Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Ebonee Gresham.
Hi Dr. Ebonee, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, I was a teenage mother and had my first child at 16 years old. I still graduated top 10 of my high school class and received scholarships to attend University of Buffalo, Morgan State University and Howard University. I chose to attend Howard. I attended Howard University as a Premed major, but when I became pregnant with my second daughter, I withdrew from the program. My mother later became terminally ill with cancer and as an only child, I was her caretaker along with my then five children.
While my mom was in hospice care, I was her primary caretaker, and I realized I’d rather be a nurse than an OB/GYN.
After my mother’s demise, I moved my family to Georgia and began a medical assistant program while also working at a doctor’s office in Midtown. When I completed that program, I applied to Georgia Piedmont’s licensed practical nursing program. But the program was overcrowded, so my admissions chances were doubtful. I decided to try the institution next door and literally walked across the grass next door to then Georgia Perimeter College (current Georgia State University) and applied for their associate degree RN program.
I was soon accepted into their RN program and once in nursing school, things did not get easier for me as single mother of five young children. I had to balance working full time as a PCT at Grady Memorial Hospital, raising five children, studying, and completing clinical rotations for the nursing program. My children and I were even homeless for a bit, living in my old SUV. I did not receive any support from my children’s fathers, but I did receive government assistance from foodstamps, WIC, and Medicaid to try to survive day by day. I ended up failing nursing school by 2 points and had to sit out for a year and repeat the course. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Bishop Eddie Long, provided housing for me and my children once they got news of our living situation.
I remember some of my nursing instructors saying to me, “maybe this isn’t for you.” Yet still, I did not give up. I had a few motivating instructors who encouraged me to reapply. I returned to the nursing program in 2012, repeated her courses and passed with a B average.
I wasn’t satisfied completing an associate degree to be a registered nurse. After graduating from Perimeter College in 2013, I continued to work at Grady Hospital. I earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing knowing the degree would improve my value. I earned a master’s degree to become a nurse manager and a post-master’s certificate in education so I could teach other nurses.
I was a manager at the Georgia Department of Public Health for over six years and partnered with various institutions such as Emory, Herzing and Chamberlain.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I served as the incident commander for the Department of Public health local division. I have also worked as the COVID-19 Rapid Response Clinical Nurse Lead for Snap Nurse, where I managed and lead over 200 nurses in various states for months at a time for the COVID-19 pandemic mission. I have been featured in many media outlets such as Atlanta Journal of Constitution, CDC, Georgia State University, LinkedIn, and most recently was interviewed by Lester Holt on NBC Nightly News on my journey as a traveling nurse with ten children during a pandemic.
I now have a doctorate in nursing and am a wife and mother of 10 beautiful children. I have opened several businesses, one being Royalty Body Spa & Wellness (trademarked) where we specialize in body contouring, care for cosmetic surgery post op care clients, private nursing duties, training opportunities on business credit and other wellness services. I am a serial entrepreneur with a soon to launch clothing line called COVIDprenuer (trademarked). My clothing brand represents the perseverance of many who had to do what was necessary to make ends meet and feed their families during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic such as opening a business and becoming entrepreneurs. My book (Memoir) of my life entitled “The Grit, The Grind & The Glory” will be available online via Amazon and Barnes & Noble Spring/Summer 2022.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No smooth road here, I have been homeless with my kids, sleeping in my SUV while in nursing school years ago. I have raised my kids as a single mother for most of their lives. I have birthed eight children and still had to care for them and work full time while on Food stamps, Medicaid and other forms of government assistance before becoming an RN. We’ve been evicted many times during those times, utilities off and also I had very bad credit. I was robbing Peter to pay Paul as they say. Totally living in Survival mode. I also was charged with a felony for check fraud many years ago, which almost prevented me from entering nursing school, BUT GOD!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Royalty Body Spa & Wellness?
Dr. Ebonee Gresham is the founder and CEO of Royalty Body Spa & Wellness, a med spa located in Roswell, GA. As a business owner and entrepreneur, I have embarked on this journey to provide care to her clients in a serene and peaceful environment. At the med spa, we offer body sculpting therapies such as laser lipo, ultrasound cavitation, teeth whitening, yoni steam, gender reveal, DOT urine drug screening and COVID testing. Services also extend to cosmetic surgery post-operative care, private nursing duties, and training opportunities including building business credit.
Amongst many other things, I am also a notary public and a soon-to-be-published author of the memoir of my life’s tribulation yet triumphant journey. I’ve enjoyed being a serial entrepreneur and being able to spend time with my 10 children, which as a single mother working a full-time job and in nursing school, I was not able to do. I coach others on how to open a business, become an entrepreneur, how to obtain business credit and how to successfully obtain corporate leasing. My purpose is to teach financial literacy, all while breaking barriers and generational curses that often hinder black women, families and communities.
I have a proven track record of overcoming obstacles and defying the odds. I am adamant about giving back to the community in public service and pouring into those who are where I once was in life. With my compassion for others, encouraging spirit, and expertise as a medical professional, Dr. Ebonee Gresham is destined for the success of a multi-million-dollar empire as a CEO, serial entrepreneur, and public influencer.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can support me by booking for speaking engagements, referrals and signing up to my email list @ www.royaltybodyspaandwellness.com
They can also follow me @dr_ebonee_gresham on IG and @royaltybodyspa.
There are E-books, products, and services available on my website www.royaltybodyspaandwellness.com and they can support by purchasing directly on my website.
They can also support and/or collab on IG or by sending an email to: admin@royaltybodyspa.com.
I am always interested in networking, collaborating, and helping the community.
Contact Info:
- Email: admin@royaltybodyspa.com
- Website: www.royaltybodyspaandwellness.com
- Instagram: @dr_ebonee_gresham
- Facebook: @royaltybodyspa
