At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented and diverse community of students, alumni, 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 deliver quality health care to underserved and rural populations.
For FNU graduate Dr. April Odom, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, earning her Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice wasn’t just about advancing her own expertise in healthcare, but also helping others do the same. Dr. Odom is a professional healthcare consultant and the founder and CEO of Physicals Plus in Flossmoor, Illinois. She has more than two decades of healthcare experience and completed her DNP at FNU in 2023.
As a family nurse practitioner, Dr. Odom serves as a health advocate both in office and home-based primary care settings, empowering patients to prevent chronic diseases through proactive measures like weight management and lifestyle choices. Her expertise includes managing chronic conditions with a focus on preventing hospitalizations through accessible home care. At her clinic, she provides comprehensive health services, emphasizing regular exams and screenings, and offering home visits to elderly patients within a 50-mile radius.
Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Odom is president-elect of the Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing and will be the organization’s first Black president when she is inaugurated in October. In this role, Dr. Odom shares her expertise via various speaking engagements and volunteer opportunities.
Dr. Odom’s consulting business, Odom Education and Consultants, LLC, serves as a platform to share her wealth of knowledge with fellow healthcare professionals and entrepreneurs, offering professional consulting services, on-demand programs, and educational events aimed at fostering growth and excellence within the industry.
Dr. Odom’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. Her compassionate care and exemplary leadership have earned her prestigious awards such as the 2023 American Association of Nurse Practitioners NP State Award for Excellence and the 2020 Pinnacle Nurse Leader Award from the Illinois Nurse Foundation. She was also included in the 2019 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders list by the Illinois Nurses Foundation.
Dr. Odom said she chose to pursue her DNP at FNU due to the university’s mission and values and the online doctor of nursing program structure.
“I realized that innovational, ethical, compassionate and entrepreneurial were already qualities that aligned with my own mission and goals,” she said.
Dr. Odom said as an entrepreneur courses such as Principles of Independent Practice (PC713) were particularly important in her development as she earned her DNP.
“I really enjoyed the leadership course. It was filled with information and assignments that helped me to expand my network, hone in on my own leadership abilities and continue to inspire others to lead,” she said.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Dr. Odom enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons and traveling to the beach.
Thank you, April, for your compassionate work in providing healthcare and health promotion to underserved populations in your community and for promoting the nursing profession through steadfast mentorship and leadership.
To read more alumni stories, visit the FNU Alumni stories page.