Tammy Marshall was overwhelmed by the demands of seeing 65 patients a day as a nurse practitioner.
With only minutes to spend with each individual, she felt she wasn’t making the impact she had hoped for in healthcare.
“I didn’t see how I was going to make a change or impact on someone’s life in two minutes,” Marshall said. “I just wanted to help people.”
Determined to offer more personalized care, Marshall launched La Lueur Health & Wellness in 2021, located on North Hampton Road in suite 104.
The center, a hybrid of primary and aesthetic care services, provides postpartum support, medical weight loss programs, med spa treatments, and other wellness services.
Since opening, Marshall and her team have performed more than 6,000 services in their first year alone.
“It’s a different type of health care for DeSoto that’s not typically seen,” she said, noting that some clients travel from as far as Waco—a 90-minute to two-hour drive—to receive care.
To further extend its reach, La Lueur Health & Wellness also operates a 45-foot mobile medical bus, delivering healthcare services at community events and increasing accessibility for those in need.
After spending 16 years in healthcare, Marshall says running her own practice has allowed her to form deeper relationships with her patients.
“I didn’t get to see the whole picture. I see you when you’re at your worst,” she said of her time working in a hospital.
“I didn’t get to see you at your best. Now we actually get to be a partner in your care. We get to see what’s working and what’s not working. We get to empower you to become an active participant in your care.”
Marshall’s dedication to patient-centered care earned her a spot as a finalist in SCORE’s 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition.
SCORE, a national nonprofit that mentors small businesses, received more than 2,200 applications for the competition.
Out of those, 60 entrepreneurs were selected to present their business plans before panels of judges.
Marshall was among the 45 finalists, working alongside SCORE Houston mentor Dr. Jeffrey Ricken to refine her pitch.
“He knew healthcare, which was invaluable in the input he was giving me,” Marshall said. “His input about a publicist was just what we needed.”
Ricken, a physician and owner of three medical clinics, recognized the potential of La Lueur Health & Wellness immediately.
“She’s got great credentials,” Ricken said. “She’s already got a thriving business. I have no doubt she’ll be exceptional in what she’s doing.”
Marshall is now looking toward the future.
She plans to expand La Lueur Health & Wellness by opening a second location in Houston, with hopes of eventually expanding to Atlanta or Washington, D.C.
“We have such good brand identity and culture,” Marshall said, recalling advice from Gary Kusin, founder of Gamestop. “The quickest way to lose it is to franchise. You have to be very specific with the franchises.”
To learn more about SCORE, request a mentor, or volunteer, visit score.org.