Joycelyn Thomas

Joycelyn R. Thomas, DNP, ARNP, FNP-BC, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, educator, researcher, and founder of Thomas Heritage and Wellness Group: The Sankofa Practice in Burien, Washington. With over 30 years of experience in nursing and healthcare leadership, Dr. Thomas is dedicated to providing compassionate, relationship-centered primary care to individuals and families through both in-person and telehealth visits.

A native of Bremerton, Washington, Dr. Thomas earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees from the University of Washington in Seattle. She currently serves as the Director of the Manning Price Spratlen Center for Anti-Racism & Equity in Nursing and as the Family Nurse Practitioner Specialty Director at the University of Washington School of Nursing, where she is passionate about educating and mentoring the next generation of healthcare providers.

Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Thomas has cared for patients across the lifespan, from newborns to older adults. Her extensive clinical experience includes labor and delivery nursing, maternal health research, primary care, chronic disease management, and medical leadership in community-based healthcare settings throughout the greater Seattle, Federal Way, and Tacoma regions.

Dr. Thomas's commitment to advancing health equity extends beyond the United States. As an Afya Bora Consortium Fellow in Global Health Leadership in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, she led maternal health research focused on evaluating the World Health Organization (WHO) Safe Childbirth Checklist. Her clinical work, research, and advocacy efforts focus on improving patient-provider communication and reducing healthcare disparities in underserved communities.

Recognized for her dedication to service and excellence, Dr. Thomas has received numerous honors, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award, the DNPs of Color Outstanding Faculty Award, and the National Compassion Award from CommonSpirit Health.

Dr. Thomas founded The Sankofa Practice to create a welcoming medical home where healthcare is rooted in lifestyle, environment, family history, and generational resilience. She believes that the best healthcare begins with listening, mutual respect, and empowering patients to play an active role in their health and wellness journey.