Shara Short, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC has worked in the mental health field since 2004 as a group home counselor, behavioral health technician, registered nurse and as nursing professor. She began working as a nurse practitioner in mental health in 2020. She holds licensures in Virginia and Maryland as a Licensed Family Nurse Practitioner Board Certified and Licensed Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Board Certified.  She enjoys working with children, adolescents, women's health and adults as she assists them to navigate their mental health journey. She has worked as an Adjunct Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and Bryant & Stratton College and has begun to regularly provide precept nurse practitioners students.  Shara offers a holistic approach to patient centered care, where the patient is the driver of their journey. She hopes to help bridge the gap in patient care and offer support to those who need it the most. In her spare time, Shara is a dedicated community servant. For the past seven years, she has volunteered as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, fostering growth and leadership in young girls. Shara’s philosophy of care is inspired by the words of Maya Angelou, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." This quote encapsulates her deeply compassionate approach to mental health care and those she serves.