IT’S NO secret that the medical profession is grueling: long hours, little sleep, rigid hierarchies, and steep learning curves, but Heather Bohannon-Iyama, FNP-C (Family Nurse Practitioner-Certified), knows differently. Taking strength from within and those around her, she knows that diamonds always come from pressure. That phrase has proven true for Bohannon-Iyama, as she owns the local practice, Renew You Wellness and Aesthetics. Through her hard work, determination, and care for her patients, she has shown that achieving your dreams is possible if you stick with them.
Nurturing beginnings
Growing up, Bohannon-Iyama saw firsthand how medicine could change lives. Her mother was a chief example of how nurturing and knowledge could provide the best care.
“My mother worked in home health care as a nurse,” she said. “Seeing her care for her patients is what got me started. She would go above and beyond for her patients. She is also a very nurturing person outside her job, so watching her and being a part of that nurturing has helped me with those I care for.”
Initially, Bohannon-Iyama’s path was heading in a different direction; however, she found her way back to medicine and has not looked back since.
“Entering college, I initially was pursuing another major, but my path ended up pursuing a degree in medicine, and I have enjoyed it,” she said.
Since 1994, Bohannon-Iyama has made her way up the ranks in the hospital. For almost two decades, she worked for Southern Hills Hospital in Nashville, earning a name for herself through diligence and strength of knowledge in each area she served.
“I’ve worked in the [emergency room] and was the director of cardiology. I’ve been in a mainstream hospital for years.
A new path and a leap of faith
Practically raising her son at Southern Hills, Bohannon-Iyama had a strong connection with the hospital. However, as much as she loved her job, she felt it was time to take a new path. That new path would find her looking toward Tullahoma and taking on primary care.
“I wanted something different,” she said. “I never really thought I would do primary care because I am a more clinical person. But one day, I knew I needed a change from the emergency room setting. I was looking for jobs and had seen someone selling a practice. So I gathered some money and bought a practice located in Tullahoma. It was a leap of faith both financially and career-wise, but it was worth it in the end.”
For the past four years, Bohannon-Iyama has been the proud owner of the family practice, Renew You Wellness and Aesthetics. Bohannon-Iyama, an FNP-C, said she and her staff provide a variety of aesthetic solutions, which include Botox, weight loss, B12 lipotropic injections, cosmetic fillers, and personal care.
She hopes to educate locals that you don’t have to venture out of town to find great care.
“A lot of people feel like they have to go to the city to get a certain type of care, but they don’t,” she explained. “You have providers that come to the smaller towns. While we are a primary care office, we also offer aesthetic solutions that patients can take advantage of right here in Tullahoma.”
Bohannon-Iyama added that each day in Tullahoma has been worth the leap of faith she made four years ago.
“I enjoy primary care,” she said. “It has been rewarding to serve people that need the care as opposed to people who have a lot of resources and privileges at their hands. And I think I was able to bring a little different culture. Even though I’m still a smaller practice and a lot may not know I’m here, I’m still making a difference and working to show the people of Tullahoma I am here to help.”
Straightening crowns
As a female who came up through the grueling ranks of the medical field, Bohannon-Iyama wants to lift up other females and show them that they can do hard things, too.
“I want them to know that the possibilities are out there. We have to help and support each other whenever and wherever we can,” she said. GN
