Biography of Dwan Kelsey

Nurse Practitioner, Dwan Kelsey has worked in the medical field for fourteen (14) years.  In preparation for her career, Kelsey obtained a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Winston Salem State University in 1993.  She continued her education by obtaining a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Duke University in 1999.  Kelsey's specialty was Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Oncology.

Kelsey began her career as a Registered Nurse (RN) at WakeMed.  She later became the Diabetes Resource Coordinator at WakeMed and WakeMed Rehabilitation Center in Raleigh, NC.   As Resource Coordinator, Kelsey’s primary responsibility was to educate patients and families on diabetes. She has also worked as a Nurse Practitioner at Cary Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Kelsey's expertise in her field led to a career in education.  She served as a faculty member at the University of Chapel Hill’s School of Nursing in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  While teaching at UNC, Kelsey led research studies on the Effectiveness of Biofeedback in Urinary Incontinence in Women.  Her work was published in the Journal of Clinical Urology Self-Monitoring and Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises to Treat Urinary Incontinence, Urologic Nursing (2005).  Kelsey has also taught at Durham Technical Community College (DTCC).

Kelsey's forte is working with diabetes patients. Her focus is on issues associated with the effects of diabetes on the body, complications from the medical condition, and medical medicinal management in her clients.  Kelsey utilizes various treatments, such as fitness and nutrition, to help her clients empower themselves and to help them overcome diabetes obstacles in their lives.

Further, Kelsey works with family members of diabetics.  Specifically, she educates members of the patient's family on how to care for a loved one with diabetes; she assists the family with short-term and long-term emotional effects of diabetes; and she helps family members with educational resources to care for diabetics. "When one of my family members lost his life to diabetes, I knew immediately I had to educate people and the society on this medical condition,” says Kelsey. True to her passion, Kelsey opened one of the first clinics on diabetes and education located in North Carolina. wellLife Diabetes and Educational Resource Center is located in Raleigh, NC.

Kelsey's motto in life: "Find a way or make one. God has given each of us a purpose in life.  We must always position ourselves to receive those things that are for us.  Positioning ourselves may become very challenging; but we have to believe that whatever God puts us through, He will carry us through it."

Kelsey is a member of the American Diabetes Association, Carolina Minority Female Healthcare Network, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.  She is a former officer of the Triangle Chapter of Nurse Practitioners.  Kelsey is also a former radio host.  She anchored Lifetime Health, a one hour weekly broadcast.  The program featured physicians discussing health issues related to the community.

Dwan Kelsey is married to Richard Kelsey.  The couple has a daughter named Ashe’.