Jessica R. Locke, PhD, APRN, is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the outpatient setting for the UF Health Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, a division of the UF Health Department of Neurology.
Dr. Locke grew up in Miami, FL, where she initially trained in nursing right after high school. She worked as a nurse while obtaining her undergraduate degree in Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida, graduating with honors in 1999. She then went on to complete her PhD in Biomedical Sciences-Neuroscience at the University of Florida College of Medicine in 2005, before returning to her nursing roots and obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Florida in 2007. She has been with the Epilepsy Program since March of 2008 and works closely with all of the neurologists and other providers in the team. She is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Before entering her doctoral program, she also had several years of nursing experience with patients with neurological conditions. Her background in neuroscience research and years of experience caring for patients with neurological conditions have given her a significant knowledge base that she uses daily in providing excellent care for our patients. She has also been a preceptor for graduate-level nursing students and advocate for epilepsy awareness and education, working with Epilepsy Florida and the Epilepsy Foundation. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Epilepsy Society. She is an avid runner, currently with a focus on ultramarathons, and lover of all animals, volunteering for local animal rescue groups.