Grenadian-born nurse practitioner to launch groundbreaking healthcare initiative in Brooklyn

A highly-respected, Grenadian-born nurse practitioner is poised to launch a groundbreaking healthcare initiative in Brooklyn.

East Flatbush, Brooklyn resident Dr. Denise Romney, president and founder of Eastern Circle, Inc. (ECI), told Caribbean Life on Sunday that she will launch the major initiative on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 7 p.m., at Our Lady of Refuge Church Hall, 2020 Foster Ave., Brooklyn.

“ECI’s mission is clear: To educate individuals aged 18 and older in New York on health promotion, disease prevention and chronic disease management through evidence-based education information,” said Dr. Romney, a primary care provider and family nurse practitioner (FNP) at the sprawling Kings County Hospital (KCHC) in Brooklyn since 1996, stating that she had “an epiphany” while providing primary medical care to KCHC’s home-based patients, 65 years and older, in their home in 2021.

She said that insight led to the creation of ECI in October 2022, which aims to deliver health information to people in the underserved Eastern Brooklyn community, using various digital platforms, including social media.

“We are partnering with local stakeholders, educational institutions and community leaders,” said Dr. Romney, disclosing that ECI plans to organize workshops in colleges, adult centers, churches, community events, local community boards, barber shops and beauty salons in the second and third years.

“The goal is to empower people towards better health management and wellness, with the knowledge and skills acquired to become health educators, creating a ripple effect that benefits the community and beyond,” she added.

Moving into the fourth and fifth years, Dr. Romney said ECI envisions expanding regionally and globally, conducting health fairs and seminars throughout the United States, the Caribbean and African communities.

“The focus will be on health promotion, disease prevention and chronic disease management,” she said.

In the next 5-10 years, Dr. Romney said ECI plans to establish a learning center in Kings County, contributing to educational and community development, with the aim of mentoring nurse practitioners and nurses in healthcare management and community outreach.

She said the proposed learning center will provide evidence-based health information and healthcare classes accredited by the New York State Education Department.

Beyond the initial phase, Dr. Romney said ECI envisions that the learning center would become “a hub for healthcare education and innovation, addressing the growing demand for community health wellness, quality better health outcomes, and skilled professionals in Kings County and surrounding areas.”

As ECI president, Dr. Romney she and an integrated team of nurse practitioners, nurses and medical doctors are poised to lead this charge.

She said their realistic and achievable goals align with “a commitment to community development and empowerment, anticipating a positive impact on the local workforce and healthcare sector.”

Dr. Romney said they plan to collaborate with local stakeholders, educational institutions and community leaders to achieve these goals, and will seek donations, organize fundraising events and apply for grants to support their initiatives.

With 39 years of dedicated service, Dr. Romney said she has navigated a distinguished career, “triumphing over challenges in racial integration and school re-zoning in the 1970s.”

Her academic journey includes an Associate of Science in Nursing in 1985 from Borough of Manhattan Community College; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1992 from State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn; and an Advanced Certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 1996 and a Master of Science in Nursing in 1997 – both from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.

In 2019, Dr. Romney achieved the pinnacle of her academic journey with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah.

Her professional trajectory has been marked by various roles, including being a registered staff nurse (RN) at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and University Hospital from 1985 to 1987, and the adjacent KCHC from 1987 to 1996.

Dr. Romney served as a head nurse in the Emergency Department at KCHC from 1992 to 1996, culminating in her current position at KCHC.

For further information, call Dr. Romney at (347) 424-9547.