Soul of 78- Julianne Stephenson Bittle
Nurse practitioner, Jasper Family Practice
Words by Micah Harrison | Image by Ryan M Gill
For JuliAnne Stephenson Bittle, a career in community service was never a question, rather it was a calling passed down through generations. “That comes from a long line of family members who have committed their lives to service,” Julianne says. “I’ve always had role models that had service at the very core.”
Her family tree includes higher education administrators, teachers, local politicians, ministers, pharmacists, and nurses. Much of her childhood was spent in her uncle Eddie Dodd’s pharmacy, where her mother, Judy Stephenson, worked as a technician. Listening to conversations about medications and disease processes sparked an early interest in healthcare. Her grandmother, Jerry Dodd, served with the American Red Cross, and several great-aunts and cousins were nurses. With so many examples surrounding her, nursing felt like a natural fit.
After graduating from Sumiton Christian School in 2007, Bittle enrolled at Bevill State Community College the following summer. She completed the nursing program in 2010 and began her career in the intensive care unit at Walker Baptist Medical Center in Jasper. Over the next 13 years, she built wide-ranging experience in critical care, all while continuing her education. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing remotely from Central Methodist University, then completed the family nurse practitioner track at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, graduating with a Master of Science in Nursing in 2022.
Once licensed as a nurse practitioner, Bittle sought a practice where she could grow and connect more deeply with patients. Encouraged by recommendations, she submitted her résumé to Jasper Family Practice and joined the clinic in November 2023. The shift from following orders to giving them has been both exciting and rewarding. “I love this side of it,” she says. “It gives me a chance to get to know my patients better.”
The clinic also gives her the opportunity to care for children, something she had always hoped to do. “I’ve always had a heart for children. Working in the ICU, I didn’t get a chance to work with many pediatric patients, but I’ve always felt that calling,” she says.
Looking ahead, Bittle is focused on advancing her education further. She plans to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at the University of Alabama, with hopes of one day opening a pediatric clinic. “I would love to stay in Walker County and just continue serving this county,” she says. “But wherever that call leads is where I will go.” 78