Neonatal Specialty Practice Group

It is a privilege to serve as co-chair of this Neonatal Community of NPs; I look forward to embarking on the new adventure! I have the honor of being among the first neonatal nurses and neonatal NPs (NNPs) when the specialty was in its infancy and when people were still asking who we were and what we did.

In my long career, I have helped to transform advanced nursing education and practice on multiple levels through novel curriculum design and interprofessional collaboration. I have had the honor of collaborating with many practitioners and educators regarding NNP education, research, advocacy and practice issues.

My benchmark work over the past years led to the development and credentialing process for all NNP distance-education programs in the United States. I have participated in numerous national task forces focused on advanced practice certification processes and the establishment of NNP program standards.

I have been recognized as an international leader in NNP practice and education with many peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and professional presentations. I humbly accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 from the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, the most prestigious national award conferred in this specialty. Another contribution to advanced practice education involves the implementation of team-based learning within asynchronous graduate distance-education platforms.

As one of the first certified NNPs in the country, I was instrumental in developing initial collaborative practice agreements forging the path for future NNPs to function at full capacity. I established the Long Island Perinatal Association in 1990 and was recognized for my pioneer work as March of Dimes Nurse of the Year in 1992. I am most honored to be a member of the NNP certification exam test committee and a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP).

It is very exciting to be able to collaborate with other NNPs to share our ideas and advance health care for neonates and their families. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

I am extremely excited to be involved in the Neonatal SPG at AANP! I’ve been a practicing neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) since 1992 and am currently on faculty at Emory University as the NNP Program Director and the post-MSN DNP Program Director. I have had the honor to represent the neonatal population on the licensure, accreditation, certification and education (LACE) taskforce and have served as the NANNP Council Co-chair (2012-2014) and NCC Board of Directors and President (2014-2019). In 2014, I was inducted as a Fellow in AANP and, at the time of my induction, there was only one neonatal NP as a fellow.

My hope is that this SPG group can fill current gaps in the neonatal NP community and bring synergy between NNP faculty, those in clinical practice and research to advance the profession and assure the continuation and longevity of the NNP role.