“To achieve the ultimate level of health, it is important to address our physical, mental, and spiritual health.”
Dr. Rucker-Smith is a compassionate doctoral prepared Nurse Practitioner. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a Doctor of Nursing Practice specializing in Adult Gerontology Primary Care. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Penn State University. Her post-graduate experience includes primary, urgent care settings, and telemedicine.
Her passions include health promotion, geriatric population, and effective communication. It is her belief that every patient has a unique set of needs and their care should be tailored to those needs.
She has more than 15 years of healthcare experience and is an Adjunct Clinical Faculty and a Preceptor for several universities throughout Maryland. For fun she likes to dance, travel, and spend time at the beach.
“The best way to make children good is to make them happy.” – Oscar Wilde
Dr. Patel is a pediatric nurse practitioner who received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She completed her pediatric clinical training in both rural and suburban areas of Maryland, focusing on school-based health and pediatric primary care. She received her Bachelor of Nursing from Queens University of Charlotte.
She completed her training at Novant Health Medical Center, then went on to work for Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a focus on ortho-trauma pediatric patients. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and has special interests in childhood obesity and serving at-need populations.
She resides in Washington, D.C., with her husband and son. In her free time, she enjoys being active with her husband playing flag football, hiking, traveling, and trying new vegan recipes.
“You are not alone. You are seen. I am with you. You are not alone.” – Shonda Rhimes
Tamika Hammond, is a compassionate mental health nurse practitioner at FirstChoice Primary Care. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Walden University and is board-certified in psychiatric mental health. She received her Bachelor of Nursing from Notre Dame of Maryland University.
With 14 years of wide-ranging clinical experience, Hammond has worked in various critical care and mental health settings, from the emergency room, to inpatient facilities and community clinics. Her expertise includes screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of mental health conditions in adults and pediatrics. Her areas of specialty include Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Bipolar, Schizophrenia, Substance Abuse and Trauma.
Hammond is dedicated to improving the well-being of her patients and is known for her empathetic and patient-centered approach. She believes in a holistic approach to mental health, addressing both the biological and psychosocial aspects of each individual. She is dedicated to listening to her patient’s concerns, executing a comprehensive and mental health exam, and collectively establishing a realistic care plan that will suits the patient and their family needs.
When not providing care, Hammond enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the vibrant cultural scene of Maryland, church, exercising, reading and traveling abroad. She’s also an advocate for mental health awareness and is actively involved in community outreach programs. Hammond looks forward to helping you on your path to mental well-being.
“Strive for the BEST that you can be as you move FORWARD in your health, wellness & fitness journey! Keep your eyes on the goal, not on your past setbacks and failures.”
Belinda Johnson is a dedicated Certified Holistic Nutritionist and a highly accomplished Health & Fitness Coach at FirstChoice Primary Care. Her reputation for excellence has earned her invitations to share her insights on numerous prominent media platforms, including the Dr. Oz Show, FOX5 News, Let’s Talk Live D.C., TBN, and many others. She has had the privilege of training several celebrities, helping them not only achieve their health and fitness goals but also maintain a sustainable and fit lifestyle. During the pandemic, she led Normalize Fitness, an online group that impacted thousands by positively transforming their health and fitness journeys.
Witnessing these remarkable changes reinforced her commitment to making a substantial difference on a larger scale. Beyond general fitness coaching and nutrition guidance, she closely collaborates with healthcare providers to help individuals make healthy lifestyle changes, especially for conditions like diabetes, HIV/AIDS, cancer, heart failure, kidney disease, and obesity. Her specialization is in weight loss, and she has proven strategies to help individuals effectively and naturally manage their weight. She also assists those on weight loss medications such as Phentermine, Semaglutide, Mounjaro and Wegovy.
Johnson’s commitment to her craft led her to become a professional figure bodybuilder, a certified holistic nutritionist, and an author of four Amazon #1 best-selling books. Her expertise and profound understanding of the intricacies of the human body and nutrition have allowed her to create tailored programs that have not only helped individuals but have also transformed entire communities, churches, corporations, and entrepreneurs.
Belinda Johnson is a devoted wife of over 20 years, a loving mother to two remarkable children, and a fun Nana to four adorable grand leaders. Her life’s work reflects a passion for family and a commitment to transforming lives through fitness, nutrition, and holistic wellness. Her dedication to the well-being of families and communities, combined with her expertise in health and fitness, makes her an inspirational leader in her field.
At FirstChoice Primary Care we earn our patients’ trust every day. Our compassionate providers offer a holistic approach to your healthcare. We take the time to listen and truly understand the entire picture of your health.
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