Dr. Erica Francois, DNP APRN

Dr. Erica Nicole Francois is a board certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, motivational speaker, minister of music, and budding entrepreneur. Erica has a healthcare career spanning twenty years: working as a student nurse technician, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, and Lead Advanced Practice Provider. She is currently a bariatric nurse practitioner; working with a population that she is passionately committed to. Combined with her first love for music and her desire to empower and encourage those who suffer with obesity, Keyz of E was created. It’s mission is to provide support for patients with obesity. Dr. Francois is married to Pastor Pierre Francois, a director for the Southeastern Confrence of Seventh-day Adventist Church. The couple has two children.

Karline Barthe Co-Founder and Vice President of NYC Health Care Professionals Association

When you think of community, what does it mean to you? When you think of service, who comes to your mind? Is the list long as it should be? Does the list shorten by a lack of service you may need? Well, we are happy to highlight, support, share, and provide an inspirational story about a nurse who is serving her community to be beautifully better. Follow us here and on our social media, Black Nurses Magazine, for our interview with Karline, during the month of April. Co-Founder and Vice President of NYC Health Care Professionals Association – NYCHCPA Care, Inc., Karline Barthe, whose career spans 26 years, decided to nurture something greater than herself. Her career path as a nurse has included Nursing Management, currently she holds an important position within nursing as an Infection Preventionist at NYC Health Hospital. In 2019 Ms. Barthe and her partner Mr. Fontaine Joseph both health care professionals founded NYCHCPA Care,Inc. and brought their vision into fruition. They believed that all disciplines in healthcare under one umbrella can provide, allocate resources, and advocate community centered care to the underserved and vulnerable communities by providing health literacy for chronic disease management. Karline and her business partner also believed in mentoring and supporting novice health professionals to sustain autonomy, retention, and confidence in health care. NYCHCPA Care, Inc. received the Brooklyn Borough President Covid Hero’s Citation 2021, and on September 23,2022 received a Proclamation for “ NYCHCPA Care, Inc. Day Of Celebration by former Brooklyn Borough President now NYC Mayor Mr. Eric Adams for their life saving programs and events especially during the height of the Covid -19 pandemic. NYCHCPA is also the recipient of “The Mayoral Service Recognition Award 2020 “given by former Mayor Bill de Blasio. Mrs. Barthe and her partner believe in one another and having belief in something greater than themselves was one of the pivotal reasons why they were able to accomplish so much during the pandemic, a very tumultuous health state that uncontrollably placed a monstrously impact upon healthcare in New York City. The pandemic never caused them to lose sight of their purpose. That makes all the accolades more humbling and appreciative.