Meet Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman | Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate, Keynote Speaker, Author, & Nurse Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Cynthia J., every day, we know about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Grief was the genesis of my business decision to become a speaker and educator on the topic of proactive caregiving. Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate, LLC is a platform where I share tips and strategies to help others currently giving care or those who one day find themselves caring for a loved one.

My professional background as a nurse offers one care perspective, but the journey as an informal caregiver can and does become challenging. I was a caregiver for 20 years, caring for my mother, the matriarch of our family. Her name is Shibbolethia J. Lewis.

Losing my mother activated many emotions, but what kept coming back to me was how being proactive made the journey less stressful. We live in a reactive society, and informal caregivers often operate in daily tasks without planning. Without forethought, care can be challenging and costly. The lack of insight creates a chaotic burden that does not have to be. The more a caregiver can function with knowledge, the more prepared they become, which is the focus of my business. I speak to small and large audiences on the topic. I also blog and share on my podcast an array of topics, from home safety, chronic disease management, and the business side of caring for an elderly loved one.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

My career at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital (SLEH) in Houston, Texas, ended in 2013 after 26 ½ years. After graduating from the Toledo Hospital School of Nursing(Diploma), I started my nursing career in Toledo, Ohio. When I moved to Texas, I continued my education graduating from Prarie View A&M College of Nursing, where I received my bachelor’s in nursing. While caring for my mother, I completed two degrees: a Master of Nursing specializing in education (2009) and a Ph.D. in Health Services with a leadership specialization (2016) from Walden University.

While working at SLEH, I am most proud of the care and teaching I provided to patients and their families as a cardiology case manager. I also took on the role of directing the gospel choir and producing the 1st Gospel CD entitled ” A Higher Level” in 2007, where all proceeds went to assist patients and families admitted to the hospital.

I am also proud of receiving the Health Care Community Service and Leadership Award from Johnson & Johnson and the $50,000 Award, which allowed me to start a nursing scholarship in my name: The Cynthia J. Hickman “Pay It Forward” Nursing Scholarship. I have given 15 nursing scholarships since 2007, ranging from $1000 to $10,000.

My professional journey had challenges, like most careers, from buyouts, change, and reorganizations, but I learned from every challenge to be consistent and authentic. My high expectations were always directed toward me. I set the bar for myself and never dropped my standards for others. The lesson learned from being available, humble, and consistent is others will respect and value your expertise. My brand, Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate, is a testament to my oath as a nurse and a caring professional, knowing one day, we will all need the service and expertise of others.

I would ask the world to ponder the question the late Dr. Martin Luther King posed: “Light has come into the world, and every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. This is the judgment. Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?”

My brand…My story… My lesson is: Do for others selflessly, with the reminder that you, yourself, could be on the receiving end.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Since I love eating, learning, and being entertained, I would start with the Breakfast Klub in Midtown. The katfist and grits are to die for, and the lunch menu is not too shabby.

Lucille’s  restaurant is next. I grew to love it after many business meetings. Coming from the North, I was not exposed to how cooking is done in the Southern style—another favorite locale. Micheaux’s Southern Cuisine is black-owned and so-so-good. Their breakfast and lunch menu is made with love. You can taste it!

Brunch/Lunch would be Wings and Wine, a Studio theater, a great movie, and a meal.

Dinner, any place where Alaskan crab and other seafood is served, and let’s not leave off Big Mammas Home Cooking, homemade, and you leave walking slowly because the meals are so delicious.

Because I love history and theater, my hangouts include The Ensemble Theater and Houston’s Museums—African American Landmarks, like Freedmen’s Town. Fun hangouts would include The Main Event, a hangout for bowling and being a kid again. The Zoo is always a fun day event, and sitting at some of our parks and enjoying the fantastic views. If my friend is not a swimmer, they can watch me, because I will swim at least four days a week.

Hangouts for socializing are random, but Upper Kirby is one place and any BBQ location. Home cooking is somewhere in the mix.

Finally, exciting people…Houston Texan players and Astros players. I have seen many players at a distance. I would love a signed jersey to brag on. Nobody comes to the Houston area without attending a sporting event. Visiting Galveston is an excellent way to end a trip to the Houston area.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

My village is enormous. God deserves my “Shoutout, hands down. I am because He Is! Next, my family has shown unwavering support in every area of my journey. What I have achieved would not have been possible without them. My mentor of 10 years, Dr. Bernadine Lacey(RIP, 2021), pushed me to obtain my terminal degree and become a nurse educator. Ulysses Wilcox, manager for Walden Alumni Ambassador, elevated me to Ambassador VIP.

Groups I like to recognize because they saw the best in me are the Walden University Multicultural and International Student Society, Walden University Leadership and Social Change Committee, Fort Bend County Black Nurses Association, Forward Times Newspaper(contributing writer),
Zeta Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the Outstanding Omicron Gamma Zeta Chapter, and Publishing Voyage Houston for this fantastic opportunity.

Website: www.cynthiajhickman.info

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hickcynthia/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcynthiajhickman/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaregiverAuthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drcynthiaSpeaks/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUIU3r8PKAM&t=12s