Judy Rice is currently a tenured Associate Professor at East Tennessee State University College of Nursing. She has served the public and nursing profession by advancing practice, educating PMHNP students and advocating for those who most often do not have a voice. She has devoted her career to the care of vulnerable persons with psychiatric disorders and she has instilled this passion into her students. She is a pioneer in implementing integrated behavioral health services at the ETSU Johnson City Downtown Day Center (JCDDC), a rural Appalachia nurse-led primary care clinic where she practices as a PMHNP and FNP. She applied for and received continuing funding for the PATH (Programs for Assistance to Transition from Homelessness) Program amounting to $2,900,00.00. The program provides an array of services and supports at the JCDDC that are not covered by mainstream mental health programs. She became the first regional provider of mental health services in two local county detention centers. Dr. Rice has published and presented her work widely.