Business Matters 2020 | Page 32

On the FAST TRACK Entrepreneurs under40 Carriston Hendricks, FNP-C Carriston Hendricks, FNP-C: Years of education, on the job experience and desire culminate in new Center clinic AT A GLANCE WHAT: Priority Family Healthcare WHO: Locally owned and operated by Carriston Hendricks, FNP-C WHERE: 1743 Southview Circle Center, TX 75935 WHEN: Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Friday 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PHONE: (936) 590-4708 FACEBOOK: @Priority-Family-Healthcare WEBSITE: PriorityFamilyHealthcare.com Carriston Hendricks, FNP-C has had a long-time yearning for a career in a field where she could help people while being an entrepreneur. The culmination of that strong desire recently was realized with the opening of Priority Family Healthcare in Center. To arrive at the point of being a business woman has taken years of professional education, and gaining knowledge while working as a nurse in a variety of settings. Carriston, FNP-C, graduated from Panola College in 2005 with an ADN, and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree at The University of Tyler in 2008. She graduated with her degree of Family Nurse Practitioner at The University of Tyler in 2016. “I’ve always had the dream of having something of my own, and I just felt like the timing was right,” she says. “So, on a wing and lots and lots of prayers, I decided to start checking into things.” In the ever-changing medical world, rural areas like Shelby County have always had available resources for healthcare. “You know, 20 years ago here you had six or seven very strong doctors’ offices,” she says. They were all wellknown and established. “I feel like now, not only being female and young, I have big shoes to fill,” Carriston says, moving into her future. While opening any new business is challenging, opening a start-up enterprise in the medical field during the coronavirus pandemic has many more hoops to jump through to comply with state and federal regulations. Carriston says it took about a week just to complete the Medicare application, and going through the process gave her a renewed respect STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE ELSWICK for what it takes to strive for her goal. “It’s been a challenge, but we’ve all learned a lot,” she says of herself and her support team. “I’ve learned more than my brain thought it could handle.” Throughout the process she had a lot of help from friends, her new staff and her husband, Luke. He has expertise in the computer field, and helped secure the hardware and software needed to serve needs of the clinic and provide the security which both patients and the government require. “It’s been overwhelming and definitely challenging, but it’s been very rewarding too,” Carriston says. Providing emotional support have been a couple of close friends, Heather Moody and Heather Harbison, who are both young female business operators themselves. Carriston says the decision to take the plunge was not easy, but was made easier with the support and words of encouragement she has received. “Honestly, if it wasn’t for support from family and friends, I wouldn’t be here,” she says. To carry out that longtime desire to help and serve others, Carriston feels the motto selected for Priority Healthcare is fitting — “Your health is our priority.” The young business opened its doors on July 13. The clinic is located at 1743 Southview Circle in a building which has been completely renovated and redecorated. Hendricks said she was over-whelmed with the show of support. “My most important aspect here is to be able to serve Shelby County,” she says. Being able to help the community and give back brings great joy to my heart. While walk-ins are welcome, appointments 32 Business MATTERS | 2020 Fall Edition