Dr.Patton has over 32 years of experience in health care working in and rural and underserved populations as a primary care provider and as an undergraduate and graduate nurse educator. Dr. Patton holds a master’s degree in primary care nursing from West Virginia University and a Doctoral Degree in Public Health (Dr.PH) from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health with an emphasis in Health Services Administration. Dr. Patton has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles as well as book chapters and refereed journal articles on Chronic Care, Primary Prevention, and outcomes research locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Dr. Patton has conducted health promotion on rural Appalachian women and Nicaraguan women with osteoporosis. Dr. Patton has provided numerous consultations for nursing program feasibility, development, accreditation and revision for from AD and Diploma programs to DNP and PhD Programs. Dr. Patton is a family nurse practitioner and maintains her certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE).