CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – In Pennsylvania, red maple, black cherry, northern red oak, and sugar maple reign supreme in the lumber industry. In Clarion County, however, the name Sequoia is synonymous with a different kind of strength.
Over the last decade, Sequoia Henry has defined her own path through resilience and intellect, balancing the demands of raising two daughters with a rigorous medical education. That journey reached a definitive milestone last summer when she officially became a licensed nurse practitioner.
Sequoia trees can have roots that go upwards of 15 feet underground, but Henry’s might go 20 feet or more. She loves her native Clarion County, caring for people from here, and the unique camaraderie she’s established from aiding patients and families over the almost 15 years she has worked in healthcare. She’s seen her career go from primary care aide at a local nursing home to Certified Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) with Clarion Primary Care and Pediatrics. From time caring for our elderly populations, serving hospice patients, working in the emergency room, leading a nursing home nursing staff as a nursing manager, and now having her own patients to herself as a nurse practitioner, there’s been a great deal she’s seen as a healthcare professional. This well-rounded tool belt of hers continues to grow, and fortunately for those in Clarion County and beyond, she is accepting new patients of all ages.
“I’ve loved caring for my patients over the years, and am especially grateful and proud to serve them in this new role,” Henry told exploreClarion.com. “I really want the community to know how much pride I take in making sure I do my part to ensure people are cared for here.”
A 2012 graduate of Clarion-Limestone High School, Henry did not necessarily begin this journey thinking about serving others. She needed to support herself and her newborn baby, who is now already 11. But over time, healthcare became much more than a way to feed her family. It became a way to serve others, assist a community she cherishes, and make a genuine difference. Henry decided that after some time working in a nursing home, the next logical step was to apply to nursing school. She applied to Clarion University and was accepted into their Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program and finished it in 2018. Around a year later, she continued into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, which she finished in 2020. For over two years, she gained the experience needed to apply to become a nurse practitioner student, which she could also complete locally through Clarion University, which had taken on the Pennsylvania Western University Clarion name officially by this time.
Throughout her education, Henry balanced a full work schedule with her studies—a marathon that lasted from her first nursing courses until she passed her board exams last summer. As a mother of two, this grueling pace was a necessity to maintain her household while managing school, work, and the rising cost of childcare. Much of her social time with her daughters, family, and friends went by the wayside during those years. It wasn’t until this past fall that she felt she could truly reconnect with loved ones, as her clinical hours were behind her and she could focus on a more traditional 40- to 50-hour work week.
“I hope I’m showing my girls that they can be independent and that it can be a lesson where hard work can get them,” Henry noted. “I wanted to prove to myself and them that nearly anything can be achieved through hard work. The biggest regret I have about the last decade is the time I’ve missed and that my girls didn’t have the time or means to do a lot of organized activities. But that has ended as I now have more time for them, and they can soon pursue their interests a bit more.”
The three years of nurse practitioner school were some of the longest days of her life, as not only did she work three 12-hour shifts as a full-time nurse for an urgent care, but she also worked another 40-plus hours of clinical hours during that time to meet her hours and rotation requirements. An exhausting time to say the least, but she was rewarded with a job beginning this past fall with Clearfield-Jefferson Primary Care. It was a job that required her to travel to DuBois and Punxsutawney, but that all changed in January when Clarion opened an office called Clarion Primary Care and Pediatrics (formerly Brooks Medical Arts).
“I am forever indebted to them for taking a chance on me,” Henry shared. “It wasn’t as easy as expected to find a position because everyone was seeking a certain number of years of experience, but it’s hard to get experience if you don’t have that job beforehand. My colleagues have been amazing, and I have learned so much from learning with Dr. Roscoe, Dr. Brooks, and our wonderful nursing staff.”
Since January, she’s grown her patient amount and even made an impression on someone that they travel from their home in Clearfield County to Clarion County to see her as their primary care physician (PCP).
“That was probably one of the more meaningful moments I’ve had since becoming a nurse practitioner,” she shared. “Having someone tell me how much trust they have in me and that they will travel to me to be seen is something I don’t take for granted. I have a genuine sense of responsibility I feel towards this community and area. I enjoy living here and being a provider here.”
Rural healthcare unquestionably continues to be an issue in this country, and it is providers like Henry and her colleagues who choose to live in or travel to these rural areas to help people who provide hope.
“I try my best to be overly thorough and also allow patients to advocate for themselves,” Henry said. “I’m there to provide my professional expertise and recommendations, while also remaining empathetic. A blend of empathy and education goes a long way, in my experience. One other attribute I try to share is a little about myself, and there is no shame or judgment. I’ve had my share of struggles, so it’s not my place, just because I have gained experience, to shame anyone or judge them. I’m truly in this to help people and families.”
Henry’s education continues, though. Not only is each day an opportunity to learn, but she’s also studied to learn how to assist prospective truck drivers with their physicals. With her colleague, Dr. Tim Brooks, retiring in a matter of weeks, she hopes that in a few months she will be ready to aid prospective truck drivers in need of an examination before they hit the range to test for their license.
She also continues her service to geriatric patients, with her Tuesday afternoons spent helping residents from a local elderly folk’s home. However, she still has plenty of flexibility to meet the needs of those seeking a primary care physician.
Her hours are currently:
Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. to noon
Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
(Accommodations available between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. upon request)
“I really care about my patients. You never know what a few extra minutes with a patient can mean to them, especially our older population, who are often lonely and just want someone to talk with for a few minutes.”
Call 814-226-7651 or visit cjprimarycares.com to make Ms. Henry your provider or book an appointment.
