As a young girl, I discovered my love for healthcare by caring for my grandmother who suffered from hypertension and diabetes that led to repeated hospital and doctor visits. With each visit came an even greater financial burden, stemming from extensive medical bills for treatment and care. Through this challenge, God’s strength empowered me to assist my dear grandmother with organizing her medications, preparing healthy meals, and accompanying her to doctor’s visits. This later led to my decision to select Nursing as a profession while, hence, developing my compassion and heart for healthcare of individuals.
Ariel is the owner of Optimize Health whose mission is to promote health and wellness in the community through a holistic approach encompassing mental, physical, and spiritual wholeness since 2017. What makes Optimize Health unique? We provide mobile and telehealth care services to our clients. The services include school sports physicals for athletes, physical examinations and labs for employees, healthcare consulting and medication/safety training for staff of businesses and elderly clients in the community.
She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from South Dakota State University in 2008. Soon after, she started her professional career at Methodist Hospital of Houston’s Medical Center, in which she worked in medical surgical department. In 2014 she received her Master of Science in Nursing- Family Nurse Practitioner degree and graduated summa cum laude from Prairie View A&M University. There, she served as a leader to her peers and faculty and was elected class Chaplain. She was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing. In 2015, she was appointed faculty staff member and primary care provider at Baylor College of Medicine and worked in Houston’s under-served community clinic until 2019.
Ariel is an author of 3 eBooks, on Diabetes, Hypertension, Congestive Heart Failure. Optimize Health is certified as by the City of Houston- Women Business Enterprise, Minority Business Enterprise, Texas Historically Underutilized Business, and Hire Houston First. Ariel was privileged to be a Finalist for the Greater Houston Black Chamber Pinnacle Upstart Award 2020. She is an active member of Windsor Village United Methodist Church- for over 10 years – in which she serves as a volunteer with the youth ministry. Of all of accomplishments, her greatest is being a devoted Christian, wife of over 15 years, and mother of 2 beautiful fun-loving children! Ariel’s primary joy and purpose in life is to serve others through her gift of compassion, faith, and encouragement.