Healthy Living with Lisa Varga

Charkes Nesbitt


Author/Director of Jackson’s Central Clearance Center


Industry : Health/Finance Book : "1177: Undaunted"

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Charkes Chaketha Nesbitt is the eldest of her mother and father’s 9 children. She was educated in the Miami-Dade County school system, graduating from G. Holmes Braddock Sr. High. Growing up in Miami’s inner city gave her the impetus to move on in life and defy the odds. Charkes attended Bethune-Cookman College (Daytona Beach, FL) where she received a bachelor’s degree in Registered Nursing. Knowing she would soon plateau as a bedside nurse, she took advantage of an opportunity to attend graduate school. And in December of 2004, Charkes graduated from the University of Florida with a master’s degree in Registered Nursing.

In addition to bedside nursing, Charkes practiced as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, dedicating herself to cardiovascular medicine. And after 11 years of practice, Charkes traded in her stethoscope for a pair of high heels and business suit as she transitioned to the other side of medicine—business and finance. Initially as the Associate Director of Case Management’s Affiliated Programs—at Jackson Health System—Charkes is now the Director of Jackson’s Central Clearance Center, a hub that makes sure all hospitalizations are medically necessary and financially authorized.

More recently, Charkes embarked on a gift she never knew she had. Out of depression, she would often jot down her feelings, creating an avenue where she could vent. And during a conversation with her aunt, she realized she was in possession of another gift—her life story. In March of 2016, she published her first book—“1177: Undaunted”—a journey of her journey. This book is not only special because it documents her life, but it is even more special because it allows the reader to see themselves through her words. It also reveals how beautiful we all are, despite our circumstances.