Meet Latia Hickerson, PhD, MPH, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC—affectionately known as "Dr. Tia" by her patients—a trailblazing women's healthcare practitioner who's revolutionizing how we approach women's wellness through integrative and functional medicine.

Dr. Tia isn't just another healthcare provider; she's a passionate advocate whose personal mission was forged by witnessing firsthand the health disparities that devastated her own family and community. This powerful experience ignited her relentless pursuit to transform women's healthcare, particularly for those facing teen pregnancy, maternal health challenges, and the cycle of health inequities that too often goes unaddressed.

Armed with an impressive arsenal of credentials, Dr. Tia built her expertise through a remarkable educational journey. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Behavior from the University of Florida, followed by her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the prestigious Columbia University. But she didn't stop there—Dr. Tia conquered a challenging dual master's program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, simultaneously earning her Master's in Nursing and Master's in Public Health. In 2017, she crowned her academic achievements with a PhD in nursing research from UT- Houston Cizik School of Nursing..

Dr. Tia's career began in the trenches of medical-surgical nursing with Orlando Health, where she honed her clinical skills. She then elevated her impact as a faculty women's health nurse practitioner with Baylor College of Medicine Teen Health Clinics, delivering life-changing community-based family planning services and prenatal care to underserved populations.

Since 2018, Dr. Tia has been pioneering the future of women's wellness as the founder of Her Garden Blooms: GynWHOLEcology—a groundbreaking integrative gynecology and functional medicine practice that's changing lives one patient at a time. Unlike traditional approaches that merely treat symptoms, Dr. Tia's innovative practice digs deep to uncover and address root causes, utilizing personalized nutrition protocols, targeted supplements and medications and transformative lifestyle interventions to optimize hormones and unlock each woman's reproductive wellness potential.

When she's not revolutionizing women's healthcare, Dr. Tia thrives in her role as a devoted wife to Loren and an energetic mom to three incredible sons: Landon, Liam, and Lyric. She finds joy and inspiration in family adventures, creating nourishing meals in her kitchen, and cultivating beauty in her garden—a perfect metaphor for how she helps her patients bloom into their healthiest selves.