Marvin AlonsoAs seen on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Dr. Scharmaine Lawson-Baker is a nationally recognized and award-winning nurse practitioner in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), and winne of the 2013 Healthcare Hero award (New Orleans City Business magazine) and 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year award (ADVANCE for Nurse Practitioner magazine). Dr. Baker, NP has received numerous honors and awards for her contributions to healthcare in New Orleans since she became a family nurse practitioner in 2000. Dr. Lawson-Baker was inspired to make house calls while caring for her grandmother, who was ill and needed an in-home doctor. She serves a large geriatric population in the comfort of their private homes, group homes, or assisted living facilities. After Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Baker was instrumental in caring for the sick and disabled in New Orleans, where hospitals had closed and doctors had evacuated but never returned. Her patient load went from 100 to 500 in only three months. Her passion and unwavering dedication to caring for homebound patients in her home town which is what prompted the interview with Katie Couric. Nola the Nurse was born from the desire of Dr. Scharmaine L. Baker who had been searching for children's books that were both culturally sensitive and featured African-American nurses. She had found none, so she decided to create her own and Nola the Nurse was born. Read More Read Less