FNU Quarterly Bulletin Winter 2024, Volume 98, Number 4

QUARTERLY BULLETIN

Celebrating Preceptors

(L-R) FNU alumnus and preceptor Dr. Shelley McGrew, DNP (Class 41), FNU alumnus Ebonique Shanks, CNM (Bridge Class 190), and preceptor Katy Callaghan, CNM

Support FNU’s Memorial For Kitty Ernst

Frontier Nursing University held a memorial ceremony under the ginkgo tree on FNU’s campus for Kitty Ernst on Monday, September 25. Kitty, who passed away in December 2021, was a pioneer who planted the seeds for community-based midwifery and led the development and implementation of FNU’s Community-based Nurse-midwifery Education Program (CNEP) program. Kitty’s life was devoted to serving others. She taught, she led, and she lifted others up. She inspired everyone to pay it forward through service to the profession and to our communities.

Kitty’s visionary leadership set Frontier on an inspired course of innovation and expansion. Most of FNU’s more than 9,000 alumni were blessed with the opportunity to meet Kitty and be inspired by her. To help ensure that Kitty’s memory endures for future members of the FNU community, Frontier plans to place a bench in her honor near the ginkgo tree on campus.

To support this project, please visit https://frontier.edu/give-to-fnu/.

Thank you!

President’s Cabinet

Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN President

Shelley Aldridge, BA Chief Operations Officer

Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN, Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Student Success

Marc Blevins, MS, CISA Chief Information and Digital Officer

Emily Fangue, CPA, MBA, Chief Financial Officer

Bobbi Silver, Chief Advancement Officer

Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN Dean of Nursing

Academic Administration

Audra Cave, DNP, FNP-BC Department Chair Family Nursing

Khara’ Jefferson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C DNP Director

Rachel Risner, Ph.D., DNP, APRN, C-FNP, CNE

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

Kevin Scalf, DNP, APRN, PMHNPBC, CNEcl, Department Chair of Psychiatric-Mental Health

Eileen Thrower, Ph.D., APRN, CNM, CNE, FACNM

Department Chair of Midwifery and Women’s Health

Contents

Letter from the President

Dear Friends,

The beginning of every new year brings with it the feeling of a fresh start. We make resolutions, set goals, and plan courses of action to help us achieve our goals. Maybe we are trying to get healthier, save money, or take up a new hobby. The interesting thing about achieving any of these self-improvement goals is that it is exponentially easier to do so with the help of someone else, someone who has been in your shoes and is now where you aspire to be. We refer to these people as mentors, teachers, coaches, or preceptors.

At FNU, our students rely upon our national network of preceptors to provide them with the in-person clinical experience and guidance they need to practice what they have learned. Preceptors play an essential role, and we are eternally grateful for their generous gift of time, knowledge, and generosity. One of the many ways we show our appreciation for our preceptors is by devoting a section of the Winter issue of the Quarterly Bulletin to preceptors. Once again this year, we are thrilled to be able to share valuable information about precepting and to highlight some of our amazing preceptors and their appreciative students.

While preceptors appropriately take center stage in this issue, we have so much more to share with you, including all you need to know about Homecoming and the dates for the 2024 Diversity Impact Conference and the 2024 Preceptor Week Celebration. We are thrilled to share two stories about amazing alumni who are doing fantastic work to improve psychiatric-mental healthcare in their communities. Community work is also central to the Courier Program Public Health Internship, which will be held again this summer, providing current college students the opportunity to learn about public healthcare. The deadline to apply for the Courier Program is fast approaching. We encourage you to share the information in these pages with anyone you think would benefit from this incredible opportunity.

The new year is indeed filled with hope, optimism, and opportunity. Whether we are playing the role of student or teacher, we can achieve great things. I know we will because the culture of caring, the community of support, and the unified dedication to our mission guide us to coax the best of ourselves and one another daily. Together, we have done great things and will continue to do so. Thank you for sharing our vision and supporting the mission of Frontier Nursing University.

Sincerely,

Susan Stone, CNM, DNSc, FAAN, FACNM

News and Notes Register Today for Homecoming 2024!

Homecoming will be held on March 23, 2024, and offers a great opportunity to reunite with friends and tour the campus. The deadline to register is March 12, 2024. Register online at frontier.edu/homecoming/.

Guests can choose to stay on campus in one of our dorm rooms or coordinate their own accommodations. Please let us know if you want to stay on campus via our registration page. On-campus lodging is available Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23. If you choose not to stay on campus, the Holiday Inn in Versailles, Ky., offers a rate of $115 per night.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Continuing Education Session – Evidence in Practice: A Case Study for Successfully Treating Obesity

This activity is approved for 1.25 contact hour(s) of continuing education (which includes 0.75 hour(s) of pharmacology) by Frontier Nursing University. Location: Community Center

OR

10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Guided Campus Tour

Location: Meet in the Welcome Center

11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Gift Shop Open

Location: Lower Level of the Dining Hall

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Buffet Lunch with the President, Dr. Susan Stone

Location: Dining Hall

1:15 - 2:30 p.m.

FNU-produced documentary examining the visionary leadership behind the establishment of FNU’s distance education program, which began with the Community-Based Nurse-Midwifery Education Program to bring better health care to women, children, and familes. The documentary details the subsequent development of the Family Nurse Practitioner and PsychiatricMental Health Nurse Practitioner programs at FNU. Multiple interviews with members of

the FNU community explain the overarching goal of all of these programs to address the maternal mortality crisis and health care shortages in rural and underserved populations.

Location: Community Center Free to all, snacks provided

3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Private Horse Farm Tour

Location: Mill Ridge Farm, a full-service thoroughbred horse farm in Lexington, Ky. $50 per person

The tour kicks off in the breeding shed, where you will gain an understanding of why this land is so uniquely suited for the Thoroughbred industry. From there, you will follow the tour guide around the farm in a caravan, stopping at different locations to interact with horses of varying ages. You'll be able to get up close and personal with friendly equine residents and even feed them carrots! Transportation to and from Mill Ridge Farm is included in the cost.

6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Homecoming Awards Dinner, cocktail attire

• 6:00 p.m.

Reception in the President’s House

• 7:00 p.m.

Dinner and Awards in the Dining Hall

Location: President’s House & Dining Hall $25 per person (awardees and a guest are complimentary)

FNU Receives Academic Healthy Work Environment Award

Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma) has announced the clinical and academic honorees for the 2024 Healthy Work Environment Award. Frontier Nursing University was named the academic honoree. The application was researched and prepared by FNU associate professor Dr. Charlotte Swint, DNP, MPH, FNP-BC, CNE.

The Healthy Work Environment Award honorees will be recognized during Sigma’s Creating Healthy Work Environments event, which will be held March 8-10 in Washington, DC. The representatives of each honoree will present plenary sessions on Saturday, March 9. FNU Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager, DNP, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, will present A Culture of Caring: Frontier Nursing University. FNU’s Culture of Caring model includes elements of professionalism, inclusivity, respect, positive communication, and mutual support to promote a healthy work environment.

“We are incredibly honored to receive the Academic Healthy Work Environment Award from Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “We have intentionally created an inclusive work environment built on our Culture of Caring, in which all members of the FNU community are empowered and feel valued as part of a mission and organization that is larger than ourselves.”

Sigma’s Healthy Work Environment Awards recognize and honor clinical facilities and academic settings that have demonstrated commitment to promoting a healthy work environment and excellence in healthcare outcomes.

“With more than 2,500 students and over 9,000 alumni from all across the country, our Culture of Caring ultimately extends well beyond the campus of Frontier Nursing University,” Dr. Slager said. “Our students

are prepared to be excellent clinical providers as nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives. By experiencing the FNU Culture of Caring, they are also prepared to be caring, inclusive, and compassionate leaders within their own practices and communities.”

Sigma’s Creating Healthy Work Environments event is designed specifically to help leaders in both academic and clinical settings develop, implement, and maintain strategies to improve their organizations’ work environments.

“The 2024 Healthy Work Environment academic and clinical honorees represent healthy, welcoming places actively demonstrating caring culture, compassion, and collaboration,” said Sigma President Sandra C. Garmon Bibb, DNSc, RN, FFNMRCSI, FAAN. “I congratulate Frontier Nursing University for their accomplishments and leadership in this important area.”

FNU Receives Inclusive Excellence, Belonging, and Sustainability in Nursing Education Award

Frontier Nursing University was announced as the private college and university recipient of the 2023 Inclusive Excellence, Belonging, and Sustainability in Nursing Education Award, presented annually by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). This award recognizes outstanding contributions made by a school of nursing that champions inclusive excellence, belonging, and sustainable, innovative strategies in nursing education. FNU previously the AACN Diversity, Inclusion, and Sustainability in Nursing Education Leadership Award in 2021.

FNU Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Student Success Dr. Paula AlexanderDelpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN, represented FNU at AACN’s Diversity

Symposium, Feb. 5-7. In addition to receiving the award on FNU’s behalf, Dr. Alexander-Delpech presented Frontier Nursing University: Creating a Lasting Culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

“We are thrilled and honored to receive AACN’s Inclusive Excellence, Belonging, and Sustainability in Nursing Education Award,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “We are very proud of our progress in weaving diversity, equity, and inclusion into the fabric of the university. While we still have much work to do, we are intent on creating and maintaining a culture that reflects our mission and will forever be part of the identity of Frontier Nursing University.”

Recognizing the importance of DEI not only in society but also in healthcare, where data clearly shows that culturally concordant care results in improved outcomes, FNU made DEI a strategic priority over 15 years ago. The results have included a more diverse faculty and staff, as well as the enrollment of students of color rising from 9 percent in 2010 to over 30 percent today.

“Our data tells us that we have made significant progress,” Dr. Alexander-Delpech said. “But beyond the numbers, we also have a better overall understanding and awareness of the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Everyone should feel safe, welcomed, heard, and included, and we are committed to striving to reach that standard every day.”

Frontier Nursing University announced Audra Cave, DNP, FNP-BC, as Department Chair for Family Nursing. Dr. Cave has served as the Interim Department Chair since November after the passing of former Department Chair Dr. Lisa Chappell.

“Dr. Cave's steady leadership during a difficult and emotional last few months has provided stability and support to the department.,” said FNU Dean of Nursing

Frontier Nursing University announced that current Information Technology Director Marc Blevins has been promoted to the role of the university’s first Chief Information and Digital Officer (CIDO). In his elevated capacity, Blevins will play a pivotal role in shaping FNU's digital transformation initiatives and ensuring the effective use of information technology across the institution.

“This promotion signifies an important stride towards embracing the ever-evolving landscape of technology, solidifying FNU’s commitment to understanding its fundamental role in supporting our students and advancing our institutional objectives,”

Frontier

Nursing

University Names

Dr. Audra Cave as Department Chair of Family Nursing

Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN. “In the words of one faculty member, ‘Audra instills confidence, vision, caring, and motivation.’”

Dr. Cave previously served as FNU’s Clinical Director for the Department of Family Nursing (2022-2023) and initially joined FNU as a Regional Clinical Faculty in 2011. She also serves as a family nurse practitioner in a Federally Qualified Health Center practice in Spindale, North Carolina.

After obtaining her bachelor of science in nursing from Gardner-Webb University, Dr. Cave later attended FNU. She completed FNU's Family Nurse Practitioner program in 2008 and was awarded the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from FNU in 2010.

“We are so pleased that Dr. Cave has accepted this role as the Department Chair of Family Nursing,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “We were all devastated by the loss of Dr. Chappell, and we are incredibly fortunate to have someone as talented and dedicated as Dr. Cave to lead the Family Nursing Program into the future.”

“I am honored and humbled to be named the new Department Chair of Family Nursing,” Dr. Cave said. “Dr. Chappell was such an inspiring, supportive, and devoted leader. She laid an incredible foundation upon which we will continue to build.”

Frontier Nursing University Names Marc Blevins Chief Information and Digital Officer

said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “His dedication to excellence and forward-thinking approach will undoubtedly propel us into a future where technology is not just a tool but a strategic enabler of our mission.”

As CIDO, Blevins will provide executive leadership and strategic direction for FNU’s information technology operations. He will also prioritize digitizing core processes that will drive analytics and artificial intelligence throughout the institution. His role will include spearheading initiatives related to FNU’s first enterprise resource planning implementation, cybersecurity, and the development of digital platforms to enhance the student experience. He will also hold a position on the university’s President's Cabinet, where he will collaborate with senior leaders and stakeholders.

“I am honored to be a part of Frontier Nursing University, an institution known for

its dedication to innovation and healthcare education,” Blevins said. “My goal is to identify opportunities for technology to catalyze this innovation, build digital trust, and infuse our institution with digital strategies that position our faculty and staff to focus on our number one priority: our students. We will integrate today’s emerging technologies seamlessly into our teaching, learning, research, and administrative functions.”

Blevins joined FNU in December 2022, bringing over 15 years of experience in information technology and higher education administration. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Science in Management Information Systems from Morehead State University. He is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and maintains professional memberships with the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

Frontier Nursing University In the News

FNU Receives Business Impact Award

Frontier Nursing University was honored to receive the 2023 Business Impact Award from the Woodford County (Kentucky) Chamber of Commerce. FNU Chief Advancement Officer Bobbi Silver accepted the award on behalf of the university. The award was presented by City National Bank.

FNU Personnel Complete Local Leadership Academy

In December, Frontier Nursing University Receptionist Kendra-Danaé Harris and Marketing & Student Recruitment Coordinator Rosalie Seitz completed the Woodford County (Kentucky) Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Academy.

Courier Program Presented to Woodford County Health and Wellness Roundtable

Colletti-Jones presented at the Woodford County (Kentucky) Health and Wellness Roundtable on January 31. Colletti-Jones informed the attendees about the FNU Courier Public Health Internship, which resumes this summer. A key component of the Courier program is partnership with local healthcare services and providers, allowing the Couriers to shadow these healthcare professionals and better understand the services they provide.

FNU Student Receives $10,000 Scholarship

MSN and PsychiatricMental Health Nurse Practitioner student Nnenna Nwanonyiri

was recently awarded a $10,000 scholarship from the New Jersey League of Nursing (NJLN). The scholarship recognizes the legacy of past NJLN President Dr. Marureen Sullivan Foley. In November, Nwanonyiri was recognized at the 2023 NJLN Nurse Recognition and Scholarship Awards Program.

Dr. Diana Jolles Selected for Fellowship

Dr. Diana Jolles, Ph.D., CNM, is participating in a Maternal Fellowship with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. “It is very good news for midwifery in the United States, and it is aligned with FNU's mission

of entrepreneurialism, as it specifically focuses on how we finance maternal health to improve the quality of care in the U.S.,” Dr. Jolles said.

FNU Faculty and Students Attend and Present at The Institute for Healthcare Improvement Forum

FNU was well represented at The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Forum held in December in Orlando, Florida. FNU IHI Open School Chapter Faculty Lead Ann Schaeffer, DNP, CNM, M.Ed., CNE, FACNM, led a group of Frontier students and faculty at the event. Student attendees included Catherine Adelakun, Lindsay DeLeo, Mara-Joanne Derinor, Cicily Jeannette, Damaris Michoma, Becky Rouhi, and Cara Wolf. Schaeffer and fellow FNU faculty Dr. Kristin Gianelis, DNP, ANPBC, WHNP-BC, and Dr. Khara' Jefferson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CHC, led a sold-out presentation, “Coaching Nurse-led RapidCycle Quality Improvement Initiatives: Novice to Expert in 150 Days.”

Kendra-Danaé Harris (left) and Rosalie Seitz

FNU Director of Annual Giving and Courier Programs

Lisa

A Message from FNU Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager:

Calling all alumni — we need YOU!

This Quarterly Bulletin focuses on celebrating our preceptors, who are very important to an FNU student’s education and experience. Reflecting on our own education, we all find ourselves repeating words of wisdom that were spoken to us by the people entrusted with our clinical education. Clinical preceptors have the honor of providing direction and guidance to future colleagues. They can and DO make a difference and influence the future of healthcare.

Despite the many benefits and rewards accompanying precepting a student, less than 20% of Frontier's preceptors are alumni. Our goal is to increase the number of FNU graduates who serve as preceptors. Who better to educate our students than practitioners we know have received the best education themselves?

We also recognize that precepting students does come with some challenges. Employers discourage or prohibit providers from taking students, you are worried about how working with a student may affect your productivity, and you are unsure if you would make a good preceptor. We can help you address these challenges by helping you with language that describes the benefits of precepting to an organization such as lower recruitment costs and finding a provider who is a good match for the practice. We can equip you with tips and tools to help you grow into the role of a preceptor. Our Gift of Precepting course, available at https://training.catalog.instructure.com/courses/giftofprecepting, teaches you everything you need to know about precepting. We can show appreciation by offering you one of the many “perks” associated with serving as an FNU preceptor. Access to free CEUs, free online training courses, documentation for recertification, and honorariums are just a few of the benefits you gain as an FNU Preceptor.

If you want to reap the rewards and benefits of being a preceptor, please reach out to our Clinical Outreach and Placement Services at ClinicalAdvising@frontier.edu and we will help you get started. Our students need you!

With gratitude,

Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN Dean of Nursing

Preceptors

Dr. Slager’s Top Reasons to Precept:

1. Seeing a student’s “light bulb” come on is so exciting.

2. Opportunity to evaluate potential new hires.

3. Someone needs YOU as badly as you needed your preceptor.

4. Taking a student is an inexpensive investment in your practice’s future.

5. Opportunity to be a role model.

6. Students bring the most upto-date information to your practice.

7. Students’ enthusiasm breathes energy into a practice.

8. Your patients love the added attention – they get two for the price of one!

9. Having trouble finding the perfect partner for your practice? Take a student (or three) and see if there is a match.

Everything You Need to Know About Precepting

Why Become A Preceptor

• Help expand access to quality, compassionate care to diverse, rural, and underserved populations.

• Earn an honorarium based on the percentage of time spent precepting students.

• Gain access to FREE CEUs, including sessions on pharmacology and other current topics.

• Promote your profession through the education and guidance of your future peers.

• Gain access to the latest clinical guidelines in order to stay current in practice.

• Earn a 10% discount on all non-matriculating courses at FNU.

Are You Qualified to Be a Preceptor? Let’s Check!

FNU needs preceptors with the following credentials and qualifications:

• Valid, unencumbered U.S. license to practice required

• One year of relevant experience in an advanced practice role

• Master’s Degree or higher in nursing related field (we do allow BSN for midwives, but an MSN is preferred)

• MDs and DOs (clinical time % based upon program)

• For PMHNP students: therapists with a master’s degree and licensure in the state of practice

We are seeking preceptors from the following specialties:

• Nurse-Midwife

• Family Nurse Practitioner

• Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner

• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Precepting Facts and Figures

• The average FNU student needs three clinical sites to complete all required experiences.

• The need is great, and the competition for clinical sites is heavy.

• The demand for preceptors is constant.

Contact Us!

To learn more about precepting, contact The FNU Department of Clinical Outreach and Placement. Our staff will be happy to:

• Answer questions about the process to become a preceptor

• Provide support to preceptors when using the online preceptor profile portal

• Provide information regarding our Master and Expert Preceptor programs

• Answer questions regarding preceptor honorariums

You can reach our department via email at ClinicalAdvising@ frontier.edu

Celebrating Preceptors

FNU alumnus Ebonique Shanks, CNM is now a certified nurse-midwife at Vanderbilt Health. But not so long ago, she was a student completing her clinicals. She kindly shared the following reflection on her experience and the poem she wrote for her preceptors.

I had the amazing opportunity to move to Arizona for my clinical experience. The El Rio midwives were amazing. As a student, it was the best place to learn and grow! I wrote this for them.

I am who I am.

I am made up of Lodz’s wisdom and advocacy for patients. Her capacity to sit with a black mama, retelling the devastation that was her birth journey, but celebrating the black prince she has created.

The quiet, calm presence of Raelynn, who watches a mama in all her laboring glory and intuitively knows when to encourage movement or a position change. A confident black provider navigating a predominantly white institution with such grace and ease.

The waiting, folded hands of Jodi as she anticipates an emerging baby, as a woman begins to crown. Trusting a woman’s capability to birth her child undisturbed but holding the knowledge of her toolkit at the forefront of her mind, and the joy of letting a big sister catch her baby brother.

The tranquil way that Shelley provides education to an overstimulated, sleep-deprived breastfeeding mama. Her serene presence is able to dissipate any fear or concern in a labor room.

The diligence of Monica’s charting and mastery in having hard conversations.

The confident, stealthy, skilled hands of Diana as she expertly navigates a pregnant woman’s belly. Passing down her passion for midwifery…and research. Educating the next generation of midwives with excitement, dedication, and fervor. Always available to lend a listening ear, able to handle courageous conversations with such dignity, and okay with agreeing to disagree.

The ease in the way Janice can be, “with women.” Making anyone who comes into her presence feel comfortable and like family.

Sing-song voice of Janna as she navigates the hallways of Grant and Dodge.

The strong patient advocacy of Emily and her ability to make a student feel confident in their growing skills.

The undisturbed, composed Katy as she navigates a student-precipitated emergency. Her propensity to allay fear and instead, promote confidence and newfound wisdom.

The expertise of Judy to have the hard conversations about diet and physical activity, and the plethora of knowledge she has, especially for hemorrhoids. Her nurturing guidance alleviating any anxiety.

And the cheerful celebration of James as she watches a new midwife be birthed. I am who I am because you’ve made me, me. Tiny pieces of you all now etched into the essence of my being. Culminating into a midwife.

— Ebonique Shanks

Ebonique Shanks (left) with FNU clinical faculty and preceptor Dr. Diana Jolles, Ph.D., CNM, FACNM

Ebonique Shanks (middle) with preceptors Shelley McGrew (left) and Katy Callaghan

Ebonique Shanks (middle) with preceptor FNU alumnus and faculty Dr. Judith Butler, DNP (Class 09) (left), and preceptor Lodz Joseph-Lemon (right)

2023 Preceptor of the Term Honorees

“They are a dynamic duo who are always concerned with providing quality care with a patient-centered focus and in a timely manner in a collaborative practice.”

— Karen Howell, FNU student

— Terra Edwards, FNU student

“Students are a blast to have. They can be a helpful resource at times, and you get to contribute your knowledge to the general body of emerging PMHNPs, which I feel advances the practice further.”

— Lance Briggs, PMHNP

“I love watching everything come together, and the confidence build. It’s so rewarding to give back and shape the future. I absolutely love being able to be a part of this process and giving back, especially to Frontier, being a former student.”

— Tricia Heinrich, CNM

“When working with Freda as a student, I can simply see her passion for continuing education. She loves to teach students and pass her wealth of knowledge and skills on to future generations of nurse practitioners. It has been such a blessing to have this opportunity.”

— Amanda Moore, FNP student

“He has allowed me to evaluate and treat every patient that has been willing with his validation and guidance. He has gone above and beyond to share patient histories with me so that I am prepared for the visit. My experience with Mr. Flint has been so valuable, and I feel lucky to have had such a kind and encouraging mentor.”

— Alexandra, Hauser, FNU student

“I wanted to help alleviate some of the stress and frustrations that go along with finding preceptors. I enjoy teaching and sharing what I have learned, but I often feel I am learning more than I am teaching.”

—

James

Flint, PMHNP

“I enjoy working with the students and seeing them learn and grow in their profession. It’s very rewarding to see them put together their classroom work with hands-on practice.”

— Freda Hubbard, FNP

“Lance allows students to learn in the way that best fits their individual needs.”

Frances Sahrphillips, CNM and Tricia Heinrich, CNM

James Flint, PMHNP

Lance Briggs, PMHNP

Freda Hubbard, APRN

Left photo: Preceptor Frances Sahrphillips, CNM (left) with student Karen Howell

Right photo: Preceptor Tricia Heinrich, CNM (left) with student Karen Howell

What Our Preceptors Say About Precepting

We surveyed our preceptors from the past year and they told us about their experience as preceptors for FNU students. Total respondents:

How satisfied were you with your experience serving as a Preceptor for an FNU student?

Did you find the process for setting up your Preceptor Profile information easy to understand?

How well prepared did you feel the FNU student was when they began thier clinical experience with you?

Do you feel suppported by FNU if you have concerns or issues while precepting?

Preceptor Celebration Week

In August, Frontier Nursing University held its first annual Preceptor Celebration Week to celebrate the important role of preceptors. This virtual celebration showcased FNU preceptors’ work and acknowledged their key role in shaping future advanced practice nurses.

The week also marked the beginning of FNU’s preceptor contest, which continues through June 1, 2024. Nominate a FNU credentialed preceptor to unlock their chance to win a $500 gift card usable for airfare, hotel accommodations, etc*. Winners will be announced via email by July 1st, 2024.

Here are just a few examples of the nominations we have received so far:

For more information on FNU's Preceptor Celebration Week and to submit your nomination, scan this QR code or visit Frontier.edu/preceptorweek.

Gina Dabney, FNP

Gina takes into account daily practice challenges as she makes sure she is providing current evidence-based care. She has worked in an FQHC for over 15 years and works with patients who have multiple social disparities practices to her full scope. She really shows true primary care ability to students.

I have reached out to Gina when students have lost their sites and are in urgent need of a clinical site. Gina has always tried to make room for students. She just doesn't add a student she makes sure she can give them the attention that they require- making sure she is advancing their knowledge.

She is an excellent FNP, and she makes sure she provides students with an environment that allows them to learn their new roles.

Preceptor Ursula Brooks-Clemons, PMHNP (left) with student Mary Martin

FNU Student Kendall Roberson (left) with Preceptor Fernanda Cooley, PMHNP

Preceptor Celebration Week

Fernanda Cooley, PMHNP

Fernanda has truly been a blessing! She provides a safe learning environment, is eager to teach, and is a perfect example to all students on how a provider should practice. Fernanda makes it a priority that I understand the rationale for each patient's treatment. She is encouraging and motivating. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to meet her.

Fernanda goes above and beyond to ensure that I learn everything. She has a passion to provide our community with competent providers, so it truly is a joy for her to teach. She has been so kind to me. She has never been irritated or angered with me about asking questions. Fernanda is a non-judgmental, empathetic provider. She truly cares about each and every one of her patients. Fernanda has not only inspired me to be a good provider but also a better person. She truly cares about meeting the needs of all demographic backgrounds within our community. She learned 4 additional languages to care for patients with a language barrier. She is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, ASL, and English. I have never met a provider who learned multiple languages to better serve her community. I have truly been inspired, and I am thankful that I met her. She impacted how I will interact with future patients. She has allowed me to see care delivered through a compassionate lens. Whenever I start to precept students, I want to be just like her.

Ingrid Andersson, CNM

Ingrid is always open to taking our students. She is flexible and accommodating. She is warm and supportive and is always on top of her students as an educator. She is present

with intent and models excellent care, while ensuring students are grasping each concept. Students love their time with her, getting exposure to community midwifery and learning to experience birth and care delivery through a different lens than in the hospital. Our students report their experiences with her were invaluable, and they appreciate her teaching style.

Ursula White, PMHNP

Ursula has been enormously helpful in my learning. She is great at going through diagnostic steps and step-wise prescribing. She demonstrates various counseling techniques with patients.

Ursula gives thoughtful feedback each week with actionable items to help me improve as a provider. She is a fabulous teacher and encourages me in my development as an PMHNP.

John DeVilla, FNP

This preceptor helped me think critically, promote independence, and battle imposter syndrome. He was always patient with me and demonstrated how to provide highquality care to complex patients. This preceptor never made me feel inferior or inadequate but instead always promoted confidence and made learning exciting.

Billie Hamilton, CNM

Billie Hamilton is the Director of Midwifery at The University of Maryland Capital Region Medical. While she wears many hats, she always takes the time to nurture the learning and maturation of future midwives. Because the location is in a very diverse and urban part of Maryland, many of the midwives that she mentors are midwives of color, which adds to the

Nominations Due June 1!

Contest Rules:

• Must complete FNU's "Nominate a Preceptor to Win!" Form in its entirety

• The preceptor must be an FNUcredentialed preceptor

• The form submission must be made by June 1, 2024

• Submit nominations at Frontier.edu/preceptorweek

* Gift vouchers are non-transferable, non-refundable, and cannot be exchanged for cash. No change or certificate for unused differences can be issued. All entries must be submitted by June 1, 2024, and (3) winners will be notified by July 1, 2024. Gifts that exceed $600 in total from Frontier Nursing University are subject to be taxed. All taxes on any prize won are the sole responsibility of each winner, including any federal, state, or local taxes, which may be deemed applicable in such winner’s jurisdiction of residence. Winners shall be solely responsible for the reporting and payment of all taxes incurred by acceptance and use of the prize if applicable. Consult your personal accountant on any tax implications.

diversity of the future of midwifery. She is a leader amongst her peers, highly respected by all that she encounters. She genuinely and wholeheartedly has a passion for education.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

Preceptor Celebration Week is August 12–16, 2024!

Tracy Kramer, FNP

Tracy takes precepting NP students very seriously. She is dedicated to ensuring students have learning opportunities when they are with her. She helps her students gain confidence and is always helpful in guiding students as they navigate the waters of becoming providers. She helps them understand how the disease process works and challenges them to become better nurses and providers by allowing us to learn in different scenarios that test our knowledge. I cannot say enough kind things about her. I am very fortunate that she agreed to help me during my clinical time. She is truly committed to helping grow the future of nurse practitioners.

She is committed to helping others achieve their goals as a nurse practitioner. She fosters an environment where students feel safe asking questions and can grow in their role as a provider. I feel that she has given back so much to students, her community, and her profession as an NP. She deserves recognition for a job well done.

Auriel Ciccarelli CNM, WHNP

I have never seen anyone so willing to take students on as Mrs. Ciccarelli. She frequently "advertises" when she has spots available for students. I've emailed over 250+ preceptors trying to secure placement, most of whom don't answer or acknowledge students like me, who don't have any Labor experience. Not only did that not matter to Mrs. Ciccarelli, but she encouraged me that I can be successful.

How could she not be deserving? She actually seeks out students. How rare is that?? She's gentle in her correction (in my case, it's generally a redirection as I'm still not used to the time constraints of the clinic setting), never feels harsh, and she does so in a way that isn't embarrassing (coming from someone who is easily embarrassed) but still makes clear that a correction/redirection has been made.

Angela Kern, FNP

Angela Kern is a knowledgeable, friendly, and supportive preceptor. Angela has earned her MSN and DNP through FNU and has been committed to ensuring students leave her mentorship feeling like safe and confident providers. During my clinical rotation, I had a major delay with Oregon credentialing, and Angela agreed to take me back on as a student. She also encouraged me to continue my education and earn my DNP.

She is amazing! She held out for me when I thought I would not be able to graduate. She is amazing with her patients. They all love her. She not only takes on students, but she has the biggest patient panel at the clinic. She does so much and deserves this award.

Preceptor Billie Hamilton, CNM (seated, second from right) with a group of midwives celebrating the retirement of a fellow midwife.

Student Kristina Gunnlaugsoon (left) with preceptor Courtney McMillian.

Dr. Tracy Hicks Puts Her Mind to Improving Access to Mental Healthcare

Dr. Tracy Hicks, DNP ( Class 23), MBA, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, FIAAN, FAANP

When you rank last in anything, there are two ways to respond: accept defeat or embrace the opportunity. After all, there is nowhere to go but up.

It is safe to say that the latter is the mindset that FNU alumnus Dr. Tracy Hicks DNP( Class 23), MBA, APRN, FNP-

nonprofit advocating for people with mental illness, ranked Texas 51st for mental health care access, behind every other state and Washington, D.C.*

That ranking came a full seven years after Hicks organized her practice, which officially opened in 2016. Since then, C-Trilogy has grown significantly with the intent of helping as many people as they can.

“I started in 2015 with myself and a front desk person,” Hicks said. “By 2020, I had a front desk person and a part-time nurse.”

Currently, the clinic has 12 staff members, including a psychiatrist/ medical director, a physician assistant, a licensed master social worker, a licensed vocational nurse, a medical assistant, a licensed chemical dependency counselor, three psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners, two patient navigators/ crisis interventionalists, and a front desk manager/executive assistant and assistant clinical director. Incredible to think that this vitally important clinic almost never existed.

BC, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, FIAAN, FAANP, adopted when she opened C-Trilogy Comprehensive Clinical Care/CTrilogy Outreach (C-Trilogy) in Longview, Texas. In 2022, Mental Health America, a

Hicks always wanted to be a nurse, but it wasn’t until she was in the family nurse practitioner (FNP) program at the University of Texas at Arlington that she was drawn to the possibility of being a psychiatricmental health nurse practitioner.

me if I would be interested in the PMHNP program because of my performance in didactic and clinical. I told her I wanted to complete the FNP program because I wanted to offer a holistic care model, but I promised her that I would take a semester off and return because I did love the psych rotation. I did just that, and my Program Director remains in my life today as a mentor and like a second mom.”

Hicks’ real mom was also a nurse but encouraged her to become a physician.

“I told her I wanted to become a nurse because I had watched her and how her colleagues and patients loved her,” Hicks said. “She loved her work. She made me promise that if I wanted to be a nurse, I would go to the top and make an impact.”

“We had to take a full semester of psych with a 45-hour clinical rotation,” Hicks said. “The PMHNP Director at the time asked

Establishing a psychiatric-mental health clinic in the state with the lowest access to mental healthcare certainly makes an impact. Hicks credits FNU’s DNP program for helping prepare her to establish and manage her own practice.

“When I researched universities online, I was attracted to FNU's rural health focus,” said Hicks, who is also an associate professor in the College of Nursing at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. “I remember being inspired by Dr. Diane John. She was so helpful and supportive throughout my journey at FNU. I met Dr. Khara’ Jefferson toward the end of my journey, and she was instrumental in my grounding toward the end. Dr. Eileen Thrower taught the ‘nurse as an educator’ course, which solidified my interest in teaching at the graduate level. I also used some of my courses as a guide in setting up and refining my clinic.”

and was blessed to receive funding in 2022 for the planning, development, and implementation of a CCHBC Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Planning, Development, and Implementation Grant.”

The CCBHC model ensures access to coordinated comprehensive behavioral health care and serves those who request mental health or substance use care.

“My motto is ‘restricted NP practice anywhere is restricted access to care everywhere,’” Hicks said. “Increasing access to mental health services is key. We have to take a more proactive approach versus a reactive approach. Mental healthcare tends to get more attention when there a tragic events such as mass shootings and the pandemic, which highlighted health inequality. Issues such as this wreak havoc on the population's mental health. We need to continue to be proactive and promote and cultivate crucial and fierce conversations on the state of mental health and the solutions that are needed. We need all healthcare providers to practice to the fullest extent of their education without unnecessary barriers and restrictions.”

Balancing her duties as a clinician, educator, and advocate might seem daunting to most, but to Hicks, it is the most effective way for her to serve her community and her state.

Part of refining her clinic to meet the community's needs included the establishment of C-Trilogy Outreach, a nonprofit branch of C-Trilogy, in 2020. This came in response to a growing number of patients, both insured and uninsured, who were presenting with more complex issues during the pandemic.

“I established a non-profit in 2020 in hopes of securing funding to expand and transform the practice to meet the needs of the community,” Hicks said. “I researched and studied the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model and met with stakeholders, including the local mental health authority. I applied for grant funding through SAMHSA

C-Trilogy has established relationships with the Harris County Jail System and the Jim Meyer Comprehensive Health Center, which is partially funded by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.

“We used to have contracts with them, but now we work collaboratively referring patients between organizations when needed,” Hicks said.

Understanding that C-Trilogy cannot fix the state’s mental healthcare needs alone, Hicks has become a vocal leader in advocating for increased awareness and funding. As a presenter and speaker, she addresses the importance of the social determinants of health in providing individualized and holistic care on a broader scale.

“I plan to continue work as an educator and clinic owner/entrepreneur while being an exemplary leader and addressing the needs of underserved populations,” she said. “I hope to expand my clinic model into Full Practice States. I intend to continue to support Texas Nurse Practitioners and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners as we work with legislators to secure Full Practice Authority in Texas and across the nation.”

*https://mhanational.org/issues/2022/ranking-states#four

Dr. Bradley Kuo: Thinking Ahead About Mental Healthcare

Ever since he graduated high school a year early, Bradley Kuo, DNP (Class 33), M.Ed., APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CARNNP, has made being ahead of schedule the norm. He completed an accelerated master of nursing program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and completed his DNP at Frontier Nursing University while working five jobs. He even started his mental telehealth practice – the first based in Hawaii – in 2018, two years before the pandemic drove other practices to start offering telehealth.

The reality is that Kuo hasn’t rushed through anything. Rather, he was making up for lost time after completing his undergraduate studies at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, as a music major intending to become a high school choir director. He then earned a master’s of education in counseling with an emphasis in student affairs at Northern Arizona. A healthcare career was not yet on the horizon.

Kuo worked in higher education administration for several years with stops at Cal Poly Pomona, UC Berkeley, and finally, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he worked for three years.

“That last year, I started to complete the prerequisites to get into the master’s entry program in nursing at UH,” said Kuo, who grew up in Wisconsin and spent one year in Germany as a foreign exchange student. “In 2010, I did my pre-licensure year. What nurses would typically do in three years of education, I and my cohort had to get it done in one. It was very intense. As soon as we were done, we had to go right into the graduate program. After all that, I did graduate with a BSN and an MSN as an FNP and an advanced public health nurse. Over the course of those several years in the graduate program, I worked in longterm care and hospice. I really enjoyed that because it shapes how I have conversations with my patients now.”

Kuo and his husband, Erik, now own and operate Wellness Partners Hawaii, Inc., an online telemental health clinic. Wellness Partners Hawaii opened in 2018. In 2019, Kuo enrolled in the DNP program at Frontier. By then, he had a wealth of experience in nursing, including being a nurse practitioner for hospice, working in a pediatrics clinic, and working with the Honolulu Police Department in corrections as an independent contractor. Then, he began working at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 2015, he enrolled at

Johns Hopkins and earned his postgraduate certificate for psychiatric-mental health.

“While I was working at Queens, the thing about getting that DNP kept on nagging me,” Kuo said. “That’s when I decided it was time in 2019 to do the Frontier Nursing DNP program.”

He approached the DNP the same way he had the rest of his academic and professional career, taking on multiple projects simultaneously.

“I needed a program that would allow me some flexibility because I was working full-time at the hospital,” Kuo said. “I was literally working five jobs while I was getting my DNP: Full time at the hospital, running my mental health business, my husband and I started a medical spa, I was working for the police department, and I held a couple of other smaller jobs. I was really busy while at the same time doing the work for the DNP. I decided I was going to torture myself and really stack up the classes. I did get my DNP done rather quickly, but it was intense. My faculty mentor, Ana Verzone (DNP, FNP, CNM, PMHNP), was amazing. She was instrumental in helping me move through my program.”

Even with his businesses and career already flourishing, Kuo believed in the value of the DNP. His experiences since then have validated his beliefs. Kuo has become an active leader in local and state healthcare policies, serving on a seemingly endless list of boards and committees.

“One of the things the DNP helped me achieve is that I am able to be a part of a lot more leadership roles,” Kuo said. “I am able to be a part of a lot more initiatives, and that is because of my completion of that degree. My ability to take on leadership roles has been a big piece of my work since I finished my degree at Frontier. People pointed at me,

Bradley Kuo, DNP (Class 33), M.Ed., APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CARN-NP

Bradley (left) and his husband Erik

saying, “Well, you’ve got your DNP; you can manage this.” Other leadership roles were something that was asked of me. It also helped to get the attention of legislators. Using my academic title is important at times so that I can be heard in the work that we are doing.”

Kuo has served as the chair of the legislative committee for the Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses. Last year, he was selected by the governor for an interim appointment as the APRN representative for the Hawaii State Board of Nursing until the Senate is able to solidify that appointment during the next legislative session. Kuo is also the Chair of the Board of Directors for Mental Health Kokua, a nonprofit organization founded in 1973 to assist those dealing with mental illness. He is the Hawaii liaison for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and is on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Hawaii.

“As APRNs and nurses, we actually have to take our seat at the table. We can’t wait for somebody to offer it to us,” Kuo said. “What that might look like is we might submit legislative testimony. That’s how we can take our seats. We can be very involved from a legislative perspective. If we wait for somebody to give us a seat at the table, it’s going to take a long time. I think there are ways to take our seat at the table that are not overbearing but can support the organizations’ or the state's mission to move the healthcare needs forward.”

Much of Kuo’s committee work involves ensuring that APRNs are working within their scope of education, certification, and licensure. This, he says, ultimately leads to a better overall healthcare system.

“In the work that I do politically, it really is improving access to care for the people of Hawaii,” Kuo said. “If we’re not working

outside of our scope, certain organizations in the country and this state have less of an argument to make when suggesting that we’re not properly trained and educated. Then we’re in a much better spot in being able to advocate for the patient care we are able to deliver. For that reason, the state of Hawaii put together the APRN Scope of Practice Algorithm to ensure APRNs can ask themselves if they are working within that scope. If the answer is no, they need to course correct.”

Other legislative issues that Kuo has addressed include financial concerns, such as increasing state-funded loan reimbursement and preceptor tax credits.

“Pay parity is a very difficult problem here,” Kuo said. “Hawaii is one of the lowest reimbursing states for care. I am envious of my colleagues in other states who get more money for the work that they do. The medicare reimbursement doesn’t meet what is needed to provide care here. I am part of a couple of groups that are working to lobby federal legislators to increase medicare reimbursement. Typically, an APRN throughout the country gets reimbursed 85% of what a physician does. We are already operating at a deficit in a state that makes it difficult for APRN-run and physician-run clinics to operate financially.”

Fortunately, Kuo’s Wellness Partners Hawaii is succeeding. The practice now includes 17

therapists and five subscribers and averages more than 100 new patients per month and 98 percent of all care is conducted via telehealth. Common presentations include PTSD, depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and issues related to substance use. The only time in-person appointments are conducted is to meet DEA requirements to start a controlled substance.

“We have been focused on reaching the communities that have less access to care,” Kuo said. “We thought the best way for us to improve access to care is to use technology. We’ve been doing telehealth before it was even popular. During the pandemic, when everyone was trying to pivot how they deliver health care, we were already there.”

While Kuo has found the value in telehealth, he is no stranger to in-person mental health care. His interest in mental healthcare developed when he worked in student affairs at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He found that helping first-year college students involved a significant mental health aspect.

“As I became more involved in the mental health world, I needed to make sure I had the education and training to back that up,” Kuo said. “That’s when I decided to go back to Johns Hopkins. Once I was done with that program, then my work in mental healthcare catapulted. I worked on ways to improve mental healthcare in the workplaces that I was in. I just grew to embrace mental healthcare.”

While fully invested in the care of his patients, his staff, and his legislative work, Kuo does so with an eye toward the future, where he hopes to see greater access to care for all Hawaii residents.

“We’re constantly working to improve access to care,” Kuo said. “Nurses and APRNs are trained differently, so how we deliver that care may be improved for certain members of the population. As we continue to evolve here in the state, I think nurses and nurse practitioners can have an even greater seat at the table.”

Join Us at the Florida Council of Nurse-Midwives Annual Meeting

AHOY!!

Set sail with the Florida Council of Nurse-Midwives (FCNM) for their annual meeting, sponsored by Frontier Nursing University, on the Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, May 10-13, 2024.

• Departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, on May 10th, you'll enjoy three nights and a visit to Nassau, Bahamas, and Cocoa Cay.

• As a platinum sponsor, FNU is rolling out the red carpet with a special reception and an entertaining scavenger hunt (plus great prizes) during the cruise.

• Earn 5 CEU credits (pending), hear from dynamic speakers on various topics, mix and mingle at social events, and relish quality family time while exploring all the Royal Caribbean amenities!

• Book Available Cabins Now!

• We’re proud to share that FNU faculty member Dr. Megan Arbour will be presenting an education session during the cruise with former faculty member Dr. Jane Houston.

• Find all of the cruise details, including pricing and booking at floridaacnm.com/

• Contact Sarah Garlie with Dream Vacations at sgarlie@dreamvacations.com to book your cruise.

Let's make a splash on the seas together!

Sarah Harlan

Frontier Nursing University Development and Alumni Relations

MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center Welcomes

Denise Castellanos

MemorialCare

Saddleback Medical Center recently welcomed Denise Castellanos, CNM, DNP (Class 37), as part of their new midwifery program that opened in Laguna Hills, California, in February 2024.

Benton City Clinic Welcomes Selena Diaz

Selena Diaz, PMHNP, DNP (Class 49), recently joined Benton City Clinic in Benton City, Washington, where she provides psychiatric services.

Holly Drake Joins Central Carolina Women’s Health Center

In December, Holly Drake, MSN, CNM (Class 88) IBCLC, joined Central Carolina Women’s Health Center in Sanford, North Carolina.

Cherokee Regional Medical Center Welcomes

Jeannette Hasle

Jeanette Hasley, MSN, CNM (Class 183), recently joined Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee, Iowa.

Kate Kasowitz joins Enosburg Health Center

Kate Kasowitz, MSN, FNP (Class 200), recently joined Enosburg Health Center in Enosburg Falls, Vermont, where she works in family medicine.

Baptist Health Women’s Clinic Welcomes

Madison Needham

Madison Needham, CNM (Class 201), recently joined Baptist Health Women’s Clinic in Fort Smith, Arkansas, as a Certified NurseMidwife.

Leah Shirey Joins Centra Medical Group

Centra Medical Group recently welcomed Leah Shirey, MSN, FNP (Class 145), to their Buckingham Clinic in Dillwyn, Virginia.Hollins specializes in chronic illness prevention and management and providing care to HIV and HCV patients. She also has experience in primary care, infectious disease, medication-assisted treatment services, and outpatient substance abuse care.

Shauna Smith Joins

Precision Healthcare Specialists

Shauna Smith, MSN, FNP (Bridge 159), recently joined Precision Healthcare Specialists in Fort Myers, Florida, as a nurse practitioner providing multidisciplinary breast care.

Alumni News & Notes

Seasons For Women

Welcomes Cassie Swayne

Cassie Swayne, MSN, CNM (Class 200), recently joined Holston Medical Group’s Season For Women in Bristol, Tennessee.

Christine Thomas Joins

OHM Mental Health and Wellness Center

OHM Mental Health and Wellness Center in Lewiston, Idaho, recently welcomed Christine Thomas, MSN, PMHNP (Class 191), as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. Her practice focuses on helping patients manage depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, addiction, and bipolar disorder through psychotherapy, medication, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and Spravato.

Fawn Workman Opens

Hello Hope Medical Weigh

A ribboncutting ceremony for Hello Hope Medical Weight Loss in Forest, Virginia, was held on February 2.

Hello Hope Medical Weight Loss, which is owned by Fawn Workman, FNP, PMHNP (Class 155), provides a holistic approach to healthcare, specifically addressing both the physical and mental aspects of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

"We are thrilled to open our doors to the community," Workman said. “It's important to note that our community extends beyond the physical location, reaching all of Virginia through our telehealth services.”

The Frontier Nursing University Office of Alumni Relations is here to support YOU! Our purpose is to offer helpful programs and services that support our graduates. Alumni are an integral part of FNU’s development because you demonstrate the excellence of FNU in everyday practice. You are also our primary recruiters and most loyal donors. We deeply appreciate your commitment to FNU.

The Alumni Association is open to all graduates of FNU. We currently have more than 9,000 alumni in all 50 states and many countries around the world. We encourage you to explore the services, programs, and activities offered and become involved. There are several ways to stay in touch with friends and connect to FNU, including conference receptions, case days, e-newsletters, and the FNU Alumni Facebook Group. Please ensure we have your most recent contact information to take advantage of all member services.

Email us at at alumniservices@ frontier.edu.

STAY IN THE KNOW

We know you want to stay informed about all that is happening at FNU. To make sure you don’t miss communications such as the Quarterly Bulletin or our monthly e-newsletters, please take a moment to make sure we have your updated contact information. Please send your updated contact information, including your preferred email address, phone number, and mailing address, to alumniservices@frontier.edu.

Thank you!

Share Your Story…

As We Celebrate Our 100th Anniversary in 2025!

In 2025, Frontier Nursing University will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of our inception. We want to celebrate by capturing and sharing the countless stories that make up our history. Whatever your connection to FNU, we want to hear your Frontier story. Our

We are looking to spotlight FNU community members in our blog! Tell us your story by scanning the QR code and filling out the form or email stories@ frontier.edu. Then, someone will contact you soon. These spotlight stories help us shine a light on all of the amazing accomplishments and the impact our community members have on their home communities and the University community.

alumni, couriers, donors, volunteers, friends, and employees have made an incredible impact on FNU's journey over the past 100 years and we are incredibly grateful to you.

Please scan the QR code to share your story and help us celebrate all FNU has accomplished.

Faculty Publications and Presentations

PUBLICATIONS

Catherine Collins-Fulea

Lefever-Rhizal, D., Collins-Fulea, C. and Bailey, J.M. (2023), Trauma-Informed Psychosocial Screening and Care Planning: A Patient-Centered Improvement Project in a Midwife Clinic. J Midwifery Womens Health., 68: 652-658.

PODIUM PRESENTATIONS

Cathy Cook

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. (2021, March 24). Drug overdose: Prescription opioid overdose maps.

Greene County Public Health. (2017, July). Opioid overdose epidemic: Focus on community health improvement: Lifestyles & behavioral health: (Strategic issue #2). [Data brief].

Knowles, M. S., Holton, E. F. III, & Swanson, R. A. (1998). The adult learner. The definitive classic in adult education and human resource development. Fifth Edition. Gulf Publishing Company.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021, March 11). Opioid overdose crisis.

Ogrinc, G. S., Headrick, L. A., Barton, A. J., Dolansky, M. A., Madigosky, W. S., & Miltner R. S. (2018). Fundamentals of health care improvement: A guide to improving your patient’s care (3rd Ed.) Institute for Healthcare Improvement. IHI.

Stewart, C. (2017, June 23). Dayton’s overdose crisis has a regrettably easy pathway: Its highways. Dayton Daily News.

Torica Fuller

Swint, C. & Jefferson, K. (2024, February 5-7). Supporting Linguistically and Culturally Diverse DNP Students Through Distance Learning. [Podium presentation]. AACN 2024 Diversity Symposium, New Orleans, LA, United States.

Khara’ Jefferson

Johnson, S. & Jefferson, K. (2024, April 17-21). Reconceptualizing and Embracing Well-being in a Doctoral Program: A Lesson in Self-Awareness. [Podium presentation]. 2024 NONPF Annual Conference: The NP Educators Golden Jubilee, Baltimore, MD.

Jefferson, K. & Swint, C. (2024, April 1721). Supporting Linguistically and Culturally Diverse DNP Student Learning Needs. [Poster presentation]. 2024 NONPF Annual Conference: The NP Educators Golden Jubilee, Baltimore, MD.

For the North Carolina Nurses Association/Nurse Practitioner Conference - 2 abstracts were accepted (see attached documents). 1. HIV/AIDS: Let's Talk About Prevention. 2. Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health.

Sharanna Johnson

Swint, C. & Thrower, E. J. B. (2024, February 5-7). The top 10 ideas to consider when revising your mission statement. [Conference session]. AACN's 2024 Diversity Symposium. American Association of Colleges of Nursing, New Orleans, LA.

Audrey Perry

Perry, Audrey (2023, November 30-December

2). “Community is Essential: Using communityengaged curriculum design to incorporate the AACN Essentials.” American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Lake Buena Vista, FL.

Charlotte Swint

Update on Gynecology Care.

Estella Wetzel

Johnson, S. & Jefferson, K. (2024, April 17-21). Reconceptualizing and Embracing Well-being in a Doctoral Program: A Lesson in Self-Awareness. [Podium presentation].

2024 NONPF Annual Conference: The NP Educators Golden Jubilee, Baltimore, MD.

Catherine Collins-Fulea DNP, CNM, FACNM Assistant Professor

Cathy Cook DNP, MSN, APRN, CNM Course Faculty

Torica Fuller DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, FNP-C, WHNP-BC, CDP, CGRN, CPN, NRCME FNP Clinical Bound Transition Coordinator

Khara’ Jefferson DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CHC DNP Program Director

Sharanna Johnson DNP, APRN, FNP-BC Clinical Faculty

Audrey Perry, DNP, M.Ed(c), NM, APRN, A-GNP-C, CNE, FACNM Course & Curriculum Design Coach

Charlotte Swint DNP, MPH, FNP-BC, CNE, Ph.D., APRN, CNM, FACNM Associate Professor

Estella Wetzel DNP, APRN, FNP-C, Clinical Faculty

Applications Open for the FNU 2024

Courier Program Public Health Internship

As Frontier’s long-standing Courier program prepares to resume this summer, it does so with a slightly new name. The program is now known as the Courier Program Public Health Internship. This added description has proven essential in helping college students find the program in their online searches for summer public health internships.

“The history and integrity of the program is very important to us at FNU, but we want to make sure that students are fully aware of what the program has to offer,” said Lisa Colletti-Jones, FNU’s Director of Annual Giving and Courier Programs. “We want their experience with FNU learning about public healthcare in rural America to leave a lasting impression on their journey when they are finished. The title change has already been rewarding as we see countless students inquire and apply for the 2024 program.”

The 2024 program will be a seven-week hybrid internship designed to meet the needs of today’s students. The program will have two phases: Remote Learning and In-

2024 Dates

June 10 – June 28 | Remote Learning

July 8 – August 2 | In-person Observations

Applications

Do you know a student who would be iterested in becoming a Courier? We are looking to fill

Person observations. Students will begin in the county of their residence and then move to the FNU campus in Versailles, Kentucky, to complete their internship. Each student will be assigned summer reading that will be discussed during the remote learning phase. They will participate in group discussions about public health and rural America. Upon completing the remote learning phase, each student will present their county health assessment research findings. When they

eight spots for the summer of 2024. Applicants must be a currently enrolled student in any higher education setting. The deadline to apply for the Courier Program Public Health Internship is April 12, 2024. Please visit frontier.edu/courier for more information.

2024 CLINICAL HOST SITES

arrive on the FNU campus, they will utilize what they have learned from their summer reading, discussions, and projects while observing clinical host sites in and around Woodford County. The internship will end with a larger presentation comparing their county of residence and Woodford County. Courier students will also participate in volunteer days and explore the surrounding areas in Kentucky.

Calling All Past Couriers

Are you interested in volunteering during this summer’s program? We would love to hear from you! Please contact Lisa Collett-Jones, Director of Courier Program, at lisa.collettijones@ frontier.edu .

Besides accepting student applications, FNU is also identifying its summer community partners for the Courier program. The following three organizations have already committed to serving as partners this summer.

Provides physical, emotional, and spiritual care to thousands of seriously ill patients and their families across Kentucky. Programs include hospice care, palliative care, home health care, transitional care, and more.

Kentucky’s first Green House Project community, founded on the belief that everyone has the right to age with dignity. They offer independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and long-term care.

As the first integrative practice in Kentucky, their approach is unique for healing. They believe there is a better way to care than short visits, prescriptions, and costly studies. Patients are relaxed, supported, and brought into a healing environment. Everyone is welcome.

Trustees

Mrs. Tia Andrew, Hamilton Parish, Bermuda

Ms. Sarah Bacon, Brooklyn, NY

Mrs. Andrea Begley, Hyden, KY

Dr. Heather Bernard, Hamilton, NY

Gov. Steven Beshear, Lexington, KY

Mrs. Betty Brown, Louisville, KY

Mrs. Amy Pennington Brudnicki, Richmond, KY

Dr. Timothy Bukowski, Chapel Hill, NC

Dr. Wallace Campbell, Berea, KY

Miss Anna Carey, Hyden, KY

Mrs. Jean Chapin, Oldwick, NJ

Mrs. Lois Cheston, Topsfield, MA

Bill Corley, Indianapolis, IN

Mrs. Julia Breckinridge Davis, Winston-Salem, NC

Mrs. Selby Ehrlich, Bedford, NY

Mrs. Robert Estill, Raleigh, NC

Mrs. Noel Smith Fernandez, Pomona, NY

Ms. Mary Ann Gill, Versailles, KY

Mr. John Grandin, Chestnut Hill, MA

Dr. Joyce Fortney Hamberg, Southgate, KY

Dr. Horace Henriques, Lyme, NH

Mr. & Mrs. John Hodge, Berwyn, PA

Mrs. Robin Frentz Isaacs, Lincoln, MA

Mrs. Rosemary Johnson, Versailles, KY

Mrs. Mary Carol Joseph, Hyden, KY

Ms. Deborah M. King, Westport, MA

Mrs. Patricia Lawrence, Westwood, MA

Mrs. Marian Leibold, Cincinnati, OH

Dr. Ruth Lubic, Washington, DC

Mr. Robert Montague, JD, Urbanna, VA

Dr. Judy Myers, Ph.D., RN, New Albany, IN

Ms. Barbara Napier, Irvine, KY

Ms. Sandra Napier, Stinnett, KY

Mr. Dean Osborne, Hyden, KY

Mrs. Helen Rentch, Midway, KY

Mrs. John Richardson, Washington, DC

Mrs. Linda Roach, Lexington, KY

Mrs. Georgia Rodes, Lexington, KY

Mrs. Sandra Schreiber, Louisville, KY

Maria Small, MD, MPH, Durham, NC

Mrs. Sherrie Rice Smith, Franklin, WI

Mrs. Austin Smithers, Lyme, NH

Mrs. Robert Steck, Arlington, MA

Mrs. Mary Clay Stites, Louisville, KY

Mr. Richard Sturgill, Paris, KY

Ms. Mary Frazier Vaughan, Lexington, KY

Mrs. LouAnne Roberts Verrier, Austin, TX

Dr. Patience White, Bethesda, MD

Ms. Vaughda Wooten, Hyden, KY

Board of Directors

CHAIR

Michael Carter, DNSc, DNP

New Orleans, LA

VICE CHAIR

Michael T. Rust

Louisville, KY

SECRETARY

Nancy Hines

Shepherdsville, KY

TREASURER

Emma Metcalf, RN, MSN, CPHQ

Louisville, KY

Board Members

Carlyle Carter, Evanston, IL

William (Bill) Corley, MHA, Carmel, IN

Vernell DeWitty, Ph.D., MBA, RN, Silver Spring, MD

Jean Johnson, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Cabin John, MD

Tara Martino, BSN, RN, NCSN, SANE

(Student Board Member, Non-Voting), Fairhaven, MA

Marcus Osborne, MBA, Bentonville, AR

Tim Raderstorf, DNP, RN, FAAN, Columbus, OH

Joanna Santiesteban, MD, Prestonsburg, KY

Kerri Schuiling, Ph.D., CNM, FAAN, FACNM, Marquette, MI

Peter Schwartz, MD, Port St. Lucie, FL

Maria Small, MD, MPH, Durham, NC

May Wykle, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, FGSA, Cleveland, OH

Foundation Board Members

Peter Coffin, Chair, Chestnut Hill, MA

Derek Bonifer, Louisville, KY

Constance Brotherton, MA, Lexington, KY

Peter Schwartz, MD, Port St. Lucie, FL

Board Members Emeritus

Wallace Campbell, Ph.D., Berea, KY

John Foley, Lexington, KY

Marion McCartney, CNM, FACNM, Washington, DC

Nancy Fugate Woods, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Seattle, WA

(From

to 1/26/2024)

The following people gave contributions to Frontier in memory of their friends or loved ones. The names in bold are the deceased.

Carolyn Coleman

Ms. Anne M. Swanson

Dr. Jan Weingrad-Smith

Deborah and Chris Weingrad-Campbell

Dr. Lisa Chappell

Dr. Sharon C. Hunsucker

Mr. Charles Robert Davis

Ms. Eve R. Hershkowitz

Harriette Sherman Barnes

Ms. Mary Ann Barnes

Kate Ireland

Ms. Dorothy Trefts

Mary Helm Myers

Nancy Perry

Do you have a new mailing or email address?

Please let us know. Simply email us at FNUnews@frontier.edu.

2050 Lexington Road Versailles, KY 40383 FNU@frontier.edu • 859.251.4700 frontier.edu

Our mission is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education that integrates the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We transform healthcare by preparing innovative, ethical, compassionate, and entrepreneurial leaders to work with all people with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.