At Signify Health, a CVS Health® company, our mission is to build trusted relationships to make people healthier. Our national network of more than 12,000 clinicians works to help people gain a more comprehensive view of their health by conducting In-Home Health Evaluations (IHEs). During an IHE, clinicians identify chronic conditions, close gaps in care, and address social determinants of health, making it possible for health plan members to get connected to the right care for their unique needs.
We’re proud to showcase the clinicians helping us build a more connected, effective care experience for all – and their personal stories that make this important work feel #ClosetoHome. This is Tekondia's story.
Tekondia Carter loves nothing more than meeting health plan members where they are, both physically and emotionally. In the quiet rural community of Butler, Alabama, she does just that as a nurse practitioner with Signify Health. Tekondia brings more than just clinical expertise to members; she brings compassion, perspective and a profound understanding that health care is deeply personal.
“I really feel like nursing was destined for me,” she says. “Even as a child, when I should’ve been the one receiving support, I was the one giving it.”
Tekondia’s journey into nursing didn’t follow a straight line. Born in Mississippi and raised in Alabama, she grew up in a home where adversity was part of daily life. She faced many challenges that could have hardened her, but instead, they fueled her drive to make a difference.
“I knew I was smart. I knew I was capable of more. I just didn’t know how I’d get there,” she says. “But I wanted a different life. I wanted to help others because deep down, that’s always been who I am.”
Becoming a mother at a young age, Tekondia worked a variety of jobs while searching for her path. An impromptu conversation with a hometown friend pointed her toward nursing, and what started as a leap of faith became a calling. In 2005, Tekondia earned her LPN, then worked her way through nursing school while raising her family. Often balancing school, work, and motherhood, she earned her RN in 2009, BSN in 2013, and ultimately her MSN and Nurse Practitioner degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2016.
“Balancing life and education weren’t easy,” she says. “But I wanted to grow, I wanted to serve, and every time I thought about quitting, I remembered why I started.”
In 2017, Tekondia joined Signify Health, where she found something she had been craving: more one-on-one time delivering support to health plan members. “In the clinic, I was rushing. With Signify Health, I’m in the member’s home. I have time to talk with them, explain their medications, ask about their challenges. That’s the kind of support people deserve.”
Her impact has been profound. One member, who had complained of leg pain, later credited Tekondia with saving his life. After performing a PAD (peripheral artery disease) screening and urging the member to follow up with his primary care provider, he discovered a dangerous blockage. “Moments like that remind me why I do this,” Tekondia says. “I’m not just meeting with members. I’m building relationships and helping people truly understand their health.”
Tekondia serves predominantly rural and underserved populations, where access to health care is often limited. “Sometimes I’m the only health care provider a member sees for months,” she says. “And I don’t take that lightly.” Every visit is a chance to educate, empower and connect, especially with members managing chronic conditions or emotional burdens.
“People carry trauma into old age. I’ve walked into homes where someone is still dealing with something that happened decades ago. In those moments, I get to be a listener, an educator and a supporter.”
At home, Tekondia is equally grounded. A mother of three and grandmother of two, she spends her free time recharging by walking, reading and nurturing her physical and mental health.
For Tekondia, National Nurses Month in May is more than recognition. She believes it’s a celebration of resilience, compassion and purpose.
“Nurses do more than care for the body; we care for the whole person. And when we do it with heart, it leaves a lasting impact.”
Are you a clinician interested in helping health plan members gain a more comprehensive view of their health?
To learn more about opportunities with Signify Health, visit our clinical careers page.