December 17 , 2020 The Beacon • 27

Dawn White grew up nearby in Newcomerstown . A 1989 graduate of Newcomerstown High School , White ran track and hurdles , going to state for hurdles . She moved to Coshocton after graduation , where her grandmother lived .

White initially majored in accounting , attending Muskingum University , until driving home one weekend when she came upon a single-car accident . She said this became her “ a-ha moment ” as she assisted with the injured driver and realized she was suited for a career in the healthcare field . She transferred to Kent State University , earning an associate degree in nursing in 1993 and passed the board exam in 1994 to become a registered

Dawn White nurse .

White went to work as a nurse and wanted to continue her education , but as she put it , “ Life got in the way .” In 2015 she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Malone University and continued her education to earn a master ’ s in advance practical nursing and her nurse practitioner certification in 2017 .

Prior to earning her CNP , White worked at Union Hospital in Dover in the emergency room . Her primary job is with Genesis Health System in Zanesville in the gastroenterology office . White sees patients , providing consults and follow-ups for the doctors . Patients have a variety of medical conditions including Crohn ’ s disease , irritable bowel syndrome and cirrhosis of the liver , among others .

White takes patient care very seriously and prides herself on meeting people on their level , ensuring the patient has

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a full understanding of their condition and care . She also has worked for three years at Coshocton Regional Medical Center in the emergency room after earning her nurse practitioner and currently works on a contractual basis there . She also has recently begun working at Union Hospital again part-time in the emergency department .

With three jobs White doesn ’ t have much time , and COVID has limited her ability to volunteer as a nurse practitioner at Hope Clinic . When her boys were in school , she was involved with the booster club for soccer and swimming , but now her involvement is limited to professional organizations . White is a member of the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses and the Ohio Nurses Association .

When asked about her interest in Leadership Coshocton County , White said , “ It ’ s been around longer than I

knew about it and has lots of history .”

White wants to gain more insight on the needs and availability of healthcare in Coshocton County . White also appreciates being exposed to a lot of different aspects of the community . “ There is a variety of people in the program . It ’ s interesting to meet people from different walks of life and have better exposure to the reality of the world ,” she said .

White views the community as having a lot of diversity . “ There are people and families that have been there forever , and there are new people to the community , people from all walks of life ,” she said .

White describes it as a little bit of everything

See DAWN Page 29