Meet Stefanie Leyden, DNP, APRN, FNP-C/Owner at Collaborative Medical Alternatives. (collabmedalternatives.com)

Tell us a little about your business. – Collaborative Medical Alternatives (CMA) is a mix of traditional family medicine and holistic alternatives. We strive to customize treatment plans for a variety of conditions. CMA offers services like PRP, bio-identical hormone replacement, natural weight loss options and we are the only clinic in Lincoln offering Sofwave.

How did you get started in the business? – I’ve been a nurse for 22 years and after completing my doctorate degree, I decided to take matters into my own hands offer the services that patients expressed interest in but reported “it was so hard to find.”

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – Getting community awareness without an expansive advertising budget.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? – Starting a clinic as a solo female professional without the use of investors. Of course, bringing a device to town that one else has is important to me too.

Tell us a little about your family. – My husband Daniel and I have a 17 year old son, a seven year old daughter and a two year old foster son. They are our biggest accomplishment as a family and we love spending time with them.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – Going to grad school (for the second…and then third time) made it possible to go from employee to business owner. It isn’t necessary to be a provider to own a clinic but I wanted to be.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Ideally, go to the gym and get a massage but the reality is, I don’t have any days off so I don’t do either of those.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I’m ambidextrous.

Who inspires you? – My parents. They are business owners so I had good models. My husband, he is also a business owner. Every one of my mom-friends who juggle a career, their children, homeschooling, activities, managing a household and look amazing doing it.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – “Work ON your business, not IN it.”

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Resilient.

If you could have a super power, what would it be? – To teleport.

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? – Artsy things: decorating, painting, crafts, etc.

Which talent would you most like to have? – To be able to sing (WELL).

What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? – The Child Advocacy Center and the Foster Care Closet are organizations that we have donated to, provided services for and have felt strongly about their success because of the work they do for the children in this community.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – collabmedalternatives.com | info@collabmedalternatives.com | (402) 318-8495