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  • A Century of Stories: Janice Macopson, FNP-C, DNP

    A Century of Stories: Janice Macopson, FNP-C, DNP

    In 2025, Frontier Nursing University honored the 100-year anniversary of the inception of the Frontier Nursing Service. We are grateful for the alumni, students, couriers, donors, volunteers, friends, and employees who have made an incredible impact on FNU’s century-long journey. We celebrated this milestone year by capturing and sharing some of the countless stories that make up our history. Whatever your connection to FNU, we hope you enjoy these stories.

    Dr. Janice Macopson, FNP-C, DNP, has devoted her entire adult life to nursing. She retired in June 2024, ending her 49-year career. Since then, she has been quite busy exploring and enjoying the art world. She recently served as a presenter at the August Wilson Society’s Biennial Colloquium, held April 2-5, 2025, at the University of Pittsburgh.

    August, who is Dr. Macopson’s cousin, passed away in 2005, was a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and known for his Century Cycle plays that chronicled the lives of African Americans during the twentieth century. Dr. Macopson’s presentation titled “Blood Memories: The Legacy of Ella Cutler and August Wilson” served as a deeply personal exploration of the enduring narratives carried by her great grandmother and the iconic playwright. These intertwined legacies reflected universal themes of resilience and redemption.

    Dr. Macopson’s own career reflects resilience and commitment to serve. Though retired, she was contacted recently to fill in part time at her previous employer, University of North Carolina (UNC) Health Blue Ridge. Once again, she answered the call to serve.

    “They just lost one of their providers and asked if I could help out a couple days a week for a few weeks until they get a full-time replacement,” said Macopson. “I always felt like I had a calling to do something in healthcare, and I’ve spent the last 49 years of my life working in some form of cardiac services.”

    Dr. Macopson grew up in Marion, N.C., near Spear Mountain in rural western North Carolina. Her great grandmother Eller Cutler was a midwife and worked with a local physician on Spear Mountain in the 1900s. The nearby Cutler Falls are named after her family.

    “My family was the only African American family living on Spear Mountain in the 1900s,” Macopson said. “They were not slaves. They were landowners. Eller had a rough time in that town after her husband Jacob died. But she stayed. She was accused of things that were not true, and she was arrested because her white neighbors did not want her there. But she was resilient and savvy living on her land until her death in 1935.”

    Though Janice did not follow in her great grandmother’s midwifery footsteps, she credits her ancestry as the root of her desire to pursue a career in healthcare.

    “I feel like there was a calling for me to go into healthcare,” Macopson said. “My cousin called it ‘blood memories’ or the ‘pulse of your ancestors.’ I think it is your DNA, plus the pulse and spirit of your ancestors. It’s amazing how certain things live on from generation to generation.”

    Macopson followed her instincts and became a nurse. She became a nurse practitioner in 2001 and later began working with Blue Ridge Cardiology in Morganton, N.C., in 2011.

    She worked in various positions in Carolinas Healthcare System and in rural areas such as Burke, McDowell and Buncombe counties. She was the Director of Nursing over critical care services at Grace Hospital in Morganton for nearly 25 years before becoming a nurse practitioner in 2001, caring primarily for cardiac patients.

    “The more rural hospitals are where my heart was,” she said. “I felt that group of patients and families needed me most.” Her heart was also committed to being a lifelong learner, which is what led her to obtain her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Frontier in 2019.

    “I’ve always been in school until now,” Macopson laughed. “I was probably one of the oldest students at Frontier, but I hung in and made it through, with great support from Dr. Khara’ Jefferson (Program Director for the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program).”

    Macopson said earning the DNP was important to her role as a healthcare provider in a rural and underserved area of the state.

    “As we see the shortages in healthcare, nurses are the best group to bridge that gap. We know that nurses are the most trusted group of people in healthcare. So, I thought, I already have a master’s and if you can use that wealth of knowledge, you can be helpful to your community. The DNP gives nurses more credibility because you’ve reached the top of your educational journey.”

    >> Read More from “A Century of Stories” 

  • Shane Hagen: In Service to Country and Community

    Shane Hagen: In Service to Country and Community

    Shane Hagen, DNP (Class 36), is an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC), and Major in the U.S. Army Reserves. He also owns Valor Wellness and Aesthetics in Overland Park, Kansas. He recently took the time to answer our questions about his unique and impactful life in service to others. 

    Where did you grow up? 
    I was born in Watertown, South Dakota, but my family moved to Garden City, Kansas, when I was a baby. We later relocated to the Kansas City area, specifically Peculiar, Missouri, when I was in fifth grade. Aside from my military assignments worldwide, I have considered the Kansas City area home ever since. 

    What interested you in becoming a nurse? 
    My path into nursing was driven by a passion for helping others and a desire to work in a field that is both dynamic and intellectually challenging. Early on, I recognized the impact that nurses have on patient care, from bedside support to advanced practice roles. Nursing offered me the opportunity to combine clinical expertise with leadership, problem-solving, and advocacy, which ultimately led me to pursue advanced training and military service as a healthcare provider. 

    Please share your education, training, and military experience.
    I have completed multiple advanced degrees, including a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Frontier Nursing University, along with dual board certifications as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP). Additionally, I have an MSN degree with an emphasis on Nursing Education and Administration.  

    My education, combined with over two decades of clinical experience, has provided me with a diverse skill set that spans primary care, emergency medicine, critical care, and case management.  

    My military career in the U.S. Army Reserves, where I hold the rank of Major, has vastly expanded my scope of practice beyond traditional civilian settings. In combat environments, such as during my deployment to Iraq, I adapted to the Army’s evolving medical needs, providing care in high-intensity and resource-limited settings for both service members and local nationals.  

    The ability to think critically, act decisively, and balance both patient care and operational responsibilities has been instrumental in shaping my approach to medicine. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to have had incredible mentors who helped me navigate the complexities of advanced practice while maintaining the highest standards of patient care. 

    Have you experienced any pushback from patients or colleagues as a male nurse? 
    I have been welcomed into this field with open arms by my peers, physicians, and patients. However, there have been occasional instances where patients have requested not to have a male nurse. I fully respect a patient’s right to request a provider of a specific gender, as much of what we do in healthcare is sensitive in nature. I believe that as long as patients receive quality care, they should have autonomy in choosing their healthcare providers. 

    Tell me about your current practice, scope of practice, etc. 
    I own Valor Wellness and Aesthetics, a practice that blends my clinical expertise, military experience, and passion for healthcare, located in Overland Park, Kansas. We offer primary care, aesthetic medicine, wellness services, and VA community partnerships for various military veteran services.  

    My goal was to create a practice that reflects the diverse healthcare experience I’ve gained over the years, allowing me to serve patients in multiple capacities, from preventative care to regenerative treatments.  

    One of the advantages of practicing in Kansas is that Nurse Practitioners have Full Practice Authority (FPA), allowing me to practice autonomously. This independence enables me to not only treat patients without physician oversight but also choose my own mentors and collaborators, fostering strong professional relationships that enhance patient care. 

    What are your long-term goals for yourself and your practice? 
    My long-term goal is to continue growing Valor Wellness and Aesthetics into a leading integrative healthcare practice, bridging the gap between traditional medicine and innovative treatments. I also remain committed to veteran advocacy, ensuring that service members receive the healthcare they deserve. 

    Beyond clinical practice, I am passionate about mentoring future healthcare professionals and advancing the field of nursing education. Having served as a professor and program director in multiple nursing institutions, I plan to stay engaged in shaping the next generation of nurse practitioners. 

    What role did Frontier Nursing University play in preparing you? 
    Frontier Nursing University provided me with a strong academic foundation and the practical skills necessary for both clinical practice and business ownership. The curriculum emphasized evidence-based practice, leadership, and rural healthcare, which directly translated into my ability to manage a practice, optimize patient outcomes, and navigate the complexities of independent practice. The university’s emphasis on community-focused care also reinforced my commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered services at my clinic. 

    Is there anything else you would like to share? 
    I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in both civilian and military healthcare settings. My experiences have reinforced the importance of adaptability, lifelong learning, and mentorship in shaping a successful career. Whether in a combat environment, a university classroom, or my own clinic, my goal has always been to provide exceptional care, advocate for patients, and contribute to the advancement of healthcare. 

  • A Century of Stories: Dr. Elia R. Cole, DO, MPH

    A Century of Stories: Dr. Elia R. Cole, DO, MPH

    In 2025, Frontier Nursing University honored the 100-year anniversary of the inception of the Frontier Nursing Service. We are grateful for the alumni, students, couriers, donors, volunteers, friends, and employees who have made an incredible impact on FNU’s century-long journey. We celebrated this milestone year by capturing and sharing some of the countless stories that make up our history. Whatever your connection to FNU, we hope you enjoy these stories.

    Dr. Elia R. Cole, DO, MPH, was born in the Hudson Valley in upstate New York. As a pre-med student, she was an EMT and Director of Emergency Medical Services while attending Bard College. She also participated in summer programs to prepare for the medical field through a pediatric surgery internship in Lima, Peru, and the FNU Courier Program in Hyden, Kentucky, in 2009.

    The Courier Program was started in 1928 by FNU founder Mary Breckinridge, who recruited young people to work in the Kentucky mountains and learn about service to humanity. In the early days, Couriers escorted guests safely through remote terrain, delivered medical supplies to remote outpost clinics, and helped nurse-midwives during home visits and births. Today, the Courier Program Public Health Internship is a service-learning experience that provides an opportunity for students interested in public health, healthcare, or related fields to see what it is like to provide medical care to an underserved population. It was exactly the rural, underserved experience that Dr. Cole had been looking for.

    “It felt like I was stepping back into history, especially because I was pretty excited to learn in a place where Mary Breckinridge once stood, a place that was part of the history of American Public Health,” said Dr. Cole, who is now a physician with Northwest Permanente.

    Dr. Cole’s ties to the Courier Program have extended well beyond that memorable summer. Even as her medical career has progressed and she has moved across the country, Cole has stayed connected. She has come back for opening or closing sessions of the program or to give presentations, has served on the Courier Advisory Committee, and has been a mentor to other Couriers.

    Dr. Cole studied public health at Boston University and medicine at the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, Washington. As a third and fourth-year medical student, Dr. Cole was assigned clinical rotations based out of Fairbanks, Alaska.

    Her rural healthcare experiences included travel to remote villages, where she learned to provide healthcare with limited resources. Further clinical rotations took Dr. Cole across the country to the Midwest and the Navajo Nation. These varied experiences of life in America further fueled Dr. Cole’s desire to deliver healthcare to underserved populations.

    In recognition of her past and ongoing contributions to the Courier Program, Dr. Cole was awarded FNU’s Unbridled Spirit Award in 2024. The award is presented annually to a former FNU Courier who is dedicated to serving others, has ongoing, longstanding stewardship of Frontier, and has demonstrated conviction, courage, and a zest for adventure.

    >> Read More from “A Century of Stories”

  • Frontier’s CNM and WHNP programs prepare students for clinical practice in real-world settings

    Frontier’s CNM and WHNP programs prepare students for clinical practice in real-world settings

    Our midwifery students perform simulations in an office-like setting, a home birth room, a hospital birth room, and a birthing center setting.When students at Frontier Nursing University prepare to begin their clinical rotations in their home communities as part of their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC) programs, they do so with added confidence, thanks to FNU’s skills-intensive Clinical Bound.

    Clinical Bound, an immersive training, allows students to bridge the gap between didactic learning (online coursework) and hands-on clinical practice through simulations on FNU’s campus. The goal is to provide a safe environment where students can refine their skills, make mistakes, and correct them before working with real patients.

    To effectively prepare students during Clinical Bound, FNU’s simulation labs are modeled after specific real-world environments. This provides students with practical experience in each unique setting. Our midwifery students perform simulations in an office-like setting, a home birth room, a hospital birth room, and a birthing center setting.

    “Clinical Bound is an exciting time at Frontier. This is when students switch from their didactic learning to hands-on skills, so they’re with their instructors for the first time,” said FNU President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders. “It gives them a chance to validate their skills as practicing nurses, while learning through experience to trust their clinical judgment.”

    The goal is to provide a safe environment where students can refine their skills, make mistakes, and correct them before working with real patients.

    In the Birth Center Room on Frontier’s campus, students gain clinical practice in an out-of-hospital setting, complete with a birthing tub and a homelike environment, where equipment is tucked away to create a comfortable atmosphere for the patient and family. Similarly, the Home Birth Room allows students to practice in a home setting, considering preemptive issues and planning for potential transfers to a hospital if complications arise.

    While midwifery is often associated with home and birth centers in the U.S., The Commonwealth Fund shared 2022 data from the National Center for Health Statistics indicating that 87 percent of midwife-attended births in 2020 were in hospital settings in collaboration with nurses and physicians. Frontier’s Hospital Room provides students with the opportunity to practice using the equipment they will encounter during hospital births. The Office Visit Room is designed to simulate gynecological visits and return obstetrics appointments, and is equipped with pelvic and breast mannequins for exams, microscopes, and specimen gathering tools.

    Tour our Clinical Bound simulation labs in this episode of Frontier’s On the Trail:

     
    In the lab area, students practice a variety of skills related to gynecology and obstetrics, including maneuvers using simulators that mimic amniotic fluid and allow for different baby positions, inserting IUDs, performing endometrial biopsies, conducting cervical exams, and fetal scalp electrodes.

    A unique feature of Clinical Bound is the use of standardized patients, who are trained actors portraying real-life patient scenarios. This allows students to practice both technical skills and patient communication, while faculty members, acting as preceptors, provide real-time guidance and feedback.

    In the lab area, students practice a variety of skills related to gynecology and obstetricsSeveral students are able to observe these encounters in real-time thanks to a software program called SimIQ, which allows students to watch each other’s simulations from nearby classrooms or remote locations via tablets or computers. This innovative approach promotes collaborative learning allowing students to learn from each other and obtain helpful feedback from both faculty and peers.

    By offering in-person clinical simulations and integrating SimIQ software, students are equipped with the necessary tools to interact with patients not only in a traditional in-person setting but also in a telehealth environment. This adaptability is increasingly crucial as healthcare access continues to evolve and telehealth becomes more prevalent.

    By combining the knowledge gained through didactic coursework with hands-on simulation training, simulation labs during Clinical Bound equip students with the skills, confidence, and critical thinking needed for their clinical experiences. As they step into patient care roles, they do so with a solid foundation, prepared to apply their expertise in real-world settings.

    To learn more about Clinical Bound on Frontier’s campus, click here.

  • Frontier Introduces New CE Course: The Gift of Precepting

    Frontier Introduces New CE Course: The Gift of Precepting

    Frontier’s new “The Gift of Precepting” CE course provides participants with information about the roles, responsibilities and expectations of the clinical preceptor in guiding and mentoring advanced practice nursing students in a variety of settings. It is divided into small segments to allow for learning at your own pace.

    Integrating the Community of Inquiry theoretical framework, participants will explore teaching learning strategies that address adult learners, learn ways to create high-quality clinical experiences incorporating diversity, the existence of bias, and attention to techniques to assess student readiness to engage in clinical learning. Ways to effectively manage the clinical learning environment and evaluate student achievement of objectives will also be discussed. Legal and ethical issues regarding student and patient confidentiality that need to be considered when providing clinical learning experiences will be addressed.

    Course Outcomes:

    1. Explain the roles and responsibilities of the clinical preceptor.
    2. Apply evidence-based strategies to the preceptor role.
    3. Integrate the three presences of the Community of Inquiry as a model for Nurse Practitioner students to meet Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies and role transition.
    4. Incorporate knowledge of learning styles and adult learning principles to facilitate, instruct, model, and encourage student learning in the clinical setting.
    5. Summarize the use of assessment methods, including direct observation, formative and summative assessments, and actionable feedback to guide student learning.
    6. Recognize legal and ethical issues and constraints that impact the clinical learning environment.
    7. Cultivate an environment that facilitates student role transition from RN to APRN through role modeling, coaching, and mentorship that focuses on APRN professional roles, values, and relationships within and outside of the profession.
    8. Discuss factors that contribute to an effective and secure learning environment in the clinical setting that consider personal/cultural factors, bias, and inclusivity.
    9. Examine methods of clinical student evaluation, including psychomotor skills, therapeutic interventions, and APRN role development.
    10. Explore effective strategies for problem-solving in the clinical setting, including preventing potential problems, problem identification, and interventions.
    Learn More

    This activity is approved for six contact hour(s) of continuing education (which includes 0 hour(s) of pharmacology) by Frontier Nursing University. Activity ID 2502-001. This activity was planned in accordance with ANCC Commission on Accreditation Standards and Policies.

     

  • Should I Become an FNP, WHNP or a CNM?

    Should I Become an FNP, WHNP or a CNM?

    Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), which include nurse practitioners and nurse midwives, play a vital role in expanding access to healthcare, especially in underserved communities. It is important to understand the distinct role and focus of each path when considering which specialty is right for you.

    According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), nurse practitioners evaluate patients, diagnose, write prescriptions, and bring a comprehensive perspective to health care in nearly 1 billion patient visits each year, providing high-quality care across a wide range of specialties, from family practice to women’s health. In fact, 42% of Medicare patients receive services from a nurse practitioner, and NPs are the fastest growing Medicare-designated provider, according to the AANP.

    The need for nurse-midwives is also growing. The United States has approximately four midwives employed per 1,000 live births according to the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). ACNM estimates that at least 22,000 midwives are needed in the midwifery workforce to meet the World Health Organization’s minimum goal of 6 midwives per 1,000 live births.

    Frontier Nursing University prepares advanced practice nurses to make a meaningful impact on the lives of diverse and underserved patients. When prospective students reach out to us with enthusiasm for the next step in their careers, one of the most common questions we receive is how to choose the right specialty when pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC) at Frontier. Many students are deciding between our Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM), and Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) specialties.

    Of course, to make an informed decision, it’s important to understand the distinct role and focus of each specialty.

    • Family Nurse Practitioner – An FNP is an advanced practice nurse who manages the healthcare of individuals and their families by providing preventive and primary care, promoting health and wellbeing, and helping their patients manage chronic conditions. FNPs conduct routine checkups and assessments, order and interpret tests, make diagnoses, prescribe medications, and initiate and manage treatment plans for their patients.
    • Certified Nurse-Midwife – A CNM is a primary health care provider to women of all ages throughout their lives. CNMs focus on gynecologic and family planning services, as well as preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and newborn care. They also provide primary care such as conducting annual exams, writing prescriptions, and offering basic nutrition counseling.
    • Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner – A WHNP is an advanced practice nurse who specializes in continuing and comprehensive health care for women throughout their lives as well as providing sexual and reproductive healthcare to people of all genders. WHNPs provide well-woman care, reproductive and gynecological care, and prenatal and postpartum care. Additionally, WHNPs focus on health promotion and disease prevention.

    For all three specialty programs, FNU students enjoy the flexibility of completing coursework online, attending full or part-time, participating in two brief on-campus immersion experiences, and fulfilling their clinical practicum in their home community. Additionally, students who earn their MSN or PGC have the option to pursue their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Frontier afterward.

    While all three programs combine didactic and clinical learning, there are differences in the structure of each program. For full-time students, the FNP and WHNP specialties take 24 months (eight terms) for the MSN and 18 months (six terms) for the Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC), while the CNM specialty requires 27 months (nine terms) for the MSN and 21 months (seven terms) for the PGC. For part-time students, all three specialties take 36 months (12 terms) for the MSN and 27 months (nine terms) for the PGC.

    Ultimately, the choice between these specialties depends on each student’s unique passions, interests, and career goals. However, each program offers its own distinct advantages, making it important for prospective students to consider the benefits of each specialty at FNU.

    Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP):

    • First FNP Program: Frontier Nursing University began offering the first FNP program in the U.S. in 1970.
    • Comprehensive Skill Set: The FNP program has a curriculum that teaches students to be entrepreneurs and healthcare leaders. The curriculum prepares clinicians who are improving healthcare around the country and the world. As a Frontier student, there is opportunity to understand the needs of a community, and learn entrepreneurial skills to be able to start a practice.
    • Broad Scope of Practice: FNPs have a broader scope of practice, managing the healthcare of individuals and families across the lifespan.
    • Exam Pass Rates: 100% of our family nurse practitioner graduates pass the national certification exam the first time. (ANCC 2024)

    Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM):

    • Oldest and Largest Program: CNM students can attend the oldest and largest continually operating nurse-midwifery education program in the U.S. FNU graduates more than 40% of the nation’s midwives.
    • Comprehensive Skill Set: Certified Nurse-Midwives are educated in two disciplines: midwifery and nursing. They earn graduate degrees, complete a midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), and are eligible for the national certification examination administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) to receive the professional designation of CNM.
    • Expert Faculty: More than 50% of FNU’s 150+ faculty are Certified Nurse-Midwives.
    • Exam Pass Rates: 91% of our nurse-midwifery graduates pass the national certification exam the first time. (AMCB 2023)

    Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP):

    • Holistic Approach: Our WHNP program is committed to addressing holistic, client-centered primary care and specialized care for women, inclusive of all gender identities, from puberty through the adult lifespan.
    • Prepared for Success: At FNU, WHNP students are not only trained to be women’s health care nurse practitioners, but also to be entrepreneurs and leaders in the healthcare system.
    • Comprehensive Skill Set: FNU’s WHNP specialty equips students with a diverse set of clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic skills that prepare them to provide expert care to women in a variety of healthcare settings, including primary care, reproductive health, and maternal health. This broad skill set ensures that WHNP graduates are versatile and adaptable in the ever-evolving field of sexual and reproductive healthcare.
    • Exam Pass Rates: 96% of our women’s health care nurse practitioner graduates pass the national certification exam the first time. (NCC 2023)

    Learn more about degree specialties at FNU. For up-to-date admissions information visit frontier.edu/admissions

  • Frontier Nursing University Names Kristin Ashford as New Dean of Nursing

    Frontier Nursing University Names Kristin Ashford as New Dean of Nursing


    Dr. Kristin B. Ashford, PhD, WHNP-BC, FAAN

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) announced that Dr. Kristin B. Ashford, PhD, WHNP-BC, FAAN, will be the university’s new Dean of Nursing effective July 1, 2025. Dr. Ashford replaces Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, FAAN, who retired at the end of February having served as FNU’s Dean of Nursing since 2018. Dr. Diane John, PhD, ARNP, FNP-BC, CNE, who has served as the Interim Dean of Nursing since March 1, will continue in that role until July 1.

    “After a thorough and competitive search, we are very proud to welcome Dr. Ashford as our new Dean of Nursing,” said FNU President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders, DNP, RN, APRN-CNM, FACNM. “Dr. Ashford brings a wealth of experience as a practitioner, educator, and administrator. I am excited to see her leadership and expertise advance the tremendous work of her predecessors in service to our students and our mission.”

    Dr. Ashford comes to FNU from the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Nursing, where she is a professor and Endowed Good Samaritan Chair for Community Nursing. She is the founder and director of the UK College of Nursing Perinatal and Research Center, leading an interprofessional team to translate research into practice while informing policy makers on maternal and child health issues. She is also the co-director of UK’s BREATHE (Bridging Research Efforts and Advocacy Toward Healthy Environments).

    “I am honored to accept the position of Dean of Nursing at Frontier Nursing University,” Dr. Ashford said. “Frontier has a long-standing record of excellence and a well-earned reputation for commitment to its students and the communities they serve. I have a love for teaching and mentoring students. I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to work with Frontier’s students and empower them to positively impact access to quality, compassionate healthcare across the country,” Dr. Ashford said.

    Her extensive administrative experience at the UK College of Nursing includes serving as the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Health Policy (2022-2024), Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Interprofessional Education (2017-2022), and Assistant Dean of Research (2015-2017).

    Dr. Ashford received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Washburn University, her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Louisville, and a PhD in nursing from the University of Kentucky. Among her many accomplishments, she is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and was selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow at the National Academy of Medicine in 2021. She received the Florence Nightingale Outstanding Nurse of the Year Award from the University of Louisville in 2016.

    Dr. Ashford is a dedicated researcher with over 60 scholarly publications and more than $10 million in funding as a primary investigator. The majority of her research focuses on improving health for pregnant and postpartum women with addiction, primarily tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and opioid use disorder. She is an internationally known nursing expert in the field of perinatal tobacco use, immune response research, and preterm birth (PTB).

    “I am excited and honored to be joining the Frontier Nursing University community,” Dr. Ashford said. “The mission of Frontier Nursing aligns closely with my values, likely stemming from my rural upbringing and my commitment to improving community health through collaborative partnerships.

  • Graduate Spotlight: Emily Levingston Luna, CNM, MSN, opens Vida Midwifery in rural New Mexico

    Graduate Spotlight: Emily Levingston Luna, CNM, MSN, opens Vida Midwifery in rural New Mexico

    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 that are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality health care to underserved and rural populations.

    Frontier graduate Emily Levingston Luna, CNM, MSN, is making a significant impact on midwifery care in her home community of Las Cruces, New Mexico. As the founder of Vida Midwifery, she is dedicated to expanding access to quality maternal healthcare in the region. Luna earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) specialty from FNU in 2018.

    Her journey into midwifery began long before attending FNU. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from New Mexico State University in 2009, Luna gained extensive experience working as an RN in hospital settings. Starting as a float pool nurse, she developed skills across multiple specialties, including medical-surgical, postpartum, pediatrics, and the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). After three years, she transitioned full-time to Labor and Delivery, where her passion for midwifery was solidified.

    Luna said she dreamed of pursuing midwifery since her first experience with pregnancy and birth, which is what drove her to pursue nursing school with the eventual goal of becoming a Certified Nurse-Midwife.

    “Midwifery stood out to me as a vocation that included many of the things I feel strongly about: bodily autonomy, trauma-informed care, and reproductive justice in particular,” she said. “I chose the CNM pathway to midwifery because I wanted to be able to offer the fullest scope of care possible.”

    Luna said she was drawn to FNU’s program due to its rich history and accessible distance-learning model.

    “I loved the history of the Frontier Nursing service and their work improving healthcare in rural communities,” she said. “The way FNU’s nurse-midwifery program was set up also just felt very accessible to me.”

    In the summer of 2020, Luna launched Vida Midwifery as a home birth practice. By April 2023, the practice expanded into a group model with two additional midwifery professionals from the local community.

    “We all had solo practices, and all agreed that we wanted to try to build something more sustainable, so we decided to try a practice model where we rotate through roles and have regular time off as well,” she said.

    Vida Midwifery offers a wide range of services, including prenatal, birth, postpartum, newborn, gynecological, and contraceptive care, as well as lactation support. They are also preparing to introduce intrauterine insemination (IUI) services. Their service area extends about 1.5 hours from Las Cruces.

    Recognizing the lack of obstetric providers in nearby Sierra County, Vida Midwifery partnered with the New Mexico Department of Health to launch a twice-monthly prenatal clinic at the Public Health Office. The practice is also committed to education, regularly precepting student midwives.

    “I think midwives tread lightly and respectfully in some of the most significant and vulnerable experiences of our clients’ lives,” Luna said of her profession. “We’re extra mindful of the weight of that, and also we’re responsible for guarding safety and providing sound, evidence-based information and guidance. We take extra time and move a little more slowly in an effort to really get to know our clients and also in an effort to help them feel known and seen.”

    Earlier this year, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced over $40 million in funding to enhance rural healthcare, with Vida Midwifery among the recipients. Through the Rural Healthcare Access Fund, they plan to establish the Vida Birth and Health Center, increase staff, expand capacity, and mentor more student midwives.

    The new birth center will provide a centralized location for patients from rural communities while ensuring proximity to hospital services when needed. Luna said they also envision the center being a hub for community activities and support, offering classes and resources such as a clothing closet. The birth center is expected to be open late this year or early 2026.

    Outside of her work with Vida Midwifery, Luna is involved with Border Area Midwives (BAM), which is a group of midwives and student midwives that live in and around Las Cruces, El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The group meets monthly, and holds an annual mini-conference, along with other training sessions. They also rely on each other for peer reviews and debriefing.

    Outside of her career, Luna enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, and pets. She also enjoys traveling, a long walk-and-talk with a friend, playing music and writing.

    Reflecting on her time at FNU, Luna credits the university with helping to shape her career.

    “I had such a supportive experience as a student at FNU, and it was helpful to hear the experiences of faculty members,” she said. “I think the variety there really helped solidify for me that practicing midwifery could look lots of ways, and empowered me to really pursue what felt right for me. I loved Frontier Bound and Clinical Bound, and still keep in touch with some of the wonderful people I met those weeks.”

    In addition to the education she has received, Luna said she is also thankful for the work of midwives who came before her and carved out a path forward, especially Indigenous and Grand Midwives, who she said were not treated with the enormous respect they deserved.

    “I often think about how my work would not be possible without the vision and hard work of many others,” she said. “Like them, I hope to be part of building something that will outlast me.”

    Thank you, Emily, for your dedication to midwifery, your commitment to expanding healthcare access in rural communities, and your passion for empowering future generations of midwives.

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

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