Akira C. Barnes, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC

I have always felt compelled to serve. I chose to become an advanced practice provider because I wanted to do more for my patients and support them from a different perspective. Becoming a provider gives me a sense of purpose—something I feel called to do. Given the existing disparities, I also chose this path to help address gaps in care within my own community in Eastern North Carolina. My philosophy of care is to treat everyone with dignity and respect and to provide care to them like I would treat my very own family. My approach to patient care is more of what I call holistic. I love the idea of treating the whole patient and not just a piece of them. Areas of special interest include holistic health care and approaches to effectively treating the whole patient using evidence-based guidelines. I am also interested in highlighting preventive care, emphasizing lifestyle changes, and continuing to educate myself to better reach patients who are interested in alternative medicine. Additionally, I hope to find ways to connect with underserved populations and help make healthcare more accessible to them. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family. I enjoy cooking and baking. I love music, singing, and ministry. I also like planning and hosting events for family and friends.