First-grade teacher becomes a nurse at hospital that successfully treated cancer

Ashley Moore, a 31-year old former cancer patient at Medical City Plano and bone marrow transplant patient at Medical City Dallas has turned her own health experience into a commitment to care for others. After being diagnosed and treated for stage three non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the HCA Healthcare North Texas affiliates, the first-grade teacher, wife and mother of two, was so inspired by the hospital’s caregivers, their compassion and the lifesaving treatment that she is now training to become a nurse.

“I had contact with these nurses for a reason, and I just I had to follow that,” Moore said. “I’m excited about being able to be on the other side of it and being able to say, ‘Hey, I’ve been here. I’ve been in this room, and I felt a lot of love in this room, I hope you do, too.'”

Moore underwent eight weeks of chemotherapy, and then, two weeks after being discharged, and, ultimately, beating her diagnosis, she went from one career of service to another: nursing.

The teacher-turned-nurse has shared her inspirational career change and the motivation behind it during public speaking events involving hospital leadership, caregivers, students, and the public. Nurses at Medical City Plano say they are honored to have helped a patient heal, while also unknowingly providing a new life’s purpose.

“I want to make a difference in people’s lives, and to know that I have inspired someone in such a way for her to change her career path and want to be a nurse now, and to come here and want to work with us,” said Amanda Lewis, a registered nurse at Medical City Plano, “I mean, I think it’s just awesome.”

While Moore is in nursing school, she is working at Medical City Plano as a trauma/orthopedic unit clerk to gain medical field experience.

Watch as Moore shares her story on the local NBC affiliate here.

In 2018, HCA Healthcare celebrates the company’s first 50 years of compassionate care and the people of HCA Healthcare who work together to help improve lives and make history. This blog is an installment in the People of HCA Healthcare series that highlights some of our company’s finest as a way to acknowledge all who make this company great.

Medical City Plano, located in Plano, Texas, is an affiliate of HCA Healthcare and a part of Medical City Healthcare.

HCA Healthcare 50th Anniversary
In 1968, HCA Healthcare was conceived by two physicians and an accomplished business leader — Dr. Thomas Frist Sr., Dr. Thomas Frist Jr., and Jack Massey. This year, HCA Healthcare celebrates its golden anniversary and the culture of caring established by our three founders 50 years ago. To help us celebrate our 50th year, we’ll share stories here that reflect HCA Healthcare’s mission – above all else, the care and improvement of human life – and our pledge to improve life and make history for the next 50 years and beyond.