Author - Speaker - Educator
DEBRA PALMER, PhD
A journey through trauma, healing, and the quiet power of compassion
Meet Dr. Debra Palmer
Debra Palmer, PhD, Family Nurse Practitioner, is the author of Between Wounded and Well: Lessons in Healing, a memoir. Her collaboration with the medical community significantly contributed to pioneering the role of orthopedic nurse practitioner while advancing health care practices and improving healthcare outcomes.
Her work under Dr. Vincent Felitti, co-author of the landmark Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study, profoundly influenced her approach to understanding and facilitating the healing process. She is a graduate of the College of St. Scholastica where she earned a BS in Nursing and the University of San Diego where she earned a master’s degree and dual doctorate degrees, a DNP and PhD in Nursing.
She is a transplant from the Mid-West, residing in Northern California with her husband near their adult children and grandchildren where she enjoys hiking and gardening.
It is my honor to recommend Between Wounded and Well: Lessons in Healing to all who seek a deeper understanding of trauma, recovery, and the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. It will inspire those still navigating their own journeys from wounded to well.”
– Vincent J. Felitti, MD, Co- investigator of The Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Study, CA
Between Wounded and Well: Lessons in Healing
In a world where trauma and adversity touch all our lives, Between Wounded and Well: Lessons in Healing, arrives as both balm and beacon. This debut book by Debra Palmer, PhD, doesn’t just tell the story of her journey from wounded to healer. Her transformative memoir offers a roadmap for anyone traveling the same path.
Using the four stages of physical wound healing as a metaphor for emotional, psychological, and spiritual recovery, she offers a scientific yet deeply personal framework for understanding how trauma can become the foundation for purpose and compassion.
This isn’t just another memoir about overcoming obstacles; it’s a transformative exploration of how our deepest wounds can become doorways to purpose, meaning, and connection. For readers who have ever wondered if their broken places can ever truly heal, Palmer’s answer is a resounding, hope-filled yes.
Hear from Debra Palmer
Dr. Palmer shares what inspired her debut memoir, Between Wounded and Well, and the powerful lessons it offers on healing, resilience, and transformation.
Featured Interviews
Dr. Palmer has been featured on several podcasts and interviews discussing trauma, resilience, and the power of healing.
Questions?
Have something on your mind? Whether it’s about the book, a shared story, or a media request, Debra would love to hear from you.