Dr. Phyllis Leppert, CNM, MD, PhD was inspired to join the Frontier Nursing University (FNU) team by FNU legend Kitty Ernst. Six years ago, Phyllis began her stint serving with Kitty on the Frontier Board of Directors.
Kitty was Phyllis’s professor of nurse-midwifery at Columbia before the pair became colleagues while working on their Community-based Nurse-Midwifery Education Program (CNEP) in the 1990s. Finding that they shared a passion to lead improvement in reproductive health and advancement in reproductive science, Phyllis decided to join Kitty as a board member at FNU.
As a Professor Emerita Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Duke University School of Medicine and author of over 100 research articles and 32 review articles, Phyllis came highly acclaimed. In 2017, she and two colleagues were awarded a patent for “Treatment method and product for uterine fibroids using purified collagenase” (Patent 9,744,138).
Currently, Phyllis is working with FNU Professor and Course Coordinator Dr. Laura Manns-James to develop an epigenetics CM course for graduates and advanced practice nurses.
Phyllis also serves FNU by supporting students and sharing about Frontier with colleagues, community members, and friends.
Her favorite part about serving on the board is meeting students, especially through Diversity Impact weekend.
Though retired now, Phyllis doesn’t stop there. She serves as President of the Campion Fund, a non-profit that supports basic research in reproduction, and is a member of the Advisory Board for Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment.
Thank you, Dr. Leppert, for your valuable contribution to Frontier students and the FNU community!
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.