Today we’d like to introduce you to Elisheva Reese.
Hi Elisheva, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My path into healthcare — and ultimately entrepreneurship — has been shaped by lived experience, resilience, and a deep belief that patients deserve better.
I became a mother at 17, worked multiple jobs, and put myself through school while raising my son. Those early years taught me grit, accountability, and how to keep moving forward even when the odds feel stacked. I went on to spend more than two decades in healthcare, starting as a registered nurse and later becoming a nurse practitioner. Along the way, I worked across oncology, internal medicine, cardiology, neurology, and clinical research — often stepping into roles that required building systems, leading teams, and fixing what wasn’t working.
What truly changed my trajectory were personal experiences. My mother nearly died due to a delayed diagnosis, and more recently, my father was given an incorrect medication following a heart attack. Those moments reinforced what I had already seen professionally: a fragmented system that too often overlooks people, especially in underserved communities.
Over the past several years, I’ve worked in clinical trials and helped grow research sites from the ground up, building teams, expanding access, and engaging communities that are frequently excluded from research. At the same time, I maintained primary care work through telemedicine, which gave me a front-row seat to both the possibilities and the limitations of our current healthcare model.
Today, I’m in the process of building my own nurse-practitioner-led clinic in Memphis — one designed to meet patients where they are, prioritize dignity and trust, and integrate clinical trials directly into routine care. My goal is to create a space that not only provides high-quality primary care, but also expands access to innovation, education, and opportunity for both patients and future healthcare professionals.
Everything I’ve done — professionally and personally — has led me here. This work isn’t just my career; it’s my calling.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all — and I don’t think meaningful work ever is.
My journey has been filled with challenges, both personal and professional. I became a single mother at a young age, worked multiple jobs, and navigated higher education and a demanding healthcare career without a safety net. Later, as a clinician, I often found myself pushing against systems that prioritized volume, speed, or profit over people — which can be deeply discouraging when your values don’t align with the status quo.
Building something of my own has brought a different set of struggles. Starting a clinic requires navigating complex regulations, credentialing delays, funding barriers, and the reality of carrying financial risk while still caring for patients and supporting a family. There were moments when I worked full-time in one role, part-time in another, and built the clinic in the margins — nights, weekends, and early mornings.
There have also been emotional challenges: advocating for patients who felt unheard, standing firm in ethical decisions when it would have been easier not to, and trusting myself enough to walk away from opportunities that didn’t align with my mission.
But each obstacle clarified my purpose. The struggles forced me to become resourceful, resilient, and intentional. They shaped the leader I am today and strengthened my commitment to building a healthcare model rooted in respect, access, and humanity.
I wouldn’t call the road smooth — but I would call it necessary.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At my core, I’m a nurse practitioner, but my work has always gone beyond a single role. I specialize in adult and geriatric primary care, chronic disease management, and clinical research, with experience spanning internal medicine, cardiology, neurology, oncology, and community health. Over the years, I’ve also helped build and grow clinical trial sites, develop teams, and create workflows that expand access to care and research in underserved communities.
What I’m most known for is building things — programs, clinics, teams, and systems — and doing it with intention. I approach every role as if it were my own business, which means I focus not just on patient care, but on sustainability, quality, ethics, and long-term impact. Whether I’m seeing patients, leading research efforts, or mentoring staff, my goal is always the same: do the work well, and do it with integrity.
I’m especially proud of my work in clinical trials and community engagement. I’ve spent years helping bring research opportunities to populations that are often overlooked, ensuring people not only have access, but also feel respected, informed, and empowered throughout the process. That commitment to ethical, patient-centered care carries into everything I do.
What sets me apart is my ability to bridge worlds that don’t always connect — clinical care and research, business and compassion, systems and people. I’m equally comfortable at the bedside, in the community, and at the planning table. I don’t believe patients should have to choose between feeling cared for and receiving high-quality, innovative treatment — they deserve both.
Ultimately, I’m proud not just of what I do, but how I do it. I lead with empathy, accountability, and a deep respect for the people I serve. That approach has shaped my career — and continues to guide the work I’m building now.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Yes — I’d like readers to know that healthcare doesn’t have to feel impersonal, rushed, or out of reach.
Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, or someone working within the system, your voice matters. We all deserve care that is respectful, transparent, and centered on shared decision-making. I believe the future of healthcare lies in meeting people where they are, honoring their lived experiences, and giving them the information and support they need to be active participants in their own care.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple intention: to bring light into the lives of the people around me — whether that’s the patients I care for, the colleagues who work alongside me, or the teams I have the privilege to lead. Even on hard days, I want my work to leave people feeling seen, supported, and hopeful.
For those considering careers in healthcare, leadership, or entrepreneurship — especially women and those from nontraditional paths — know that there is space for you. You don’t have to fit a mold to make an impact. Some of the most meaningful change comes from people who have lived the gaps and are brave enough to try to close them.
And finally, to the Memphis community: this work is for you. Everything I’m building is rooted in service, access, and trust. If I can leave the world — and our healthcare system — a little brighter than I found it, then I’ve done my job.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://myclinicmemphis.com
