Carly A. Clare, APRN

Carly Clare, MSN, ARNP, NP-C, doesn't remember exactly when she became interested in medicine.

"But it's the perfect profession for me because I love to learn, challenge myself and improve the lives of others," she said.

Personal tragedy led Clare to specialize in cardiology – her uncle died after suffering a heart attack at age 43. Now a nurse practitioner with Methodist Physicians Clinic, she strives to partner with patients to create individualized prevention and treatment plans.

"I want my patients to know I'll always treat them as I would my own family member," she said. "I'll be honest with them, and I'll listen to them. I'll work alongside them to make the best health care decisions we can."

Clare has several favorite moments in her career, but they share a common thread.

"It's the relationships I built with patients and their families that I remember most," she said. "I remember the mother I got to know when her son had a stroke, the wife of a transplant recipient and the family of the patient with a new cancer diagnosis. I learned all about their lives, their beliefs and their fears ñ and I used that information to help them understand the diagnosis and treatment, how it fit into their lives, and the options they had."

When she's not working, Clare enjoys spending her free time with her husband and children. Her hobbies include exercise, travel and gardening.