Blog

Graduate Spotlight: Caroline Riegel catches first baby born on U.S. soil in 2026

At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented community of students, graduates, faculty, staff, Couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community who are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to work with all people, with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) graduate Caroline Riegel, MSN, APRN, CNM, RNC-OB, C-EFM, had a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience to kick off 2026: delivering the first baby born on United States soil in the new year.

A resident of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. Commonwealth, Riegel helped welcome the baby at 4:09 a.m. Chamorro Standard Time. Back on the East Coast, the clock read 1:09 p.m. on Dec. 31, underscoring just how early her New Year began.

“I will forever have bragging rights to catching the first baby born on U.S. soil in 2026, and I look forward to pulling that out as a conversation topic at parties,” Riegel said.

Riegel has served as a nurse-midwife with the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation in the Northern Mariana Islands since 2023 and currently holds the role of Midwife Co-Chair for the Obstetrics Department. She earned the hospital’s “most babies caught” honor in both 2024 and 2025. In fact, she also delivered the first baby born at the hospital in 2025.

“2026 was especially exciting because I caught the very first baby to be born on U.S. soil, beating Guam,” she explained.

At Commonwealth Healthcare, Riegel cares for rural and underserved patients across the Northern Mariana Islands, a remote U.S. Commonwealth made up of a 14-island chain. While the southern islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota are the most populated, the majority of residents live on Saipan, home to the Commonwealth’s only inpatient hospital. Riegel noted that many of her patients rely on Medicaid, while others are uninsured due to their work-visa status.

In addition to her role as a hospitalist in the Labor & Delivery Unit, Riegel provides full-scope care at the hospital-based Women’s Clinic, serving patients from menarche through menopause. Her patient population reflects the diversity of the islands, with approximately 30% identifying as Indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian islanders, 30% Filipina, 20% Southeast Asian—including Chinese, Japanese, and Korean—and 20% of mixed heritage or other backgrounds. Riegel provides comprehensive well-woman gynecologic care, along with prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum services for the local pregnant population. The hospital delivers approximately 500 babies each year.

“My favorite part will always be the moment at birth when the baby takes his/her first cry and the parents get to meet their new baby,” she said.

Riegel is also involved in the indigenous-based Latte Group Prenatal Care program, launched last year by her midwife colleague and fellow FNU graduate, Corie Parada. The program takes its name from the ancient Latte stones, massive pillars once used by the Chamorro people to support their homes, and reflects a culturally grounded approach to prenatal care.

In addition, Riegel serves as chair of the hospital’s STEPS team as part of the CHAMPS National initiative, a collaborative effort led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Center for Health Equity, Education, and Research at Boston Medical Center. The initiative works to strengthen maternal and child health practices nationwide by supporting 100 hospitals. Through participation in CHAMPS, the hospital has significantly increased the number of families able to experience an uninterrupted “Golden Hour” after birth and has improved breastfeeding initiation rates, Riegel said.

Beyond her clinical work, Riegel is deeply committed to education. She serves as an adjunct instructor in the nursing program at Northern Marianas College, where she teaches skills lab and clinicals for the Maternal Child Health course. Riegel has also supported the next generation of midwives by serving as a preceptor for a Frontier nurse-midwifery student from October 2022 through January 2023.

Riegel earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nurse-Midwifery at Frontier in 2020 and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), with plans to graduate in March 2027.

After graduating from nursing school in 2015, Riegel began her career as a Labor & Delivery nurse at a large hospital in the metro Atlanta area. She worked alongside several provider groups that included midwives, an experience she credits with inspiring her path into midwifery. Among those who influenced her were FNU graduates, Dr. Corie Abrams and Dr. Amanda Zimmerman.

Riegel said she ultimately chose to pursue her MSN at FNU for a combination of reasons, including the clinical skill and professionalism she observed in FNU graduates, the distance education model, and the institution’s values and ethos.

“Once I learned more about Mary Breckinridge and the Frontier Nursing Service, I realized that I held similar values in providing care in rural and underserved environments,” she said.

After earning her MSN, Riegel worked as a nurse-midwife for Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania from 2021 to 2023 before taking on her current role in Saipan. She said when applying for both positions, she was recruited and interviewed by FNU graduates.

“I felt confident and assured in accepting each position knowing that I would be working with midwives who had been through the same rigorous program,” she said.

Riegel said she remains connected to the FNU community through social media.

“We still circle-up together for a midwife in need, and that’s a beautiful thing,” she said.

Riegel said she encourages those interested in becoming a nurse-midwife to be prepared to network extensively, advocate for their salary and benefits, and remain open to relocating in order to find the right opportunity.

“Midwifery is a lifestyle and you have to have a passion for it,” she said. “Sleepless nights, crazy schedules, and sometimes challenging outcomes are very much a reality.”

Outside of her professional work and studies, Riegel is deeply committed to animal welfare, with a particular focus on trap-neuter-release (TNR) efforts and cat rehabilitation on the island of Saipan. With no permanent veterinarian on the island, she described the stray cat and dog situation as “dire.” Since relocating to Saipan, Riegel has helped spay and neuter more than 40 cats and has placed 20 kittens into adoptive homes. She currently cares for two indoor cats and seven outdoor cats.

Riegel also enjoys traveling internationally, taking advantage of her location in the Western Pacific to explore destinations such as Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Thank you, Caroline, for the care, passion, and leadership you bring to your patients, your community, and the global midwifery profession.

To read more graduate stories, visit the FNU Alumni stories page.

April 16, 2026
Family Nurse Practitioners Can Chart Their Own Course in Health Care

In communities across the country, access to quality care is dependent on a highly skilled, trusted provider: the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). Serving patients across the lifespan, FNPs are advanced practice registered nurses who provide comprehensive, patient-centered care to individuals and families.

For health care professionals, becoming an FNP opens the door to a wide range of practice settings, patient populations, and focus areas. FNPs provide ongoing, comprehensive care in primary care clinics and private practices; serve as essential providers in rural and frontier health clinics; and work within hospital and health system settings, including outpatient clinics and collaborative care teams. Many FNPs also practice in community health centers caring for underserved populations; deliver care through telehealth and virtual platforms; and support older adults in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.

While grounded in primary care, many FNPs pursue specialized areas of interest that allow them to shape their careers around their passions. These areas may include chronic disease management, preventive and wellness care, women’s and men’s health, geriatric care, behavioral and mental health, and population-focused care initiatives. Because of their broad training, FNPs may serve infants, children, adolescents, adults, and older adults, as well as families and multigenerational households.

Whether serving as a primary care provider in a rural clinic, leading a community health initiative, or launching an independent practice, Family Nurse Practitioners play a vital role in improving access to high-quality, patient-centered care.

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) has been at the forefront of family nursing education since introducing the first FNP program in the United States in 1970. The FNP curriculum is built on a strong academic and clinical foundation and is designed to develop not only skilled practitioners, but also healthcare leaders and entrepreneurs.

“Our graduates are well-prepared clinicians who are improving health care across the country,” said Audra Cave, DNP, FNP-BC, Department Chair of Frontier’s Department of Family Nursing. “Frontier students gain firsthand insight into the needs of their communities and learn the skills necessary to start their own practices, if that’s the path they choose.”

FNU’s accredited community-based, distance-learning FNP program offers affordable tuition, flexible online coursework, supportive faculty and staff, and dedicated clinical placement services. Frontier graduates consistently excel on the national certification exams administered by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). In 2025, 99% of FNP MSN graduates and 100% of FNP PGC graduates passed the AANP exam, while 100% of both FNP MSN and PGC graduates passed the ANCC exam in 2024 — far surpassing the national pass rate of 83% recorded for both exams in 2024.

Frontier students can enroll full– or part-time and complete 100 percent of their coursework online, with clinical practicums carried out in their own communities. Before diving into didactic and clinical work, students come together for two brief on-campus immersion experiences designed to help them connect with peers and faculty and build a support network that carries them through the program. After earning an MSN, graduates may continue to complete a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at FNU with just 30 additional credit hours.

To learn more about FNU’s online FNP program, visit frontier.edu/family-nurse-practitioner.

April 8, 2026
Graduate Spotlight: Jaime Westlund Turns a Dream Into Care for the Kona Community in Hawaii

At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented community of students, graduates, faculty, staff, Couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community that are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to work with all people, with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.

Throughout her healthcare career, Jaime Westlund, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CCK, AACC, envisioned a different way to care for patients in her community, one defined by autonomy, connection, and compassion. For Dr. Westlund, that meant practicing without rigid time limits, inflexible schedules, or systems driven more by productivity metrics than patient well-being. Her goal: to deliver care that is human, thoughtful, and truly centered on the individual.

That vision is now a reality with the opening of Westlund Wellness & Care in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Through her own practice, Dr. Westlund provides comprehensive primary care and cardiology services, offering patients in her home community the personalized, relationship-based care she has always believed in.

The opening of Westlund Wellness & Care represents the culmination of more than two decades of experience across a wide range of health care roles. Dr. Westlund’s career began as a Medical Assistant and expanded to positions including DEXA Technician, X-Ray Technician, Phlebotomist, manager, and Registered Nurse. Her work across specialties such as orthopedics, urology, ENT, geriatrics, general surgery, and cardiology provided a strong clinical foundation and a well-rounded perspective on patient care.

Dr. Westlund’s hands-on experience is complemented by both a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Frontier Nursing University (FNU). She earned an MSN with a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialty in 2019 and completed the DNP in 2020.

“I chose FNU because I loved the story of Mary Breckinridge and her dedication to her community,” she said.

For Dr. Westlund, becoming an FNP with a DNP was about deepening her ability to deliver informed, patient-centered care that supports the health and well-being of the entire family.

“As a Family Nurse Practitioner, I am family medicine-trained to care for the whole family: babies, keiki (child), adults and kupuna (elders),” she said. “With my advanced training, I can provide everything from routine checkups to managing complex health needs. I like to offer options that fit each person’s lifestyle; often trying alternatives first before medications. That way, your care plan works for you and your ‘ohana’ (family) at every stage of life.”

In addition to primary care, Dr. Westlund has a strong focus on heart health, bringing years of experience in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease within her community. Her expertise has earned her national recognition from the American College of Cardiology, where she holds the designation of Associate of the American College of Cardiology (AACC). She has also successfully completed the Cardiovascular Care Knowledge Examination (CCKE), underscoring her advanced knowledge and commitment to excellence in cardiovascular care.

Dr. Westlund has served the Kona community for the past six years. Having grown up in a rural area, she said she is deeply passionate about improving access to high-quality healthcare for underserved communities.

“I have been honored to serve the Kona community, where it takes creativity and dedication to care for patients with limited resources, and I feel truly blessed to call Kona home,” she said.

Building on her experience and deep commitment to her community, Dr. Westlund opened Westlund Wellness & Care on November 10, 2025. Since opening, the practice has been consistently booked, reflecting the strong need for accessible, patient-centered care in the area.

Westlund Wellness & Care offers a wide range of primary care services, including preventive and wellness care, annual physicals, lifestyle and nutrition counseling, home visits for homebound patients, and more. The practice also provides comprehensive cardiovascular services, from heart health evaluation and prevention and cardiovascular risk assessments to preoperative clearance exams and Holter and event monitoring.

Opening the practice was truly a labor of love. Dr. Westlund and her husband, David, demolished and rebuilt the facility while raising their four children. The couple spent countless hours transforming the space into a warm, welcoming environment that now showcases artwork from local artists. Each piece includes a QR code for purchase, giving artists greater exposure while enhancing the patient experience.

“Creating a warm, welcoming space was so important to me,” Dr. Westlund said. “I want every patient who walks through our doors to feel at home and completely comfortable. Trust and connection start the moment you step inside, and I believe a safe, calming environment is the first step in building that rapport.”

For Dr. Westlund, drawing on her extensive experience to serve her community through her own care philosophy is the realization of a lifelong dream.

“May we all have a dream worth working for,” she said. “And may we be brave enough to pursue it relentlessly, not just for ourselves, but to better our communities.”

Thank you, Jaime, for inspiring others through your dedication to patient-centered care, community service, and the courage to turn a lifelong dream into reality.

To read more graduate stories, visit the FNU Alumni stories page.

April 6, 2026
Graduate Spotlight: Denise Wilks answers her calling to serve families through a collaborative physician-midwife team she helped build

L to R: Michela White, CNM, and Denise Wilks, DNP, CNM

At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented community of students, graduates, faculty, staff, Couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community that are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to work with all people, with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.

Guided by a deeply personal calling and a commitment to compassionate care, FNU graduate Denise Wilks, DNP, CNM, has built a career dedicated to supporting women and families while building a collaborative and forward-thinking practice focused on the advancement of reproductive and maternal health.

Dr. Wilks began her nursing career in 2005 as a labor and delivery nurse after graduating from Methodist Hospital Nursing School’s diploma program. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix before being encouraged by two colleagues to pursue midwifery. She completed her master’s degree in Nurse-Midwifery at Frontier Nursing University in 2015 and continued her academic journey by earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from Drexel University in 2019.

Dr. Wilks’ path to becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) was deeply personal. After experiencing her own first childbirth with her son, an experience that left her feeling isolated, she felt called to ensure that women receive compassionate, supportive care throughout labor and delivery.

“I didn’t have the support I needed, and I remember feeling overwhelmingly alone and afraid from the moment labor began until the moment it ended,” she said. “That experience stayed with me. It shaped me. And it ultimately became the reason I chose to step into maternity care—because I never wanted another woman to feel the way I felt in one of the most vulnerable moments of her life.”

Dr. Wilks said upon becoming a labor and delivery nurse, something in her “came alive.”

“I fell in love with the work: the quiet intimacy of the birthing room, the raw beauty of watching individuals transform into families, the incredible strength women summon from somewhere deep within themselves,” she said. “Every birth reminded me of the resilience and power that lives in women.”

Over time, Dr. Wilks said she realized her calling wasn’t just to support women through labor, but to walk alongside them throughout their lives.

“I wanted to build relationships that lasted, to be a steady presence through every chapter and to offer the kind of support I once needed so desperately,” she said.

Main Line HealthCare’s Riddle OB/GYN CNM Team with Dr. Brooke A. Flinders and Dr. Heidi Loomis

Dr. Wilks decided to become a nurse-midwife, and looking back at her time at Frontier, she describes it as both the most challenging and the most rewarding experience of her academic journey.

“Despite being a distance program, FNU excels at creating a strong sense of connection, support, and community,” she said. “When I graduated, I felt truly prepared to step into my role as a new provider.”

This preparation has served Dr. Wilks well in her role as a Certified Nurse-Midwife with Main Line HealthCare’s Riddle OB/GYN practice in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. She joined the practice in 2019 as its first CNM, integrating midwifery care into an already well-established physician group. Since that time, the practice has grown into a fully integrated model that includes six OB-GYNs, two gynecologists, and seven CNMs working collaboratively. The practice is currently recruiting an eighth CNM, as well as a per diem midwife, to further strengthen the team.

Main Line HealthCare’s Riddle OB/GYN practice provides full-scope midwifery care, including 24/7 labor and delivery coverage, outpatient services, and group prenatal care. All midwives practice at the top of their license and are credentialed to perform circumcisions and serve as first assistants in the operating room. In addition, all providers and nurses are trained in physiological birth and skilled in techniques taught through Birthing Bundles and Spinning Babies, approaches that have helped maintain a low primary cesarean rate and consistently high maternal satisfaction with the birthing experience.

With the closure of Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pa., Riddle Hospital is now the only facility offering maternity services in Delaware County. Dr. Wilks and her team care for a highly diverse patient population with a wide range of health needs. Their integrated physician-midwife model allows providers to work closely together to promote safe, healthy outcomes while honoring each patient’s desired birth experience, even when medical complexities arise.

Dr. Wilks is not the only Certified Nurse-Midwife at the practice educated at Frontier Nursing University. In fact, five of the practice’s seven CNMs are proud FNU graduates. Together, she said, they share a vision of a community where midwives and physicians collaborate seamlessly, blending the wisdom of physiologic birth with the strengths of modern medicine to create safe, joyful, and transformative experiences for patients and families.

“We aim to reimagine maternity and gynecologic care as a place of dignity, connection, and possibility,” she said. “We believe every individual deserves to feel seen, heard, and empowered throughout their reproductive health journey, from adolescence to menopause and every stage in between.”

One of these FNU graduates is Michela White. While the team’s work is grounded in their education, White said a significant part of their role is also centered on educating patients.

“A lot of our day is spent explaining what a midwife is,” she said. “I don’t think people are always seeking a midwife when they meet us, but we do find that once they establish care with us, especially in pregnancy, they keep coming back. We get to spend a lot more time with our patients.”

Dr. Wilks said her team is dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence‑based care that honors autonomy, celebrates diversity and supports the whole person.

“With skilled hands, open hearts, and unwavering advocacy, we strive to ensure that every individual receives respectful, equitable, and personalized care, whether they are welcoming a new life or seeking support for their gynecologic health,” she said. “Our commitment is simple: to elevate the experience of care, uplift the families and communities we serve, and help shape a future where person‑centered reproductive healthcare is the standard rather than the exception.”

Dr. Wilks also serves as a preceptor within her practice, a role she describes as an essential investment in the future of reproductive, maternal, and newborn health. By mentoring emerging clinicians, she said, experienced midwives help ensure that the art and science of midwifery continue to evolve with skill, compassion, and integrity.

“When seasoned midwives open their practice to learners, they not only shape competent providers but also expand access to high‑quality, person‑centered care for communities everywhere,” she said. “Supporting new midwives is ultimately an act of stewardship, safeguarding the profession and elevating the standard of care for generations to come.”

Thank you, Denise, for your commitment to uplifting families, communities, and the next generation of midwives.

To read more graduate stories, visit the FNU Alumni stories page.

March 4, 2026
Graduate Spotlight: Three-time FNU graduate Jennifer Baxter serves and precepts alongside fellow alumni at Illinois midwifery practice

At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, Couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community who are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to work with all people, with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.

Frontier Nursing University graduate Jennifer Baxter, MSN, CNM, NP-C, APRN-FPA, has built a career rooted in both compassionate care and lifelong learning.

Baxter earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialty in Nurse-Midwifery from FNU, and later expanded her expertise by earning Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) post-graduate certificates through the university.

Today, Baxter serves her home community of Aurora, Illinois, as a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) with Rush Copley Medical Group Midwifery. For the past seven years, she has worked alongside a team of dedicated CNMs to provide comprehensive gynecological and obstetrical care to women of all ages. The practice emphasizes interactive, relationship-centered care, where practitioners take time to get to know each patient and understand their unique health needs.

“I try to give my patients several options,” she said. “I present them with information and let them choose which way they would like to proceed. For instance, if you are coming to midwifery because you want a water birth, great! If you are coming to midwifery because your friend told you we were nice and you want an epidural, also great! I really like to get to know my patients personally.”

The team’s areas of care include gynecological exams; menopause management; pregnancy and prenatal care; routine and annual exams; family planning and preconception counseling; and individualized and alternative births, including waterbirths.

In a testament to FNU’s lasting impact, both of Baxter’s partners at Rush Copley Medical Group Midwifery, Rebekah Hernandez and Stephanie Miller, are also FNU graduates, creating a team united by shared values and a common educational foundation.

“I feel like Frontier emphasized looking at the evidence,” Baxter said. “I like working with a team that truly practices evidence-based care.”

Baxter said her path to midwifery was inspired by her childhood.

“I am the oldest of eight children,” she said. “It seemed like my mom was always pregnant! It was so fascinating to me. I wanted to be an OB/GYN doctor, but I also really wanted to get married and have kids of my own. Since medical school and residency would be so long, I decided instead to be a nurse, like my mom. In my OB nursing class, I learned about nurse-midwifery and knew immediately that was what I was going to do.”

When choosing to pursue FNU for her education, Baxter recalls a serendipitous connection.

“One year after I became a nurse, I had my first baby. She was delivered by a Frontier grad,” she said. “She asked me if she could attend my birth and I told her she could only if she would get me information about her school. ”

Baxter said upon enrolling at FNU in 2001, she was initially skeptical of the distance learning model but quickly had a change of heart.

“I thought this distance learning thing wouldn’t actually be as good as a regular university, but with three babies, that was the only way it would be possible for me,” she said. “Boy was I wrong! It turned out that Frontier was the best school experience I had ever had.”

Baxter pursued her WHNP post-graduate certificate immediately after earning her CNM. She said when she made the decision to pursue her FNP post-graduate certificate in 2014, she was more than confident in enrolling at FNU once again.

“I didn’t even explore schools, I went right back to Frontier,” she said. “I knew I would get another great education. Currently, I am working only as a nurse-midwife, but I am very thankful that I have my FNP because as I get older, night shifts as a midwife are getting more difficult. With the FNP certificate, I will have many options available when I decide to stop doing deliveries.”

Beyond her clinical work, Baxter is helping to shape the next generation of healthcare professionals by serving as a preceptor. So far, she has precepted two FNU students, including a new certified nurse-midwife from Class 208. She said she teaches her students the essentials of quality care, from thorough exams and careful charting to giving patients options, asking questions, staying calm in emergencies, building strong relationships, collaborating with staff, and enjoying the work.

“I think the world needs more great advanced practice nurses,” she said. “I like precepting so I can show my students what it takes to be that APRN. This work can be exhausting, but you will never regret it!”

Thank you, Jennifer, for embodying the mission of FNU graduates through dedicated service to your community and by passing on your knowledge and passion for patient-centered care.

To read more graduate stories, visit the FNU Alumni page on our blog.

February 23, 2026
Dr. Brooke A. Flinders Receives Insight Into Academia Magazine’s 2026 Trailblazer in Higher Education Award

Frontier Nursing University President Brooke A. Flinders, DNP, RN, APRN-CNM, FACNM, was named a recipient of Insight Into Academia magazine’s 2026 Trailblazer in Higher Education Award. This national honor recognizes senior leaders whose bold, strategic innovations have advanced institutional excellence, strengthened community and connectedness, and created meaningful, measurable impact for students, employees, and the broader academic system.

“I am honored and humbled to receive the Trailblazer Award,” Dr. Flinders said. “This recognition reflects my dedication to advancing Frontier’s longstanding legacy of innovation and progress as we prepare our graduates to meet the evolving needs of the communities in which they practice.”

Since beginning her presidency on August 1, 2024, Dr. Flinders has demonstrated a transformational yet servant‑leader approach that is already shaping a stronger future for Frontier Nursing University. Her vision, passion, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the success of students, faculty, and staff distinguish her as a true trailblazer in higher education.

In her first 90 days, Dr. Flinders scheduled opportunities to meet with every employee to foster open dialogue and strengthen organizational alignment. She subsequently launched a nationwide listening tour, engaging directly with students, faculty, staff, preceptors, alumni, and clinical partners across the country. The tour spanned more than 10,000 miles and included visits to 17 alumni‑staffed or owned practice settings.

Dr. Flinders’ first year culminated in the unveiling of FNU’s new strategic plan during her September 2025 investiture. “The crossroads between higher education and healthcare are different today than they have ever been,” Dr. Flinders said. “We will continue to face our own unique challenges, and we will navigate them in new and innovative ways.”

In less than two years as President, Dr. Flinders has advanced innovative strategies to expand access, strengthen academic excellence, promote student success, and address national workforce needs, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Her compassionate, mission‑driven leadership has elevated FNU’s impact and empowered the entire FNU community to thrive, solidifying her influence as a leader shaping the future of graduate nursing education.

“We had great confidence when we selected Dr. Flinders as our new president in 2024, but she has vastly exceeded all expectations,” said FNU Board Chair Marcus Osborne. “She is a natural, visionary leader who never loses sight of the goal and the steps that must be taken to get there. She is a team‑builder who embraces and values the input of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and board members to ensure we all share the same vision for the university.”

“We believe the future of higher education depends on leaders who are willing to challenge convention and embrace bold, impactful innovation,” said Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of Insight Into Academia magazine. “The 2026 Trailblazer honorees represent the highest levels of strategic leadership in the field, and we are proud to celebrate their extraordinary accomplishments.”

Dr. Flinders will be featured alongside 17 other distinguished honorees in the March 2026 issue of Insight Into Academia. For more information about the Trailblazer in Higher Education Award, visit insightintoacademia.com.

Dr. Flinders holds a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Frontier, as well as an Associate Degree of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Miami University (Ohio). Read her full biography here.

February 6, 2026
Frontier Nursing University Unveils $20 Million Student Scholarship Investment

The Frontier Nursing University Board of Directors has approved a proposal to utilize $20 million of the university’s unrestricted endowment funds for scholarships. The designation of these funds demonstrates the Board and university’s commitment to providing a high-quality education that prepares nurses to become competent, entrepreneurial, ethical, and compassionate nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners, with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.

“This is a significant investment in support of our students, and one we are proud to champion,” said Marcus Osborne, Chair of the FNU Board of Directors. “On behalf of the Board, I want to express my gratitude for the work of our Chief Financial Officer Kylie Waters, and her team, as well as our finance committee, led by board member Michael Steinmetz. This was a comprehensive project to identify the best way to support our goal to provide accessible education.”

In keeping with the university’s spending policy, the university will fund the scholarships by spending the annual yield from the $20 million unrestricted endowment funds. The yield is projected to be approximately $800,000 annually.

“This commitment to more scholarship opportunities is a direct reflection of the Board of Directors’ enduring support for our students and our mission,” FNU President Dr. Flinders said.

FNU maintains an average enrollment of 2,800 students from across the country. FNU’s programs lead to a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), a Post-Graduate Certificate, or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). FNU also offers a Post-Master’s DNP for certified nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who already hold a national certification and want to pursue a DNP.

“Our students are already professional healthcare providers when they come to us,” Dr. Flinders said. “Their dedication to advance their knowledge and expertise to better serve their communities is impactful and inspirational. These scholarships support their goals by making advanced nursing education accessible.”

A December 2025 report released by the Health Resources and Services Administration projected an 8% shortage of registered nurses in the United States by 2028. Additionally, the American College of Nurse-Midwives estimates the U.S has a shortage of more than 8,000 nurse-midwives based on the World Health Organization’s recommendation of no less than six nurse-midwives per 1,000 live births.

“There is a growing demand for financial assistance,” Waters said. “Our existing scholarship program is substantial, and with this responsible use of our unrestricted endowment funds, we continue to demonstrate commitment to supporting our students. Frontier Nursing University is uniquely positioned to address the nursing shortage through our community-based, and distance education format. This investment will provide critical support to FNU’s students as they prepare to address healthcare challenges in their home communities across the country.”

February 4, 2026
Faculty Spotlight: NRHA Names Associate Professor Dr. Joanne Keefe a 2026 Rural Health Fellow

At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented community of students, graduates, faculty, staff, Couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community that are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to work with all people, with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.

Frontier Nursing University Associate Professor Dr. Joanne Keefe, DNP, MPH, FNP-c, CNE, was recently selected as a member of the 2026 cohort of Rural Health Fellows by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), a reflection of her commitment to providing quality care to rural and underserved communities. Following a competitive review process, 18 fellows were selected to participate in this yearlong program, which is designed to cultivate national leaders who can champion a clear and compelling vision for rural America.

“I look forward to connecting with and sharing strategies with others who strive to improve rural healthcare and impact policy,” Dr. Keefe said. “When I applied, my focus was on my local community, but I also understood that working locally supports national efforts, and vice versa. I hope to bring the things I learn to the FNU community as well. We are the strongest and benefit the greatest number of people when we work together.”

For Dr. Keefe, improving access to rural healthcare is a daily commitment. She is the co-founder and director of Catron County Cares (CCC), a 501(c)3 nonprofit with the focus of increasing access to healthcare in Catron County, New Mexico. Dr. Keefe founded the nonprofit in January 2025 with four likeminded professionals to identify and address and raise awareness of healthcare gaps, and to collaborate with community and external partners to improve the county’s healthcare access.

CCC offers free CPR and First Aid training to anyone in the community and is preparing to launch an initiative in which CCC Emergency Kiosks will be placed around the community. The kiosks will house an AED, first aid kit, pulse oximeter, naloxone, and other triage equipment.

“People in my rural community are suffering, dying, and have worse overall outcomes than the rest of the nation because they do not have access to healthcare,” Dr. Keefe said. “There is no hospice, no home health, no PT/OT or pharmacy, and currently, the only primary health clinic in the 7,000-square-mile county operates out of a hotel room. In 2025, it is inconceivable that where you live affects how long and how well you live, but it does.”

Dr. Keefe has been a faculty member at Frontier since 2015 and is currently an Associate Professor in the Doctor of Nursing (DNP) program. She received the Frontier Student Choice Award for Teaching Excellence in 2018 and was presented with a DAISY Award in 2020, an international recognition program that honors nurses for compassionate, skillful care. In her role at FNU, she enjoys fostering success, especially with challenging content such as Epidemiology and Biostatistics

“Meaningful teaching, to me, means focusing on what is important and ensuring that students can apply it in the future to enhance their practice and provide excellent care to their patients,” she said. “There is a lot of guidance around what is important; that part is fairly easy. The joy is in devising ways to make it interesting, understandable, and accessible so that students can successfully gain the tools they need to be outstanding providers.”

Dr. Keefe’s relationship with FNU goes far beyond her role as a faculty member. She is a two-time FNU graduate, earning her Family Nurse Practitioner MSN and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in 2013 and 2014, respectively. She obtained her Associates Degree in Nursing from Montgomery College in Takoma Park, MD, Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix (1999) and Master’s in Public Health from the University of New Mexico (2005).

“The history of the FNS (Frontier Nursing Service) and Mary Breckinridge has resonated with me since my first orientation to Frontier Nursing University at Frontier Bound,” Dr. Keefe said. “What incredible lineage and history we share.”

At FNU, Dr. Keefe is a 2025-2026 President’s Academic Fellow, a selective program that offers faculty members the opportunity to engage in focused leadership development alongside a small cohort of esteemed colleagues. The diverse perspectives within the cohort contributed meaningfully to strategic planning efforts and the formation of additional collaborative groups.

Dr. Keefe also volunteered as a speaker for the Office of Student Engagement’s speaker series, where she highlighted challenges facing rural and frontier communities and shared the work of CCC. She said the presentation revealed strong interest in continued conversation and collaboration around rural healthcare within the FNU community. In response, she plans to create a shared space at FNU for discussing interventions, seeking support, and exchanging resources.

“I look forward to further collaboration as we join forces and work together in our local communities, significantly improving healthcare access on a larger scale,” she said. “I am excited to see where this goes. Truly, we can be like the Banyan Tree in rural healthcare, growing roots far and wide, as Mary Breckinridge envisioned.”

In addition, Dr. Keefe said she is grateful for Frontier Nursing University’s Chi Pi Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, along with FNU colleagues, administration, Board members and others, for their guidance and support.

“There is an incredible network of support around taking care of people, and I feel grateful and hopeful about this work,” she said.

Along with her work with FNU and CCC, Dr. Keefe also holds memberships in numerous nursing and health associations, including the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the New Mexico Nurse Practitioner Council, the American Nurses Association, the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculty, and the National Rural Health Association. She has also been an Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing peer evaluator since September 2024.

Dr. Keefe said she is grateful for organizations like these, along with the Quemado Auxiliary, Catron County Historical Society and the NRHA for their enduring support. She said when CCC was being established, the organization was awarded assistance from NRHA through the Rural Health Community Capacity Academy to help with year-long coaching and a grant-writing class.

“All organizations, from local to national, offer rich opportunities for networking and collaboration, particularly when approached with a humble attitude,” she said.

Dr. Keefe said her background, which spans nursing, public health, academia, and community leadership, have coalesced in ways she could have never envisioned.

“The experiences and education I have been privileged to access provide me with an understanding of tools and systems to measure and solve problems effectively and efficiently, and give me the confidence to try,” she said. “Living in a rural/frontier community, however, has been the best teacher about current issues with rural healthcare.”

Looking toward her future with CCC and as a Rural Health Fellow, Dr. Keefe said her vision is to “expand the work.”

“I don’t know exactly what this will look like, but it will include true collaboration, sharing, policy work, novel approaches, and increasing partnership areas to make it happen,” she said. “This is not a time to shrink and accept what is; this is a time to realize our power. We can, and will, do this better together.”

Thank you, Joanne, for your unwavering commitment to serving rural communities and for inspiring others through your compassion, dedication, and commitment to the values that define FNU.

January 22, 2026

Request Information Apply Give Now