Jean Leak, MS, RN, LCPC

Jean Leak, MS RN LCPC
Registered Nurse | Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor | Healthcare Advocate |
Co-Founder of GGHI/Powering Guide Services Network

Jean Leak is a registered nurse and licensed clinical pastoral counselor with over 30 years of experience in healthcare. Specializing in the health and well-being of women, particularly those at high risk during pregnancy, Jean has dedicated her career to preventing health complications through proactive, compassionate care. She has a passion for working with newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and extending care to mothers and infants post-discharge. However, her primary focus is on preventing the need for NICU services by educating and supporting mothers before risks become realities. Jean also mentors and educates young women, especially those who are disadvantaged, in achieving age-appropriate sexual health and preventing unplanned pregnancies, empowering them to make informed choices for their futures.

Program Development
As co-founder and Vice President of Guide Global Health Initiatives (GGHI) and CEO of the RSO Network, Jean has designed and implemented numerous health education programs aimed at infants, children, women, and families at risk for health and social decline. These programs address the systemic health inequities caused by poverty, race, and gender. Jean integrates her broadcasting expertise to expand the reach of her health programs, producing educational content on GGHI’s RSO App Network to deliver critical health messages to the wider public.

Research and Writing
Jean’s research focuses on the integration of health disciplines, particularly the connection between body, mind, and spirit in healthcare outcomes. In 2017, she co-published a study introducing the Saunders-Leak Faith-Based Integration Assessment Tool, aimed at establishing standards for identifying faith-based interventions that meaningfully contribute to public health and clinical research. The study highlights the need to fund research that tracks the relationship between faith practices and health outcomes, eliminating programs that are "faith-placed" but do not offer substantial contributions to the body of knowledge. Jean is committed to advancing this approach to ensure effective, evidence-based practices in faith and health research.

Graduate Studies (Recent Endeavor)
Jean is currently pursuing graduate studies to become a nurse practitioner, a path that reflects her commitment to ensuring equal access to quality medical care for all community members, especially those who are disadvantaged. Her studies align with her dedication to delivering compassionate, person-centered care that incorporates 21st-century technological and research advancements while maintaining the human touch in healthcare delivery.

Media and Broadcasting
Jean has utilized her background in broadcasting to expand the reach of GGHI’s health education initiatives. Through the RSO App Network, she produces health education and inspirational programming designed to inform and inspire a broader audience. This platform ensures that critical health messages reach vulnerable populations, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health.

Faith and Ministry
In addition to her healthcare work, Jean is an ordained minister (Rev. Leak). She has led faith-based interventions, including co-authoring the Living Free curriculum titled One Nation Under God: Toward Race Reconciliation, which addresses racial intolerance through faith-based education. Jean believes that the faith community can play a critical role in social change, helping to heal divisions and promote equity and inclusion.

Values Integration:
Jean Leak’s work is underpinned by her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and her vision of ALL HANDS ON DECK collaboration to address the 21st-century challenges in public behavioral health. She advocates for keeping the human touch in healthcare service delivery, ensuring that care remains compassionate and person-centered even in this post-COVID era of increasing reliance on technology. Jean is a firm believer in bottom-up leadership, empowering frontline healthcare workers—especially nurses—who often bear the brunt of healthcare challenges. She is dedicated to returning to compassionate bedside care, where the well-being of patients is prioritized over profit. Finally, Jean advocates for a revival of integrative body-mind-spirit models in healthcare education, promoting the benefits of faith and faith practices in improving health outcomes.