Sarah's Story

I am a doctorate level pediatric nurse practitioner with a specialization in pediatric oncology. My passion is educating others about medicinal cannabis and how its implementation may enhance ones health and wellness, specifically in complex pediatric medical scenarios like cancer, epilepsy, autism, and more! My skillset is not limited to just pediatrics. I provide medical cannabis education through a family centered approach. I teach individuals of all ages how to harness the power of cannabis to heal their unique ailments through a safe and effective balance of modern medicine and holistic care.

If you would have told me 15 years ago that my nursing career would lead me to educating others about the medicinal benefits of cannabis, I would have said you are CRAZY! Growing up in the 90's I  believed the propaganda that marajuana is the "Devil's lettuce" and has no therapeutic benefits, only dangerously addictive properties....let me tell you my story.

About 15 years ago, I graduated with my Bachelors of Science in Nursing from California State University, Bakersfield. I immediately specialized in pediatrics at Children's Hospital Colorado. I worked there a couple years caring for children with epilepsy, traumatic brain injuries, complex orthopedic procedures and more, before becoming a travel nurse. I completed contracts at a variety of world renowned hospitals such as Lucile Packard's Children's Hospital at Stanford and Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, as well as smaller community hospitals like Bakersfield Memorial Hospital.  These experiences influenced my strong skillset for complex pediatric care.

I eventually made my way to Minnesota for a summer contract at Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota. This was supposed to be a short and sweet assignment. But it was here in the Twin Cities where I met my husband and decided Minnesota would be a great place to grow new roots. I then worked in a pediatric cardiovascular ICU for about 5 years while simultaneously pursuing my doctorate degree at the University of Minnesota. 

With my doctorate in hand, I began specializing in pediatric hematology and oncology... stronger emphasis on the oncology side. I work with an amazing team of providers and I am lucky to still be working with them today. Through a family centered approach, I help manage the medical care of children with cancer throughout their oncology journey, from diagnosis to survivor, and at times, end of life. While my negative view of medical cannabis had slowly settled down over the years, it was around the start of this journey that I began to understand the medical benefits. As I'm sure you are aware, chemotherapy can be debilitating, but for a shot at survival, chemotherapy sure is worth it. My job is to safely implement a chemotherapy regime while mitigating side effects, complications, and promoting outcomes. I began to certify qualifying children for medical cannabis, as its ability to manage pain, nausea and appetite was a fantastic addition to my tool box. However, after providing certification and telling families about its benefits, I didn't have much more guidance to provide. Neither did my colleagues. Families would ask questions like, "Where do I purchase it?" "What exactly should I purchase?" "How should I administer it to my child?" "How do I know how much to give?" "Do I need to worry about medication interactions?".  And so. Many. More. Questions.... I grew frustrated... How are we, as medical providers, who are educated, and credentialed to certify patients for medical cannabis, unable to give concrete guidance about this therapeutic option? 

I began to dig deep, starting with Dr. Google, of course. I quickly learned of the American Cannabis Nurses Association (ACNA). WHAT!? A national nursing organization for WEED? And even better, its an organization officially recognized and supported by the American Nurses Association (for those wondering what that means....it means it is LEGIT). I quickly became a member. Through the ACNA I found a plethora of resources. I joined the Holistic Caring Network, a cannabis health education platform, led by Elisabeth Mack and Sheri Mack. I was interested in joining their Cannabis Nurse Health Coaching (CNHC) Program; however, I had some hesitancy as I didn't quite understand what it entailed, but I signed up with their Mighty Nurse network just because I could.

It was while I was traveling for an Onco-Fertility Conference in Detroit, that I got a push notification through the Mighty App for a CNHC Mastermind Zoom session. I was in my hotel room, winding down for the evening, and decided to join the session. I logged in. I was the first participant to arrive online. I heard Sheri and Elisabeth discussing, "who is Sarah Slater? She is not a student. Sarah, are you there?". I was subtly embarrassed. I didn't know this session was for paying members only. I introduced myself and explained my interests. I was thrilled when Sheri and Elisabeth suggested I continue to observe the meeting and learn what their program is all about. This interaction FUELED my motivation.

While flying home from Detroit the next day, I finished up listening to a podcast episode called Cannabis & cancer: interview with holistic cannabis practitioner Janice Newell Bissex. The episode was so informative and interesting. I enjoyed the podcast so much. I wanted MORE. I wanted to learn. I wanted to teach. I wanted to fully immerse myself. But, I was finding so many resources and routes. How do I know which has the most potential and is worth my time and money? 

The plane was about to take off when I randomly decided to email Janice. What have I got to lose? She could think I'm a weirdo and ignore me, or maybe I will get a helpful response. Less than 24 hours later, we had a phone call scheduled for that same day, and she happily led me to evidence-based cannabis resources, as well as wonderful reputable cannabis physicians like Dustin Sulak (he is incredible) and Bonnie Goldstein (Shout out to Bonnie! I'm obsessed with her educational resources). I obtained multiple Cannabis certifications including Dustin Sulak's Healer Medical Cannabis Wellness Advisor Training, Goldstein Wellness' Medical Cannabis Essentials Advanced Practitioner Course, and Holistic Caring's Cannabis Nurse Health Coach Certification Program.

This was the beginning of my medicinal cannabis journey. I am so grateful for the warm welcome the cannabis community continually provides to me and others. This is a community passionate about embracing others who want to learn and make waves in the medical cannabis community to help others reach their optimal wellness goals.

I want to do the same for you! Through education and implementation support, I will guide you in your cannabis journey to access its medicinal properties and achieve balance with your health and wellness goals.

With Gratitude,

Sarah