ABOUT | GEOFFREY MCGOWEN
Geoff McGowen lives in the Lexington, Kentucky area, where he works within the University of Kentucky’s Department of Emergency Medicine. At this noted academic center of excellence, he plans to further his clinical and academic training in a progressive environment which fosters advanced education, while also bolstering his experience in the clinical and research fields. He is in a unique position to assist during the ongoing opiate and COVID-19 crises as well as intake and treatment of many regional Psychiatric, Medical, Surgical, and Trauma affected patients, as the University of Kentucky HealthCare system is the major referral hospital for the region.
UK HealthCare is the network of hospitals and clinics under the University of Kentucky’s umbrella. It functions as the premiere health network in the area due to the hard work of over 9,000 physicians, Nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals, all of whom are dedicated to providing the most advanced and effective care available anywhere. Learn more about UK HealthCare here.
Extensive Educational Background
In 1998 at Jones County Junior College in south Mississippi, he received his Associate degree in Nursing. He later earned his bachelor’s degree in Nursing at Winston-Salem State University, followed by his masters as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the prestigious University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Most recently, he has earned his second national Board Certification as an Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP-C) in addition to maintaining his Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) certification through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). He has maintained his very first specialty Board Certification as a Certified Emergency Nurse since 2000 while working as a Emergency Department Registered Nurse at hospitals throughout many EDs in the Mississippi and Tennessee regions, including the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Adult Emergency Department and Trauma Center as well as within several EDs in the Memphis, Tennessee area since 1999. He maintains all requisite certifications for BLS, PALS, ACLS, and ATLS as well as being a certified Medical Examiner for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. He also holds multi-state licensure as a Nurse Practitioner.
Offering Treatment for Acute and Chronic Health Conditions in Emergency Settings
Previously, Geoffrey McGowen worked with Saint Thomas, a not-for-profit health system based in Nashville, Tennessee, as well as various Emergency Medicine Services Partner staffing companies to serve patients at the Erlanger EDs in Chattanooga, Tennessee in addition to several regional rural EDs in the region including his work as a sole Emergency provider at a rural Critical Access Hospital.
He served patients and families through the established Emergency Departments of:
· Full-time at the Saint Thomas River Park Hospital in McMinnville, Tennessee with American Physician Partners as well as with Middle Tennessee Emergency Physicians upon their takeover of the ED management.
· Part-Time in the Emergency Department at CHI Memorial Hospital, a not-for-profit, faith-based hospital in north Georgia.
· Part-Time at the Erlanger East and Main Hospitals in Chattanooga, Tenn. with ApolloMD.
· Part-Time with American Physician Partners with Tennova Healthcare, serving the community of Shelbyville, Tenn. and the surrounding areas in addition to the Critical Access Hospital (Cumberland River) located in Celina, TN prior to its closure.
Quality Care Resulting from a Wealth of Professional Experience in Diverse Situations
Geoff enjoys expanding his knowledge beyond the basics so he can apply his knowledge and skill to treat a wide range of patients to tackle diverse and complex cases. His past experience includes serving as a leading staff member of the only tertiary-care Level One Trauma Center in the state of Mississippi, working as a full-time Emergency Department RN at the renowned WakeMed Health System in Raleigh, NC, excelling as a Helicopter Flight Nurse in the North Mississippi & Memphis, TN regions and serving as an in-patient Nurse Practitioner for a Trauma-Surgery service in South Carolina.
Additionally, he also worked part-time with Healthcare Staffing companies in rural areas of South Carolina, providing coverage as an out-patient rural-based Primary Care Practitioner at 4 separate Federally Qualified Health Clinics. He volunteered as a Mass Vaccinator following the 2015 floods in South Carolina as well as a Mass Vaccinator with the University of Kentucky during the initial phases of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in late 2020 and into 2021.
Dedication to the Field Through Active Engagement with Professional Nursing Associations
In this stage of his career, Geoff is interested in supporting and partnering with nursing organizations that focus on progressive and continued education for advancements in the field of Nursing. He actively engages with professional organizations that align with the values and objectives of his specialty, showcasing his dedication to advancing the field:
American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners (AAENP)
Geoff is an esteemed member of the AAENP, an organization renowned for setting the highest standards in Advanced Practice Emergency Nursing. Demonstrating his commitment, he volunteered as one of two co-state representatives for Kentucky over the past two years. Geoff also attended the AAENP national conference in 2023, hosted at Hofstra University on Long Island, NY.
Kentucky Association of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Mid-Wives (KCNPNM)
Since relocating to Kentucky, Geoff actively contributes to the Kentucky Association of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Mid-Wives. This state organization plays a pivotal role in legislation matters and serves as a valuable resource for practicing Nurse Practitioners and Midwives within Kentucky. Geoff was honored to present at their annual conference held in the spring of 2022 in Covington, KY, focusing on the education and professional development of Nurse Practitioners and Midwives in the state.
Looking Ahead with an Eye to Putting His Knowledge to Practical Use
His approach to wellness is informed not only by his extensive educational background but by his long career serving patients and tackling a diversity of cases from his early days in the medical-surgical ward to serving as the primary health provider for rural community health centers and family practice clinics. Since his start at the University of Kentucky, he has begun hosting student learners for clinical observation and precepted rotations to bolster the clinical education of Nurse Practitioners from various graduate schools in the region.
In every stage of his career, Geoff has emphasized how community and health together are crucial to patient outcomes.
If you have a question for Geoffrey McGowen or wish to speak with him, you may do so by using the contact form to reach out.