How Rachell Dumas Found Her Greatest Role: Nursing

Rachell Dumas, BSN '16, once imagined a life behind the camera telling stories on film. But the most gripping plotline she encountered unfolded at Atlanta's Grady Hospital, where as a Georgia State University intern, she shadowed a critical care nurse and witnessed stories that showed her where she belonged.

"It was a magical moment," Dumas recalls—the day she realized her future was in patient care, not directing movies. She changed her major from film to nursing, a decision that would ask a lot but deliver even more.

Though her grandmother had been a nurse, Dumas initially resisted that path. In the end, the pull proved stronger. She enrolled at Chamberlain University, building the foundation for a career that now includes advanced degrees, advocacy work, and honors including the Renew Start Georgia Collaborative Mental Health Advocate of the Year award.

Facing her own health challenges—idiopathic intracranial hypertension requiring two brain surgeries and four stents—Dumas became a serial entrepreneur. During recovery, she launched SpeakRX, an app helping patients cut through healthcare jargon and advocate for themselves. "Understanding the language of medicine made all the difference for me," she explained. "I want to give that power to others."

Since then, she's balanced healthcare innovation with healing. In 2020, she launched Onward Healthcare Solutions, helping small providers navigate pandemic compliance. She later founded A Light After Nine, a nonprofit born from her journey through nine pregnancy losses. The organization offers wellness resources for families enduring similar struggles. She has spoken at 40+ conferences and appeared on 50+ podcasts.

From film student to nurse, entrepreneur, and alumni volunteer, Dumas says passion must come first. "Nursing is about caring for people at their most vulnerable moments. If you don't love it, the challenges will overwhelm you. But when you do—the opportunities are endless." 

By Chamberlain University