Dr. Jacqueline Ebony Ambush has served as a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) and a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) at the Ambush Pediatrics and Family Medical Clinic in Baltimore since 2014. One of the first pediatric nurses to serve in solitary private practice in the state of Maryland, her work has been marked by adversity and triumph for over three decades. She oversees a team of family nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse practitioners, dedicating herself to serving the community and the underserved.
Overcoming Adversity
In high school, Dr. Ambush was diagnosed with a seizure disorder. She was not able to finish her college pre-med program. With God as her inspiration, she switched to nursing and found her niche working in the ICU with children. In this work, she started to recognize that her ailment would not define her, despite every doctor from New York to Hopkins telling her she wouldn’t be able to do much in the medical field because of it. Even when she lost her first child because of her disorder, her family helped her through this challenge. She continued to work in the ICU and NICU for 20 years before, at 50 years old, she decided to chase her dreams and become a doctor.
Finding Success
In 2013, Dr. Ambush earned her post-master’s certificate from The Catholic University of America’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program before earning her DNP from Chatham University in 2018. Her remarkable dedication allowed her to overcome stigma and personal challenges — the power of her human spirit surpassing the limits imposed on her by expectations.
Today, Dr. Ambush leads her own private practice, Ambush Pediatrics and Family Medical Clinic. In this role, she provides patients with essential medical care and manages a seven-person staff while providing new services, including psychiatry and substance abuse recovery for the adult and geriatric population.
Beyond the Clinic
In addition to this work in medical care, Dr. Ambush has served as a mentor to students and future nurse practitioners at George Washington University, Coppin State University, and Regis College. She has also acted as an educator at Essex County College and the University of the District of Columbia, teaching and inspiring the next generation of nurse practitioners. She is also a member of several nursing organizations, including the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, NAPNAP Inc., MBON, the American Nurses Association, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Dr. Ambush’s passion for the field has been unwavering ever since high school when she often volunteered in pediatrics. Throughout her career, she has grown to love what she does, and her patients and their families recognize her dedication. They are often willing to wait hours to see her, knowing that she truly cares about her work.
Still Chasing Her Dreams
In the future, Dr. Ambush hopes to expand her practice and provide more essential services for her patients and the wider community. Ever committed to her motto that “If you can dream it, you can achieve it,” she has overcome incredible adversity and thrives despite it.
