Growing up with a nurse as her mom, Brittni has always had an appreciation for health care. She knew she wanted a career that allowed her to connect with people in a similar way.

“I was very in tune with all things nursing, but I also knew that a career in nursing was not the right fit for me,” said Brittni Grant. “I’ve always found myself enjoying meeting other people, and marketing and communications, where I felt more at home, intertwined well with my interest in healthcare and passion for my chosen career path.”

It's this aspiration to support patients – not at the bedside or on any care team, but behind the scenes – that led her to Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in 2022. Here, Brittni could leverage her professional skills for a greater purpose as a marketing and communications specialist.

“It's an important responsibility,” she said, “promoting and educating our community members on the valuable healthcare services available close to home. Each day we strive to better the lives of those we serve.”

Having a career in health care meant that when Brittni felt a knot in her abdomen in 2023, she was able to get a second opinion and speedy diagnosis from her team. Upon learning it was a rare Desmoid tumor, she turned to Duke Health for specialized care.

“It is such a rare health concern doctors aren't typically as well-versed in,” she said. “I felt extremely confident in Duke, because I found a doctor who specializes in these rare tumors. Having Duke has been incredibly life changing for me. I'm very thankful for my team there.”

Her doctor recommended actively monitoring the tumor – rather than the invasive surgery Brittni was told to expect from others.

“Every six months, my husband and I drive two hours to Durham, where I have a bi annual MRI scan, followed by an appointment with my medical oncologist,” she said. “My appointments are very reassuring.”

Being a Duke Health patient herself, when Brittni learned that Duke Health was acquiring the Lake Norman facility and its affiliated clinics in April, she was thrilled.

“It's really nice to know, as a Duke patient, that my local hospital of choice is now Duke Health,” Brittni said. “Not that two hours down the road is bad. We're fortunate to have the main Duke campus close to us, and even closer now that we are Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital. And it’s a really great feeling to be a part of it behind the scenes.”

From a career perspective, Brittni was equally elated by the opportunity to now be connected to Duke Health as a team member and the promise of what’s to come within our health system.

“This is a full-circle moment for me. There aren’t enough words to explain the excitement I feel knowing that I am promoting healthcare that has personally impacted me. As a patient, Duke care is something I have experienced firsthand and genuinely believe in,” Brittni said. “When we say world-class health care, it truly is from my own personal experience.”

Brittni smiles with colleagues in front of a Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital sign on the day Duke acquired Lake Norman Regional Medical Center.

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