FROM the modest streets of Seaview Gardens in Kingston to metropolitan New York in the United States, nurse practitioner and entrepreneur Jillianne McKay Burrell is making waves.

Her inspiring journey to become a healthcare professional, business owner, mentor, and advocate for healthcare equity, is a testament to perseverance and purpose.

“There were a lot of challenges. You know, it exposed me to the realities of life. However, I am very appreciative of my humble beginnings. It has strengthened me and created a foundation in which I live my life through hard work and determination,” she said.

“I faced challenges and struggles financially, but I knew that I wanted to make a difference, to be a professional, and these experiences shaped my determination and my drive, pushing me forward in education. Now, I am a nurse practitioner.”

Interestingly, nursing was not McKay Burrell’s first career choice.

“To be honest with you, in Jamaica growing up, my ambition was to be a teacher. In primary school, you are so impressed by your teachers; they are your role models. I got into Mico Teachers College and was supposed to start in September, but I came to America to visit for the summer and decided to stay and go to college here instead,” she related.

“I told my aunt that I was registered in college to be a teacher, and she said, ‘No, these children in America are not like Jamaica, they are very difficult to teach. Why don’t you go into nursing’?”

Her aunt, a healthcare worker herself, introduced her to the world of nursing, explaining the benefits and career prospects.

“She talked about the pay and the money and got me excited, and I said, ‘Alright, I’ll go there,” she laughed.

McKay Burrell believes that her path was guided by a higher power. She feels that her aunt’s advice was part of a larger plan and looking back, she can see how everything fell into place.

Nursing, she believes, was her true calling. She is deeply passionate about it, and in addition to her work as a nurse practitioner, she also teaches. With a master’s degree in education, she feels that, in a way, she continues to fulfil her original teaching aspirations.

As she looks ahead, McKay Burrell envisions her role evolving into one that involves collaboration with local healthcare professionals. She is interested in working with the Government to improve healthcare access, particularly for residents in communities like the one in which she grew up.

“I want to bridge the gap between healthcare professionals in Jamaica and create opportunities for better healthcare for underserved communities,” she said.

In her view, managing chronic illnesses and emphasising preventive care are essential to improving public health. She believes that education is key, particularly when it comes to raising awareness about the dangers of smoking, the importance of screenings like breast cancer checks, and the early detection of chronic illnesses.

Embodying the entrepreneurial spirit and mindset for which Jamaicans are known, McKay Burrell saw an opportunity, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to create a scrub line that would provide stylish, comfortable and affordable uniforms for healthcare workers, who were under a lot of stress.

She believed that presenting themselves well could positively impact patients. Looking good, she felt, gave both the healthcare workers and patients a sense of positivity.

JMckay Collection has since gained international recognition, and she has sold scrubs to people from all over the world.

“The [response] is profound. I have received overwhelmingly positive feedback. People tell me they love the durability and the stylish look of the scrubs. It helps boost their confidence. When you look good, you do good. That’s my philosophy,” she said.

Even with her success, McKay Burrell remains committed to giving back.

“Through JMcKay Collection, I provide scholarships for nursing students. Right now, I have one student from my alma mater, José Martí Technical High School, but my goal is to expand. The student I sponsor is so smart; she got all her subjects and got into Northern Caribbean University to study nursing. It is a great feeling to be able to do that, and I want to do more,” she noted.

Her long-term vision includes expanding scholarships to the Seaview Gardens community where she grew up.

For young Jamaicans who dream of entering the nursing profession but do not know where to begin, McKay Burrell’s advice is to start small.

She suggests pursuing different levels of nursing, such as becoming a certified nursing assistant, licensed practical nurse, or registered nurse – one step at a time.

She encourages seeking scholarships, volunteering in hospitals, and staying persistent, emphasising that challenges should not deter them.