About StartHere

With more than 20 years of nursing experience across inpatient, outpatient, home health, nursing home, and case management settings, I have built my career around one unwavering belief: that patients and their families deserve to be at the center of every healthcare decision.

Throughout my clinical career as a Registered Nurse, I approached each patient relationship as a collaboration, meeting people where they were, leading with empathy, and ensuring that compassion was never a secondary consideration. That commitment to patient-centered care is what drew me to nursing, and it is what drives the work I do today.

Healthcare has changed dramatically. Artificial intelligence now schedules appointments. Patient portals have replaced phone calls. For many patients, particularly older adults and those managing complex conditions, this shifting landscape is disorienting and isolating. At StartHere, I serve as your guide, your voice, and your advocate, so that you are never left behind.

Larry Horton is a Founder and Principal of StartHere Patient Advocacy, where he helps individuals and families navigate the healthcare system with clarity, confidence, and compassionate support. A Marine Corps veteran with a background in Healthcare IT and Clinical Trials IT, Larry brings both professional expertise and personal commitment to patient advocacy. Inspired by his own family's experience with gaps in care coordination, he is dedicated to helping others make informed decisions and avoid preventable setbacks.

Larry holds a Bachelor and Master degree in Computer Science from NC Central University and NC State University and an MBA from Kenan-Flagler Business School UNC Chapel Hill.

Hi, I'm Lisa—a Southern girl at heart with a deep commitment to nursing, patient-centered care, and serving others. While the South will always be home, my journey has taken me across many places and communities that have shaped both my practice and my perspective, strengthening my appreciation for diverse cultures, resilience, and the importance of meeting patients where they are.

I am a proud graduate of Florida Atlantic University, where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Duke University, where I completed my Master of Science in Nursing and became a Family Nurse Practitioner. My seven years in the Duke Emergency Department were foundational in my development as a clinician—refining my assessment skills, strengthening my clinical judgment, and deepening my commitment to compassionate, evidence-based care in high-acuity settings.

Today, I serve as a Family Nurse Practitioner in rural North Carolina, caring for patients and families across Sampson, Johnston, Wayne, and Duplin counties. At StartHere Patient Advocacy, I bring that same focus on prevention, chronic disease management, family engagement, and health education—building trust, listening closely, and partnering with patients and families in their care. Words I live by: "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

Dawn Criswell is a nationally credentialed healthcare IT and patient advocacy professional with over two decades of experience bridging clinical operations, technology, and compassionate care. Holding a Master's in Healthcare Administration from Saint Joseph's University and a Bachelor's in Health Information Management from Temple University, Dawn combines deep technical expertise with a patient-first philosophy that defines StartHere's mission.

As a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) and Agile Certified Product Owner, Dawn has led enterprise initiatives across EHR systems, population health platforms, and AI-enabled workflows. Her background includes senior roles with organizations such as Siemens Health, IQVIA, and Allscripts (Veradigm), where she specialized in workflow mapping, interoperability (HL7/FHIR), and regulatory compliance.

At StartHere Patient Advocacy, Dawn brings this unique blend of clinical insight and systems precision to empower patients and families navigating complex healthcare journeys. Her approach emphasizes transparency, education, and advocacy — ensuring every client receives informed, coordinated, and compassionate support from intake through resolution.