In honor of Black Nurses Week July 27 – 31, we are featuring team member stories to highlight the contributions of Black nurses in the communities we serve.
LaMetriss Dewberry knew from a young age she would end up in healthcare because of her love of helping people.
Born and raised in Tyler, she attended Griffin Elementary School, Dogan Middle School and graduated from John Tyler High School before attending Tyler Junior College to become a licensed vocational nurse (LVN).
“When I started I was a nurse in the float pool, meaning I had the opportunity to work everywhere. I had new challenges and got to meet new patients,” she said.
A lifelong learner, she went on to earn her associate degree in nursing at TJC while working as an LVN. She then worked as a staff nurse and a charge nurse on the neurology unit at UT Health Tyler before transitioning from bedside nursing to clinical documentation, making sure that medical documentation is accurate.
Six years ago, she took a job as a case manager with HealthFirst TPA, a division of UT Health East Texas, helping patients navigate everything from pre-certification authorization to post-treatment follow-up care questions.
“They can pick up the phone and call me with any question. I’m there to be a resource to them,
Dewberry said. “I treat my patients just like my family. I call them and ask how they’ve been. I treat them all the same, no matter their walk of life. I believe everyone is special in their own way.”
As someone who “likes to navigate new things,” Dewberry ultimately continued her schooling to become an RN and earn her bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), and she’s currently working on obtaining her Master in Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree.
“Being a part of this organization has helped me further my education because of reimbursement,” Dewberry said. “I feel like the more you know the more you grow. I can’t pour into anybody if I don’t have anything to pour in.”
That penchant for learning runs in the family. Dewberry’s daughter, LaKecia Beasley, is among the inaugural class at The University of Texas at Tyler’s School of Medicine.
“It has been the most awesome journey,” Dewberry said of watching her daughter’s educational journey. “Early on in high school she said I want to be a doctor. She likes to help people, she likes to troubleshoot.”
Dewberry herself is somewhat of a troubleshooter, working to bring a positive impact to the health system as a member of the UT Health East Texas Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council.
“It gives me purpose because I can see the changes from when we first started,” she said. “We are representative of our community. You have to know and understand our community if you want to take care of the community.”
Dewberry said she is especially passionate about educating the African-American community about the importance of understanding and navigating the healthcare system to help bridge the gap in healthcare disparities. One of the ways she gives back to the community outside of work is through membership in the Texas Northeast #2 Nursing Unit, which serves as a resource for area churches by conducting health fairs and educational seminars as well as offering support for families.
“It is really important to me be a great tangible representative and resource for the African-American community,” she said.