Rising Stars: Meet Tajuana Lordeus of Clayton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tajuana Lordeus.

Hi Tajuana, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a young girl, I knew I wanted to help others live fuller and healthier lives. I often dreamed of residing in far-flung parts of the world serving as a missionary doctor. Then as I progressed in my education, my mother became acquainted with a physician assistant while I was in high school and was able to arrange an interview for me with him so I could learn more about this profession – Physician Assistant – that I had never heard of!

I became a physician assistant in 2002 in Michigan, however, I was able to arrange to have my last rotation in Wilson, NC as my mom had moved to this lovely state of North Carolina while I was in graduate school at Central Michigan University. Upon graduating, I was able to gain employment with the Johnston County Public Health Department in Smithfield, NC as my first position out of school. I greatly enjoyed the population served and the staff immensely. I loved the variety of work this first job provided with women’s health, pediatrics, epidemiology, primary care, and even stints caring for the needs of inmates at the local county jail. After leaving this job for more challenging work and professional growth, I began working at Cape Fear Valley Express Care in Fayetteville, NC. This experience added a wealth of professional experience in that the work was very rewarding and a constant learning opportunity. It was my first time working with such a truly diverse community, our staff alone had individuals from the Lumbee populations, the island of the Philippines, and connections to the military community.

Fast forward through years of working in urgent care, primary care and even emergency medicine, I now have been in the behavioral health/psychiatry specialty for many years. I regularly coach my peers to better address needs of patients and medical teams, provide mentorship to those interested in the PA profession, serve on two boards – the Lawrence Technological University PA program board and the nccPA Health Foundation board. I also love to participate in community events, panels, and provide my expertise wherever I am needed both on faith-based platforms and local community and business opportunities.

In 2015, I created a business entity called Health Education and Lifestyle Programs, LLC where I have been able to teach hundreds of people how to perform the lifesaving skill of CPR, how to use the AED machine, and how to recognize and address some life-threatening medical conditions. I have been an American Red Cross instructor since 2015 and use their curriculum to provide this education to various groups. I also do guest lecturing to students and groups on various health topics. I find great fulfillment in educating others about various health observances throughout the year such as Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in July, etc.

I have also been able to work part-time at a small psychiatry practice called Mindology which is owned by Dorine Martin and Levi Richardson, where I treat mild to moderate mental illness. This brings me great joy because I can directly partner with patients in a very relaxed environment and incorporate psychotherapy through the expertise of staff counselors to add to patient’s care as needed. It is amazing to see patients released from trauma and mood disturbances and able to walk on a path that is brighter and clearer.

After having a milestone birthday recently, I am looking forward to doing more teaching and mentoring. I am also moving towards getting more consistent with my own wellness journey. I love the blessing of being able to have a family and career that have both been very rewarding over the years!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it has not been a smooth road. There have been times when I did not feel supported, valued, or included in some of my work and personal settings. As a result, these experiences continue to fuel my love for learning. I try to read multiple books per year, I regularly receive emails and journals to stay current on changes in the medical field. I also attend a few conferences and formal educational sessions annually. Recently, my goal has been to listen to a news broadcast and to read an unbiased news update more frequently during the week so I can stay knowledgeable about current events.

To continue my learning curve and to validate my ability to have a ‘seat at the table’, I went back to school after being out of the academic setting for many years. I obtained my Doctor of Medical Science Degree with an emphasis in psychiatry in 2022 from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. This academic experience allowed me to see how learning platforms have changed from when I went to school years ago. It also opened networking opportunities and provided a better understanding of medicine and business principles.

I am a curious person, so I feel so honored when I can have engagements with people who have a different background or perspective on certain topics so I can to pour into having a growth mindset of always being open to new understandings in life.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I provide coaching to medical providers to ensure they are providing patients with evidence based medicine options that have been proven to improve health outcomes and reduce readmissions to hospital care. I also provide education and feedback to my peers in the behavioral health speciality, facilitate discussions about difficult to manage patients, and in general try to be resource to those who need my expertise.

I love acknowledging the varied experiences that others bring to the table. I flourish with opportunities to collaborate and bring to life visions that improve the health and wellbeing of our communities.

I am very proud of being a business owner of Health Education and Lifestyle Programs, LLC since 2015, providing education and certification to those who may otherwise find this particular health and lifesaving content inaccessible. Additionally, over the last two years, I have expanded my professional imprint by being a guest speaker at several national conferences providing content on mental health topics and providing my expertise as a guest on multiple podcasts..

I am also extremely proud to have written two children’s book based on my son’s life growing up in North Carolina as a little brown boy. The books were created during a season of significant racial unrest in our county and I wanted to bridge the gap by creating literature that shows how similar many of our experiences and perspectives can be. I also realize that representation in all spaces is very important for marginalized and underrepresented communities, so having a book that shares colorful content about a brown boy’s life was my contribution to the literary spaces.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My mother Anita Alexander first and then my spouse Jean Lordeus secondly deserves the most credit because they have encouraged me in each of the phases of my life that were difficult and required extra support and encouragement. My mom was able to facilitate my learning of a very rewarding career when I didn’t know anyone actively a part of the medical community. My husband has been able to provide insight in the areas of technology and business where I lacked expertise and as a result has been able to strengthen my skills in many of these areas.

Pricing:

• Wishbone Photography

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.help4community.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tajuana3/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HELP4Community
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tajuana-lordeus-dmsc-pa-c-caq-psychiatry-b0202511/
• Other: https://a.co/d/c5zvZdt