Doctor Debra Palmer, debut author of “ Between Wounded and Well: Lessons in Healing” is an esteemed nurse practitioner and trailblazer. With a distinguished career spanning four decades, she has dedicated her professional life to advancing health care practices and improving patient outcomes. Palmer earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth, MN, and furthered her education at the University of San Diego where she trained as a nurse practitioner and earned a clinical and research doctorate degree in Nursing.

Throughout her extensive career, Doctor Palmer made significant contributions pioneering the role of orthopedic nurse practitioner, the subject of her dissertation. The work of Dr. Vincent Felitti, co-author of the landmark Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) study, profoundly influenced her approach to understanding and facilitating the healing process. Prior to retirement, she served as faculty for Azusa Pacific University, teaching aspiring Nurse Practitioners. Her most recent endeavor as a Nurse Practitioner utilizes her skill set as a clinician, consultant, advocate and educator in her business promoting wellness.

Doctor Palmer is nationally certified as both a Family and Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner and she has been a lifelong member of professional organizations dedicated to nursing practice, serving in leadership at local and state levels. Her Nurse Practitioner peers awarded her the California Nurse Practitioner Bridging Health Care Needs Award and her employer recognized her with their Everyday Hero Award for her volunteer service to indigenous communities in Guatemala and the David Lawrence Community Service Award for her participation in the Ray Kay Community Clinic Fellowship. During the COVID 19 epidemic she served her local city council as chair of the Senior Citizen Advisory Commission. 

Originally from Duluth, MN, she now lives in northern California with her husband near her adult children and grandchildren, where she enjoys hiking and gardening. Doctor Palmer’s legacy continues to inspire and impact the field of nursing and healthcare.