Amy Wells, MSN RN CBN

I began my career with Ascension St. Vincent’s in 2001 in the pharmacy department. After graduating from nursing school in 2012, I transitioned to a medical-surgical unit, where I spent most of my time serving as a charge nurse. Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to caring for vulnerable patient populations. I believe that providing nursing care is both an honor and a privilege. During this time, I also continued to deepen my commitment to caring for patients with obesity. Having cared for many post-operative bariatric surgery patients throughout my medical-surgical nursing career, I developed a strong appreciation for the complex needs of this population. These experiences, combined with my own journey after sleeve gastrectomy, strengthened my passion for obesity care and supporting patients through bariatric and metabolic surgery. In 2018, I expanded my career into nursing education as an adjunct faculty member at Jacksonville University—a role I continue to hold and truly enjoy. Today, I balance my work in academia with my role as Bariatric Coordinator, a position I stepped into during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and one that has since become one of the most meaningful and rewarding chapters of my career. This allows me to blend my passion for patient care with my love for teaching. Guiding and mentoring the next generation of nurses has become one of my greatest joys. Over the years, I have been honored with several awards, including the Carol Wilder Pitman Award, multiple Daisy Awards, the Mission Maker Award, and Jacksonville University’s Adjunct of the Year. These recognitions have been humbling reminders of the purpose and joy I find in serving others. Outside of work, I cherish time with my love, Allen, and our children—Ciana, TJ, Trevor, and Emilee. I enjoy fishing, racing, mud bogging, and driving my 1991 GMC drag truck. I am also committed to giving back to my community and volunteer regularly with Hubbard House in support of survivors and families in need. Caring for others—both within and beyond the hospital—continues to be the heart of everything I do.