Monique Dawson
Called to Duty, Healthcare Driven
story by NAKEISHA DAWSON-THOMPSON photos by SUSAN DELOACH
Monique Dawson, affectionately known as “Mo,” was born and raised in Beaufort, South Carolina. Monique is the fourth child and eldest daughter of George and Julia Dawson Sr. She is the mother of twin girls, Jakayla Leathers and Shakayla Shaw (28), Eric (16), and Hayden Douglas (12). Monique has four beautiful grandchildren: Janell Leathers (7), Danielle Leathers (4), Donell Leathers Jr. (3), and Dawson Legree (7), who happens to carry her family name.
At a young age, she knew she wanted to care for the elderly and vulnerable population. Monique has always had a heart of gold, and been very giving and caring for all people. As a young girl and into her adolescent years, she helped her mother, who is also a nurse, care for her great-grandmother in their home. Her great-grandmother was bedbound and required total care. She learned hands-on bedside and caring skills by assisting her mother in her great-grandmother’s daily care. Those skills that she learned at such an early age have been the foundation of her purpose-driven work in the community. Monique watched her mother tirelessly sacrifice and dedicate her life for many years as she provided nurturing and selfless care for her great-grandmother.
Monique exclaims, “I felt compelled to help and be a support to her when she needed a break. My mother’s call of duty soon became my call of duty. From this moment on, I knew that I was destined to follow in her footsteps. I credit my mom, Julia Dawson, for her unconditional, unwavering love and compassion for helping and extending herself beyond measures to care for others.”
At the age of 17, Monique became a teen mom. Pregnant with twins, this was the pivotal turning point in her life. She knew she would have to work ten times harder to make a way of life for herself and her twin girls. “My parents were super supportive in assisting in the care of my young twins while I continued to pursue my career and education. My number one focus was to obtain a college degree that would provide sustainability for myself as a young, inexperienced, single mother with twins.” This was no easy task, but with hard work, perseverance, dedication, and family support, it became possible.
Education
Monique received a dual Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a concentration in Policy and Advocacy and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Armstrong Atlantic State University, now known as Georgia Southern University. Monique has 20 plus years of broad experience in public health education, nursing, public health advocacy, public health policy, and public health education.
Professional Experience
Monique has worked with South Carolina colleges and universities on initiatives to increase awareness of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure, and support efforts to protect citizens’ health in South Carolina.
She served as the Program Manager/College Wellness Coordinator by way of a grant initiative that she and her fellow colleagues secured, funded by the Center of Disease Control and the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support secondhand smoke exposure reduction in the Palmetto State of South Carolina. This ten-year grant initiative’s primary focus was school districts, colleges, and universities in SC. She developed and maintained liaison with national and governmental agencies in the private and public sectors. Her most effective efforts included the facilitation of our very own flagship college of SC, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, leading and modeling the adoption of a Comprehensive Tobacco-Free Policy. Clemson, USC’s sister university, later modeled and adopted the same policy. Over the next few years, 75 percent of South Carolina colleges and universities, with her technical expertise and assistance, along with college presidents, vice presidents, provosts, and college wellness departments, understood the value and importance of providing a safer and healthier college experience for the future leaders of the world. Monique has been recognized and awarded by the former and 18th Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, the Center for Disease Control, and the Eastern Regional Health and Human Services Director for effectively aiding and reducing the toll of tobacco use throughout the state of SC.
Her extensive background experience has propelled her into the health and wellness industry in a way that has offered her meaningful positions and relationships with her patients and many local physicians. She has worked at the Naval Hospital where she held the title of Promotion Coordinator/Educator. She later began using her practical nursing skills to provide private care nursing in this community.
Monique has served many families with her loving care and nursing expertise for several years before teaming with her cousin, Nakeisha Dawson-Thompson, and opening Beaufort’s first black woman-owned homecare agency. Dawson & Dawson Homecare, LLC, was founded on passion and commitment to this community in December 2018. Monique serves as co-owner and operating manager where she oversees the day-to-day operations of patient care in Beaufort. She also provides hands-on care when necessary to their patients. Monique states, “I love one-on-one care with my clients. I develop genuine and meaningful relationships with them as if they were my loved ones, and they deeply appreciate it. That is rewarding, especially when they live alone or have little to no family to care for them. The most difficult part of nursing is losing my clients.”
Monique is also the owner/operator of Credit Done Right, LLC, where she assists individuals who have destroyed their credit, due to lack of understanding, get back on track while teaching them how to manage their credit. In her spare time, she loves to travel and spend time with her family and loved ones.
