Health Council welcomes Debra Lehr to nursing board
The American Health Council welcomed Debra DeHass Lehr, MSN, CNM, FNP-BC to its nursing board. Lehr has spent the last 15 years in the health-care industry and the last two of those years building the community impact of Grace Family Practice, her own private practice, specializing in family practice, midwifery, Department of Transportation and bioidentical hormone therapy services.
As a Christian health-care provider, Lehr strives to improve every patients' health: mind, body and spirit.
After an established career as a stock analyst and financial advisor on Wall Street, Lehr's altruistic passion flourished when she returned to Ohio to help manage the family's 300-bed nursing home in Ohio. After five years at the family nursing home, Lehr followed in her grandmother's footsteps to become a professional nurse.
Family guidance as well as a love of patient interaction prompted Lehr to pursue a nursing degree so she could continue helping others. Determined to continue her grandmother's legacy of excellent patient care, Lehr earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Akron University in 2009, followed by a Master of Science in nursing at Case Western Reserve University in 2011.
She then went on to pursue certification in neonatal resuscitation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, advanced life support in obstetrics, DOT physicals and bioidentical hormone therapy.
Lehr received recognition including the Outstanding Woman Scholar Award, the Ann Van Blaricom Falor Scholarship in Nursing and the Helene Fuld Health Trust Scholarship in Nursing.
She has been honored by the Ohio Health Care Association for Commitment to Excellence, demonstrating outstanding contributions to residents and for achieving personal excellence in the profession of long-term care. She continues to excel in her professional career among her peers as well.
Lehr maintains professional associations with the International Honor Society of Nursing: Sigma Theta Tau, National Leadership Honor Society: Omicron Delta Kappa, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses.
Lehr started Grace Family Practice in 2015. She strives to offer patient education and disease prevention while encouraging patients to lead healthier lifestyles. Over the next five years, Lehr will continue to expand her practice while helping more patients and gaining new experiences in the process.
Outside of her private practice, she travels to Guatemala for medical mission trips annually and donates resources to the Share-A-Christmas, American Heart Association, Feed My Starving Children, Relief Bus of New York City, American Cancer Society and World Vision.
In her spare time she loves to sing, enjoy the fine arts and travel the world, expanding her global perspective.
The American Health Council strives to provide recognition and support for those individuals and institutions making the difference in patients' lives. Throughout 2017 the AHC is honoring American Best Doctors and Nurses as well as the nation's best medical universities and hospitals.
The AHC's Best in Medicine and Best in Nursing awards programs honor the individuals and institutions that have contributed significantly to medicine and nursing as well as the training and education of physicians and nurses. The most current selections for these honors may be viewed at www.bestinmedicine.org and www.bestinnursing.org.