Her Story
About Leslie
Leslie Newman is a highly experienced registered nurse and healthcare professional with more than 32 years in the medical field, dedicating her career to patient advocacy, case management, and compassionate care coordination. Her passion for nursing began early in life, when, as a young child, she told her mother she wanted to become a nurse. Before entering healthcare, Leslie explored her creative side as an artist, working in sales and artwork for a newspaper in New Mexico. After relocating to Texas to pursue higher education, she recognized the broad opportunities available within the nursing profession and committed herself fully to a career centered on helping others navigate complex medical challenges with confidence and support.
Currently serving as an RN Care Manager with HealthSmart, Leslie has spent the past 12 years guiding patients through highly specialized and often overwhelming healthcare journeys. Her role includes collecting and reviewing extensive medical records, imaging studies, and diagnostic reports, sometimes analyzing more than 700 pages of documentation to prepare concise and comprehensive case summaries for referral to Mayo Clinic. Earlier in her career, Leslie worked extensively in home health, hospitals, pediatrics, oncology, cardiac telemetry, and heart care units, experiences that gave her a broad and practical understanding of patient care across multiple specialties. She also spent five years supporting first responders through the World Trade Center Health Program, serving as a case manager for members of the Fire Department of New York and the New York City Police Department following the September 11 attacks. Throughout her career, her focus has remained consistent: helping patients understand their conditions, access the care they need, and feel supported every step of the way.
Leslie earned her Bachelor of Applied Science in Nursing from West Texas A&M University, where she was recognized on the Dean’s List and helped implement a government entitlement program for underserved populations in Lubbock County while still a student. She also received her RN Diploma from Covenant Methodist School of Nursing in Lubbock, Texas, earning academic scholarships throughout her studies. What Leslie values most about her work is the opportunity to provide education, encouragement, and spiritual support to patients and families facing some of life’s most difficult moments, particularly those dealing with cancer diagnoses. Drawing from decades of diverse clinical experience and personal compassion, she remains deeply committed to helping individuals feel informed, empowered, and cared for throughout their healthcare journey.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Leslie
01What do you attribute your success to?
My faith is what has kept me going throughout all these years. It's easy to answer what the key factor to my success has been - it's my faith. When you go into nursing because it's where your heart is and where you're called by God, that will keep you going the longest. Even in the hard times, you will be blessed for helping others, and having that faith to support you is everything. I take all my experiences and combine them to encourage and enlighten people and help them walk through their journey. Most of my patients have a cancer diagnosis, so they're scared, and it's comforting for them to have some kind of enlightenment on what's going on with them and also to give them some spiritual support.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice would be don't go into it for a paycheck, but go into it because it's where your heart is, and that's where you're called by God, because that will keep you going the longest. Even in the hard times, you will be blessed for helping others, and having that faith to support you is everything. Don't go into nursing for the money - go where your heart leads you and where you feel called, because that sense of purpose will sustain you through the challenges and allow you to truly make a difference in people's lives.
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