Introduction and Humble Beginnings
Taryell Simmons: Welcome ladies and gentlemen to another episode of Rise Urban Nation. I am your host Terrell Simmons, and we have a special guest in the building: the good doctor, Dr. Tiffany Smith. How are you today? Where are you joining us from?
Dr. Tiffany Smith: I am in Las Vegas, Nevada, so we are on the same time zone and just five hours away.
Taryell Simmons: For our listeners who are tuning in and have not had the pleasure of meeting you, who is Dr. Tiffany M. Smith?
Dr. Tiffany Smith: The core of me is, first and foremost, a St. Louisan through and through, currently living between Los Angeles and Nevada. I love the nineties, born in the seventies, and always knew I would be a mother and a wife. I did not initially know I would be in this career, but I am genuine, authentic, and care deeply about others while taking care of myself. You get the authentic truth with me.
Taryell Simmons: I love the nineties as well. Before we get into your advanced career, I always love asking about first jobs. Young people graduating from school often think they will instantly land six-figure roles, but humble beginnings are where we build character. What was your very first job?
Dr. Tiffany Smith: My first job was at Taco Bell when I was fifteen. My father was not giving me enough allowance, and my family kept piling dishes in the sink, so I decided to get a job. In my senior year, I moved over to McDonald's. When I told McDonald's I was leaving to pursue nursing, they even offered me a raise to stay.
Taryell Simmons: Moving from McDonald's to nursing is quite a shift, especially considering how fast food contrasts with healthcare.
Dr. Tiffany Smith: When I worked at Taco Bell, we browned forty pounds of real ground beef from scratch before they switched to pre-cooked bags. At McDonald's, we made biscuits from scratch with flour and powder before everything became pre-made. A lot changed between then and now.
Transition from Fast Food to Healthcare
Taryell Simmons: Explain that transition from fast food into nursing.
Dr. Tiffany Smith: At that time, many nursing programs were affiliated directly with hospitals. I started working in dietary services at the hospital while beginning nursing school. As a nursing student, I worked as a certified nurse assistant (CNA) apprentice on the floor with expanded clinical privileges. Not only did I assist patients with daily living activities, but I also performed clinical skills like inserting IV catheters and managing wound care. It was per diem, so it never conflicted with my classes. Being inside the system made securing a nursing job guaranteed upon graduation.
Taryell Simmons: What was the timeline for completing your education and making those transitions?
Dr. Tiffany Smith: Initially, I was waitlisted for one semester, so I took prerequisite courses at the community college. Once admitted, the traditional four-year program covered prerequisites and clinical coursework. Students typically took summers off, but I accelerated my program, went straight through summers, and graduated with my registered nurse degree in three years.
Taryell Simmons: What sparked the decision to pursue nursing in the first place?
Dr. Tiffany Smith: In high school, I excelled in math and science, and my goal was to study electrical engineering at Rolla University. However, in March of my senior year, my grandfather suffered a stroke. Being in the hospital and witnessing the profound impact of healthcare workers opened my eyes to healthcare for the first time. At that exact moment, I changed my career path to nursing.
Taryell Simmons: Having that early dietary background gave you a holistic perspective on patient health early on. Diet and gut nutrition are so essential to overall wellness.
Dr. Tiffany Smith: Absolutely. When we discuss my current clinical practice, nutrition and gut health are central to everything I do.
Guiding the Next Generation into Healthcare Careers
Taryell Simmons: How did you guide your sons into their respective career paths?
Dr. Tiffany Smith: Each child is unique. My oldest son graduated high school at sixteen, attended vocational school for veterinary technology, and later transitioned into the military for structured growth. My middle son attended vocational school to become a medical assistant (MA), began his nursing prerequisites, transitioned to military medical service, and now works in digital marketing and web design. My philosophy has always been to pursue healthcare as a stable launchpad while discovering your true passion.
Dr. Tiffany Smith: Our youngest son, who is seventeen, is highly self-driven. When we moved to rural Frontier Nevada during the pandemic, he took advantage of state rural education grants to complete his CNA certification before graduating high school. He completed fifteen college credit hours alongside his high school coursework to earn an Associate degree simultaneously. He is now attending the University of Nevada, Reno to pursue nursing with goals in emergency and travel nursing.
Taryell Simmons: Healthcare is an incredible field because working three twelve-hour shifts leaves four days each week to build businesses, travel, or explore creative ventures.
Dr. Tiffany Smith: Exactly. With a nursing degree, you have diverse clinical and entrepreneurial options, from travel nursing to government contracting and independent consulting. The sky is the limit.
Taryell Simmons: There are so many entry points into healthcare that do not require an immediate four-year degree or massive student debt.
Dr. Tiffany Smith: Physician assistant (PA) programs and accelerated nursing programs offer pathways for individuals with existing bachelor's degrees to transition into high-earning healthcare roles in sixteen to eighteen months. Healthcare constantly creates accessible entry points because provider demand is high.
Integrative and Functional Psychiatric Medicine
Taryell Simmons: Where are you currently in your professional journey?
Dr. Tiffany Smith: I am a doctorally prepared integrative and functional psychiatric nurse practitioner. While conventional psychiatrists primarily diagnose and prescribe pharmaceuticals, integrative practice combines multiple therapeutic modalities, including aromatherapy, yoga, movement, and personalized self-care tailored to each patient.
Dr. Tiffany Smith: Functional medicine identifies the physiological root causes of illness rather than merely suppressing symptoms. Conventional healthcare gives an anti-anxiety or antidepressant pill, but fails to address why the symptom developed. Often, anxiety, depression, or ADHD symptoms stem from gut dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, or systemic inflammation. Over ninety percent of serotonin is produced in the gut. When we restore physiology, patients do not need to rely indefinitely on pharmaceuticals.
Taryell Simmons: How did you transition from conventional psychiatric practice to this functional approach?
Dr. Tiffany Smith: My husband is a combat veteran and military nurse who developed severe, debilitating chronic pain, PTSD, and sleep disturbances to the point of being nearly bedbound. Conventional options like muscle relaxers knocked him out for days without restoring his quality of life. He refused further pharmaceutical sedation, compelling us to seek alternatives. I earned an advanced degree in clinical aromatherapy, formulated botanical blends that relieved his pain, and pursued advanced training in functional medicine and lifestyle modification. Today, he is fully active, remodeling our ranch and thriving. Seeing these results led me to establish Aroma Functional Nutrition Psychiatry.
Advocacy, Maternal Mental Health, and Safe Spaces
Taryell Simmons: How do you bring this vital knowledge into the Black community and other underserved populations?
Dr. Tiffany Smith: My mission is to empower individuals to take control of their mental health through daily lifestyle choices. In our culture, people often avoid psychiatry because they fear being immediately medicated. When patients consult with me, I actively listen without rushing to prescribe. Many mental health struggles arise from life transitions, stress, and unaddressed trauma. By providing safe spaces and lifestyle strategies, patients heal without unnecessary medications.
Dr. Tiffany Smith: I also specialize in maternal mental health, supporting pregnant women who want to transition off psychiatric medications safely using natural protocols. Furthermore, my doctoral research focused on creating safe, affirming clinical spaces for the LGBTQIA+ and gender-diverse communities.
Brain Body Being Reboot Camp and Personalized Testing
Taryell Simmons: What programs have you created to help people optimize their health?
Dr. Tiffany Smith: I created the Brain Body Being Reboot Camp, a ten-week online program addressing nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress management. Participants eliminate inflammatory processed foods while taking a comprehensive genetic DNA saliva test. The DNA analysis reveals individual genetic predispositions regarding detoxification, folic acid metabolism, food sensitivities, and cardiovascular risks, removing the guesswork so we can create precise wellness plans.
Three Foundational Principles for Lifelong Wellness
Taryell Simmons: What advice do you have for someone seeking to begin their wellness journey?
Dr. Tiffany Smith: First, listen to your body. Quiet external noise through meditation, self-care, and time in nature. Make incremental, sustainable changes rather than radical overhauls. Second, track your health metrics. Use a smartwatch or fitness tracker to document resting heart rate, sleep cycles, and daily patterns to advocate effectively with your healthcare providers. Third, eliminate things that no longer serve you. Examine your relationships, career, and physical surroundings. Surround yourself with things that bring comfort, peace, and joy.
Closing Remarks and Resources
Taryell Simmons: Where can our listeners connect with you and access your resources?
Dr. Tiffany Smith: You can follow me on Instagram at @dr.tiffanymsmith, and find me on Facebook and LinkedIn under Dr. Tiffany M. Smith. I offer a free private audio series called the 21 Day Love Thy Self Journey; simply text the compound word 'self-love' to 702-919-4249. You can also download my app, Mental Wellness Unlocked, for foundational lifestyle guidance.
Taryell Simmons: Any final words of wisdom for our audience?
Dr. Tiffany Smith: Trust your gut and live your life abundantly without placing limits on your potential. You deserve optimal health and fulfillment.
Taryell Simmons: Live abundantly. Thank you, Dr. Tiffany, and thank you to our listeners. We will see you next time on Rise Urban Nation.
