva Nyarko, MSN, RN, FNP-BC founder of a thriving Bronx-based clinic with an origin story you won't believe. From an unexpected lottery win to turning an abandoned convent into a community care hub, Eva's journey is a masterclass in purpose, grit, and radical compassion. Tap in to hear how one woman is redefining primary care...

In this episode of The UNSUNG Podcast, host Dr. Efrat Lamandre, NP, PhD, sits down with Lindsey Maloney, DNP, APRN, FNP-C the powerhouse behind Mobile Care Partners in Connecticut. Five years ago, Lindsay started her practice doing house calls out of her car. Today, she has a brick-and-mortar office, a thriving team, and serves over 3,000 patients - all while staying true to her vision of nurse-le...

She waited 20 years to launch her dream practice… and now she's making house calls to over 100 patients.   In this episode of The UNSUNG Podcast, Diane Pagan, MSN, ANP-BC, ACHPN, CCM, shares how she went from shelving her dream to becoming a powerhouse in geriatric home care. She opens up about the challenges of launching her solo practice, how she almost gave up (twice), and what finally pushed h...

Teri Bunker, DNP, FNP, is the founder of Bridge City Family Medical Clinic in Portland, Oregon. Twenty-two years ago, she mortgaged her home to open the clinic - committed to serving Medicaid patients others turned away and determined not to let fear or bad advice hold her back. Today, her practice serves over 20,000 patients and employs multiple nurse practitioners. In this episode, you'll hear:...

ABOUT THE EPISODE Amanda Swan, DNP, APRN, IFMCP and founder of Swan Integrative Medicine in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Her journey from frustrated pre-med student to confident NP entrepreneur is filled with grit, honesty, and hard-won wisdom. Amanda knew she had a vision for patient care that couldn't live inside the box of a traditional practice. So after 10 years as an NP - and with a little help...

ABOUT THE UNSUNG PODCAST The UNSUNG Podcast celebrates the inspiring stories of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who are transforming healthcare by owning and leading their own practices. GUEST BIO: Dr. Erin Athey, DNP, FNP Dr. Erin Athey, a board-certified family nurse practitioner, has dedicated nearly two decades to improving health outcomes in Washington, D.C.'s underserved communities as a clinician...