Nelson-Brooks has more than 20 years of experience in clinical and administrative health care leadership and began her VA career in 2010 as a clinical nurse consultant and health promotion disease prevention program manager at the VA New Jersey Health Care System. Before joining the Roseburg VA, Nelson-Brooks served as the lead health system specialist for VA Pacific Islands Health Care System. She was responsible for operationalizing tactical and strategic objectives and assisting the medical center director in the health care system's direction, coordination, and overall management.

Nelson-Brooks obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. In addition, she is a graduate of the Health Care Leadership Development Program, is board-certified in health care management, and is a Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives.