Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Brown.
Hi Laura , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After earning a degree in history, I was a bit lost as to what to do with my life. I spent some time traveling and along the way realized I was being called to nursing, so when I returned from my travels I became a Certified Nursing Assistant and began a job at a local hospital, while also working on prerequisite classes for a rigorous RN/NP 3 year program. Initially I thought I might want to specialize in pediatrics, but through my rotation on a labor and delivery unit fell in love with women’s health. After completing the program, I struggled for a bit to find a job, finally landing in internal medicine. Though I gained quite a breadth of knowledge in treating adults in a primary care setting, my heart was always with OB/GYN. However, every time I interviewed for a position at an OB/GYN office, I’d get the feedback that they liked me, but I was lacking in obstetrics. I thought about going back to school (again) to get a post-graduate certification as a Certified Nurse Midwife, but really didn’t want to deliver babies. I considered becoming a doula, or trying to work per diem on a labor unit, but at that time had my own small baby at home and didn’t want to miss out on more time with him. I remembered one of my preceptors during NP school had been a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, so I decided to study for the test. About 3 months after passing, I was offered a job at a bustling OB/GYN practice! They told me they had hired me specifically for the menopause certification. Again, I learned so much from being hands-on with my patients each day, but was growing more frustrated at not being able to treat my patients in menopause up to the standards I had learned from The Menopause Society as I was the only clinician at the practice who was primarily interested in this. Eventually I became so frustrated that I felt called to open my own practice so that I could focus solely on treating patients in perimenopause and menopause. It hasn’t even been a year since I opened the doors of Sapphire Women’s Healthcare, but I have found immense joy in my day-to-day work and in teaming up with women to help them relieve their symptoms and find a way back to themselves.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Honestly, I have been incredibly blessed; my husband has been extremely supportive since I brought up the idea, taking this leap of faith alongside me, and supporting our family financially as I got Sapphire up and running. My mother and both of my grandmothers were all entrepreneurs, so I’ve had their example and advice to learn from. The first few months were slow, and I often had self-doubt creep in, wondering if I would need to go back to traditional healthcare. But, slowly the word-of-mouth has been spreading, and I am happy to report that within 4 months of opening I was able to start paying myself, and at this point have replaced the salary I left behind! I never dreamed of becoming a business owner, but becoming one has allowed me to fulfill my dreams of treating patients the way they deserve to be treated; I don’t have to rush our visits and we can take the time to really get to know what the concerns are so we can develop a care plan that fits their needs and their desires. And, owning my own business has helped me fulfill the dream of motherhood I always wanted – time to fill my own cup at work while also creating space for joy with my family, demonstrating for my kids how to take care of yourself by prioritizing your mental, physical and emotional health, and simply being so much more present and patient. And, my husband, who is the strategic thinker to my relationship builder, has been integral in ensuring the growth of my business, which in turn has improved our communication as a couple and strengthened our marriage. I get to offer workshops to local libraries and businesses in order to educate women about their bodies, and have been able to make philanthropic donations to causes I care deeply about. I don’t take any of this for granted; I KNOW that this is an atypical entrepreneurial experience and that so very many factors had to fall into place, but more than anything, I am incredibly grateful for my village that makes it possible.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP-BC), and a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP). As of March 2024, there were only 1,300 MSCPs in the US, however it is estimated that 6,000 women enter menopause every day, so there are far too few of us to meet this critical need. Additionally, I am a coach, and am able to harness that unique skill set to help women approach midlife with a sense of curiosity and adventure, encouraging them to view this as the start to a new chapter rather than the end of a story. My patients overwhelming tell me that I foster a warm, open atmosphere than encourages a team-approach to their care; every woman’s menopause is her own, and therefore every woman’s menopause treatment plan is individualized. At dinner each night, my family goes around the table to say three things we’re thankful for, and the majority of the time, I get to explain how grateful I am to be able to partner with women to help them feel like themselves again, to give them tools to tackle the challenges of midlife, and to create a lasting and trusting clinician-patient relationship. This is another thing I don’t take for granted, that my job lights me up, energizes me; that I get to, as my own coach would say, “do good AND do well.”
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
It may sound cliche, but put yourself out there! No one knows who you are (yet) but, be willing to be vulnerable and ask to meet with others. I network with mostly other female entrepreneurs and find ways to collaborate with them often, such as through webinars, panel discussions or other events. But even simply meeting for coffee or over zoom is beneficial; you never know who they know who might need your help. I used to think of networking as a dirty word, like old white dudes smoking cigars and “knowing the right people,” but the more I’ve done it, the more I’ve realized it’s really just about trying to make new friends! Cheesy, I know, but that’s what it has come down to for me (but, I will recognize I’m an extrovert to the extreme!)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sapphirewomenshealthcare.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sapphirewomenshealthcare/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Sapphire-Womens-Healthcare/61557924006373/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sapphire-womens-healthcare/
