Lu Casa, MSN, CRNP, CTTS, is a Nurse Practitioner at Kaiser Permanente’s Capitol Hill Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Q: In a few words, what does Total Health mean to you?
A: Having a lifestyle which fulfills you physically and emotionally.
Q: What’s your first health-related memory?
A: Standing in line in the gym in my Chicago elementary school with about 50 other kids waiting to get vaccinated circa 1971.
Q: Which person, living or dead, is your health hero or role model?
A: My first nursing instructor who helped open a whole new world to me — the world of nursing. She scared me and empowered me to be more and do more.
Q: What do you value most in your work? What inspires you to continue?
A: Helping Kaiser Permanente members attain a healthier state of being. Seeing members make sustainable change in their behavior to stay healthier.
Q: If you could change one thing in health care, what would it be?
A: Make it available to all people without barriers.
Q: Where would you most like to live?
A: New England
Q: Where do/would you most like to travel?
A: Greece
Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement so far?
A: My family – my wonderful wife and daughter.
Q: If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would you pick?
A: My Mom – I miss her everyday; Madonna; and Pope Francis.