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FNU’s Professional Organizational Mentoring Program Creates Bond Between Faculty and Students

January is celebrated as National Mentoring Month and serves as a national call to action for uplifting and joining the mentoring movement. In an effort to create stronger interactions and connections between students and faculty, Frontier Nursing University introduced its Professional Organizational Mentoring Program (POMP) in 2018.

POMP matches FNU faculty with nurse practitioner and nurse-midwifery students from underrepresented groups to provide support and mentorship. The program allows students to join a professional organization in their field and gives them the opportunity to attend a professional conference with their mentors. Conference registration and professional membership fees are covered for all faculty mentors and student mentees selected.

2023 POMP participants

AABC, Tuscson, AZ, October
Students:
Cheryl Lynn Barlaan
Andrea Nikodim
Faculty: Diana Jolles

APNA, Lake Buena Vista, FL, October
Student: Heather Figi
Faculty: Paula Alexander-Delpech

NBNA, Atlanta, GA, August
Student: Daniela Zehr Butler
Faculty: Diane John

AANP, New Orleans, LA, June
Students:
Edalyn Shaw
Kristin Swanson
Demetria Woodruff
Faculty: Debra Hunt

Student: Jazmene Landing
Faculty: Joanne Keefe

NRHA, San Diego, CA, May
Student: Santana St. Remy
Faculty, Thomas George

ACNM, Orlando, FL, May
Students:
Michele Armstrong
Miriam Fawaz
Zekeyra Guishard
Kaede Johnson
Ebonique Shanks
Faculty: Heidi Loomis

“The opportunity to attend the (American Psychiatric Nurses Association) national conference with an FNU mentor was invaluable to me,” said an FNU student mentee. “During the conference, knowing that I was not attending alone provided me with a needed level of confidence to participate as a student. This was especially beneficial when it came to attending the state chapter session. Because of my mentor’s insight into the value of these meetings, I was able to connect with my state-level leadership and other student members seeking support as soon-to-be new providers. I thank the Office of DEI for selecting me for this opportunity and for allowing me the chance to get to know my mentor and other psychiatric-mental health professionals better.”

Edalyn Shaw, Kristin Swanson, Dr. Debra Hunt and Demetria Woodruff.

Frontier faculty selected to serve as mentors attend a mentoring session facilitated by the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN. After the session, faculty meet with their mentee(s) to develop goals and objectives for the mentoring relationship, arrange times to meet during the conference, review the conference program together, and arrange at least one mentor-mentee networking event. During the conference, the mentor meets with their mentee(s), and after the conference, there is at least one meeting where a summary of the activities is completed and submitted to the office of DEI.

“I had a great time connecting with my student and providing guidance with navigating the clinical setting as a student of color as well as being a sounding board to provide opportunities to uplift and empower the student,” said Dr. Dorsena Gayle, CNP, CNM, who attended the Black Nurses Association conference with her mentee. “I think the great thing about the POMP program is that it really allows the students to have unlimited one-on-one access to that particular faculty in an engaging environment.”

Learn more about advanced nursing degrees and specialties at Frontier Nursing University, including our Family Nurse Practitioner program. Subscribe to our blog for the latest news and events at FNU and to get inspired with stories featuring our alumni, students, faculty and staff!

January 8, 2024
The Role of Nurse-Midwives and Why It Matters

For decades, Frontier Nursing University has excelled at preparing nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner students to become ethical, compassionate, innovative, and entrepreneurial leaders. FNU has long understood the vital roles that nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners play in the nation’s healthcare system. To the general public, however, the different terms and titles can be confusing, yet understanding them grows more important as the U.S. combats significant healthcare shortages and crises across the country.

Even before the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic, it was well-known that the U.S. was facing a healthcare provider shortage. This trend was verified in a June 2021 report by the Association of American Medical Colleges, which estimated the U.S. faces a shortage of primary care physicians of between 17,800 and 48,000 and a shortage across the non-primary care specialties of between 21,000 and 77,100 physicians. (Source: https://www.aamc.org/media/54681/download?attachment)

Perhaps even more disconcerting is the maternal mortality crisis. A maternal death is defined by the World Health Organization as “the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and the site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes.” According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2021, the maternal mortality rate in the United States was 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, a dramatic increase from rates of 23.8 in 2020 and 20.1 in 2019. The rate for non-Hispanic Black women is even more alarming, at 69.9 deaths per 100,000 births in 2021. (Source: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2021/maternal-mortality-rates-2021.pdf)

Answers to systemic problems are complex and involve multiple components, but data suggests that nurse-midwives could help dramatically to improve the nation’s maternal mortality crisis. The Lancet Series on Midwifery found that midwives are linked to higher rates of physiologic birth and fewer adverse neonatal outcomes. The report noted that approximately 10 percent of U.S. births are attended by nurse-midwives, compared to 50-75 percent in other high-resource countries. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5821332/#sec004title)

In addition to educating and preparing more nurse-midwives, part of the solution is also an increased awareness of exactly what nurse-midwives do. Taking note of the many myths about nurse-midwives, FNU has made it a strategic priority to be a source of information and education about the vital role of nurse-midwives.

“Nurse-midwives contribute significantly to better care for women and families,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “This is why a number of healthcare organizations across the country are embracing collaborative models and adding nurse-midwives to healthcare teams. With their unique skill sets, nurse-midwives help improve quality and decrease costs. They also serve as excellent advocates for patients, which is particularly important as more and more women are seeking out-of-hospital care.”

Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) 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 pass a national certification examination administered by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).

“An important objective for Frontier Nursing University is to define the role of the certified nurse-midwife so the public understands the broad scope of services these professionals provide,” Dr. Stone said.

FNU’s strategy to educate the public about the difference between nurse-midwives has included sharing informational messages across multiple platforms, including FNU’s publications and communications, including the FNU website, blog, Quarterly Bulletin, e-newsletters, press releases, and myth-busting fact sheets.

Nurse-midwives have a core focus on promoting optimal health, not only caring for the sick but also providing guidance to assist in long-term health. This model of care forms a partnership between nurse and patient with a focus on promoting ongoing health in addition to treating illness. The focus on health maintenance is a core characteristic of the practice of nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners. Midwifery care, as defined by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, includes health promotion, disease prevention, wellness education and counseling, and full-scope primary care services, including maternity care. A 2023 study found that midwifery-led care has many positive effects on improving several key maternal and neonatal outcomes, including fewer emergency Caesarean sections, higher rates of vaginal births, lower rates of episiotomies, and shorter neonatal stays in intensive care units. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov )

“Nurse-midwives serve as excellent advocates for patients, which is particularly important as more women seek out-of-hospital care,” Dr. Stone said. “Frontier Nursing University’s goal is to educate more certified nurse-midwives so that midwifery care is available to all women who seek it, and to educate the public about the care that these nurse-midwives can provide.”

Related Content: Why Should I Become a Nurse-Midwife?

Learn more about advanced nursing degrees and specialties at Frontier Nursing University. Subscribe to our blog for the latest news and events at FNU and to get inspired with stories featuring our alumni, students, faculty, preceptors and staff!

January 4, 2024
Top 4 Questions to Ask If You Are Considering Becoming a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

At Frontier Nursing University (FNU), our goal is to make resources readily available for not only our students, but also those who are thinking about furthering their nursing education. A Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice nurse that seeks to improve mental health care and the overall health status of communities. With a focus on lifetime care for individuals, PMHNPs are committed to promoting mental health through assessment, diagnosis and treatment of behavioral problems, mental disorders and comorbid conditions.

Here are some thoughts on becoming a PMHNP:

Q: Why become a PMHNP?

A: Simply put: Your community needs you to answer the call!

According to the Centers for Disease Control, mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States. One in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year;1 in 5 children, either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness; and 1 in 25 Americans lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression (Kessler et al., 2007; SAMHSA, 2016; Marikangas et al., 2010).

Did you know that mood disorders, including major depression, dysthymic disorder and bipolar disorder, are the third most common cause of hospitalization in the U.S. for both youth and adults aged 18–44 (“HCUP Facts and Figures,” 2009)? Further, those living with serious mental illness face an increased risk of having chronic medical conditions. Subsequently, adults in the U.S. living with serious mental illness die on average 25 years earlier than others, largely due to treatable medical conditions and lack of access to care (Colton & Manderscheid, 2006; “Morbidity & Mortality,” 2006).

Let’s also take a moment to consider suicide. Devastatingly, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., the 3rd leading cause of death for people aged 10–14 and the 2nd leading cause of death for people aged 15–24 (“Suicide Facts,” 2015; “10 Leading Causes of Death,” 2015). The lack of access to psychiatric services across the nation has been an unfortunate reality for decades and despite the obvious increasing demand for care, and we see the shortage continue to become increasingly pronounced. Although tackling our mental health crisis most certainly will require a range of interrelated solutions, one key starting point is expanding the psychiatric workforce. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners provide compassionate, comprehensive, holistic, evidenced based, high quality care and are an ideal solution to fill the gap in access to psychiatric and mental healthcare services.

Q: What does a PMHNP do?

A: PMHNPs assess, diagnose, and treat individuals and families with psychiatric disorders or the potential for such disorders using evidenced based practice guidelines, therapeutic skills, pharmacological intervention, and psychotherapy (APNA, 2014).

They provide some primary care services to the psychiatric mental health population, practice as patient advocates, and are champions of stigma reduction. You can find PMHNPs working in settings such as private practices, substance use disorders clinics, in-patient settings, schools, long-term care facilities, community mental health centers, emergency rooms, urgent care/crisis clinics, primary care and specialty medicine practices, and rehabilitation centers.

Q: How long does it take to become a PMHNP?

A: PMHNPs are registered nurses with advanced master’s and/or doctoral degrees, which requires several years of post-secondary education. PMHNPs have advanced education and training in assessment, diagnosis, treatment and planning of mental health disorders including psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, practice evaluation, consultation, care coordination and collaborative care approaches.

Learn more about Expanding Your Role with a Psychiatric-Mental Health Specialty

Q: Who credentials PMHNPs?

A: The American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) is the board certifying body for PMHNPs. The ANCC board exam is a competency-based examination which consists of health promotion and maintenance, differential diagnosis and disease management, and the use and prescription of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions across the lifespan (ANCC, 2018). Once successfully passing the ANCC board examination, the credential awarded is PMHNP-BC. Licensure including scope of practice varies by state and is regulated by the respective state Boards of Nursing, Boards of Medicine and/or Pharmacy Boards.

Frontier Nursing University offers a graduate Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty track that can be pursued full- or part-time while completing a Master of Science in Nursing or a Post-Graduate Certificate.

Are you ready to become a PMHNP? Learn more here.

References:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, The Department of Health & Human Services. (2009). HCUP Facts and Figures: Statistics on Hospital-based Care in the United States, 2009. Retrieved from http://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/factsandfigures/2009/pdfs/FF_report_2009.pdf

American Nurse Credentialing Center (2018). Retrieved from nursecredentialing.org

American Psychiatric Nurses Association (2018). Retrieved from apna.org

Centers for Disease Control (2015). Suicide Facts at a Glance 2015 [Data]. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/suicide-datasheet-a.pdf

Centers for Disease Control (2015). 10 Leading Causes of Death By Age Group, United States, 2015 [Data]. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/injury/images/lc-charts/leading_causes_of_death_age_group_2015_1050w740h.gif

Colton, C.W. & Manderscheid, R.W. (2006). Congruencies in Increased Mortality Rates, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Causes of Death Among Public Mental Health Clients in Eight States. Preventing Chronic Disease: Public Health Research, Practice and Policy, 3(2), 1–14.

Kessler, R.C., Angermeyer, M., Anthony, J.C., DE Graff, R., Demyttenaere, K., Gasquet, I., …For the WHO World Mental Health Survey Consortium, T.B. (2007). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of mental disorders in the World Health Organization’s World Mental Health Survey Initiative. World Psychiatry, 6(3), 168–176.

Merikangas, K. R., He, J., Burstein, M., Swanson, S. A., Avenevoli, S., Cui, L., … Swendsen, J. (2010). Lifetime Prevalence of Mental Disorders in US Adolescents: Results from the National Comorbidity Study-Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A). Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 49(10), 980–989. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2010.05.017

National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Council. (2006). Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness. Alexandria, VA: Parks, J., et al. Retrieved from http://www.nasmhpd.org/docs/publications/MDCdocs/Mortality%20and%20Morbid

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2016). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the united states: Results from the 2015 national survey on drug use and health. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FFR1-2015/NSDUH-FFR1-2015/NSDUH-FFR1-2015.pdf

January 2, 2024
2023 Year in Review

We have so much to be proud of in 2023, including our students, faculty, staff, alumni, preceptors and donors. We invite you to reflect on this past year at Frontier Nursing University.

FNU President Dr. Susan Stone to Transition to Distinguished Chair of Midwifery and Nursing
FNU President Dr. Susan Stone announced that she will transition into the role of FNU’s Distinguished Chair of Midwifery and Nursing at or near the end of 2023. In that role, she will spend more of her time outside of the university as a national leader and advocate for the nursing and midwifery professions. Her experience, expertise, knowledge, passion, and well-earned reputation as a leader makes Dr. Stone a strong voice in the worlds of nursing, midwifery, healthcare, and education.

FNU Held 13th Annual Diversity Impact Conference; Open to Other Universities for the First Time
On June 8-9, FNU held its 13th annual Diversity Impact Conference. The theme of this year’s conference was “Better Together: Advancing a Culture of Identity and Belonging in Healthcare.” The two-day conference featured keynote presentations from nationally recognized leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This year, for the first time, the conference was available for attendees outside of FNU.

FNU Awarded $4 Million Maternity Care Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded the Maternity Care (MatCare) Nursing Workforce Expansion Grant to FNU. Via the grant, FNU intends to increase the nurse-midwifery workforce.

A celebration gala was held for Dr. Susan Stone in October.

Dr. Kevin Scalf Named Department Chair of the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Department
FNU announced that Dr. Kevin Scalf, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CNEcl, accepted the position of Department Chair of the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Department. Dr. Scalf had been serving as the interim Department Chair since October 8.

FNU Faculty Selected to Participate in the National League for Nursing’s 2023 Leadership Institute
Assistant Professor Dr. Joanne Keefe, DNP, MPH, FNP-C, CNE, and Associate Professor Dr. Vicky Stone-Gale, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP, were among 41 nurse educators and nurses in practice selected to participate in the National League for Nursing’s 2023 Leadership Institute.

FNU’s Commencement Ceremony was held in September.

FNU Nurse Practitioner faculty

FNU’s 2023 Day of Giving
FNU raised $73,442 from 129 donors! Thank you to our alumni, friends, students, faculty, and staff who answered the call to raise awareness and support for advanced education of nursing and midwifery students. Save the date for FNU’s next Day of Giving which will be held from noon to noon, October 22-23, 2024.

FNU’s Commencement Ceremony
FNU’s commencement ceremony honored the nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who have completed the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, Master in Science of Nursing degree, or Post-Graduate Certificate. FNU, which awarded 1,001 degrees in 2021 and 1,040 in 2022, awarded more than 1,000 degrees again this year for master’s, doctoral, and post-graduate certificate graduates. FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, gave the keynote address. Graduates and their friends and families enjoyed a celebration event on our campus following the ceremony.

FNU  Earned “Great College to Work For” Designation for Third Consecutive Year
For the third consecutive year, FNU was named one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to the Great Colleges to Work For® program. The designation is based on data and information collected from our faculty and staff, whose responses verify that we have established a proven culture of caring, fairness, and belonging. In turn, that allows Frontier to perform at the highest level in service to our students and our mission.

FNU Student Veterans of America Group Gained National Chapter Status
FNU’s Student Veterans Group, one of six Student Interest Groups at FNU, was accepted into the Student Veterans of America (SVA) national network.With a focused mission on empowering student veterans, SVA is committed to providing an educational experience that goes beyond the classroom. Through a dedicated network of more than 1,500 on-campus chapters in all 50 states and four countries representing more than 750,000 student veterans, SVA aims to inspire yesterday’s warriors by connecting student veterans with a community of like-minded chapter leaders.

Frontier Bound

Frontier Nursing University Held Preceptor Celebration Week
FNU’s first Preceptor Celebration Week was held August 14-18, 2023, to honor the important role that preceptors play in advanced practice nursing education. Preceptor Celebration Week also marked the beginning of FNU’s preceptor contest, with the three winning preceptors each receiving $500 gift vouchers. Nominations for outstanding FNU-credentialed preceptors will be accepted through June 1, 2024, at frontier.edu/preceptorweek.

FNU held first Homecoming on Versailles Campus
FNU held its first Homecoming event held on the Versailles campus. The event included the presentation of FNU’s annual service awards. Homecoming 2023 also included campus tours, a buffet lunch, a state-of-the-university address from Dr. Stone, and a Continuing Education course titled “Identification and Treatment of Mood Disorders” delivered by Dr. Kevin Scalf, DNP, PMHNP-BC, CNEcl. Plans are already underway for Homecoming 2024 on March 23.

The FNU community honored midwifery pioneer and cherished FNU alumna Kitty Ernst with a memorial service on campus.

FNU Community Members Recognized at 2023 AANP Conference
FNU faculty, staff, students, alumni and preceptors attended the 2023 AANP National Conference from June 20 to June 25 in New Orleans, LA. The AANP National Conference is the largest nurse practitioner conference in the United States. With a focus on “Restoring, Recharging and Renewing the Nurse Practitioner Community,” the conference offered something for every nurse practitioner. Many FNU community members presented, received scholarships, and were recognized during this year’s conference. We commend all of these individuals for their excellent work as nurse practitioner leaders!

FNU Community Members Recognized at 2023 ACNM Conference
FNU faculty, staff, students, alumni, and preceptors had the opportunity to attend the 68th Annual American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) Meeting and Exhibition in Orlando, Fl. FNU is excited to highlight many of our community members who presented or were recognized during this year’s ACNM Conference. We commend all of these individuals for their excellent work as nurse-midwifery leaders!

FNU Relaunched Summer Courier program
After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, one of Frontier Nursing University’s oldest programs relaunched this summer behind the leadership of the Director of Annual Giving and Courier Program, Lisa Colletti-Jones. The Courier Program, which was operated from the Versailles campus for the first time, provided an opportunity for two college students to participate in an eight-week service learning internship within Woodford County, which is home to the city of Versailles and the FNU campus.

FNU employees enjoyed making memories with a Couch to 5K group.

Frontier Personnel Active in Local Community
As FNU has settled into its campus in Versailles, Ky., the university has become an active entity within the local community, from leadership programs to Go Red Luncheons to 5Ks. Staff members Te’sia Carter, Jelena Djuricic, Quincy Fuehne, Kendra-Danaē Harris and Rosalie Seitz graduated from the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce’s Woodford Leadership Academy in 2023. Staff members Eileen Frazier, Erica Schroeder, Megan Cadwell and Brittany Bachman are currently participating in a separate program called Leadership Woodford County. FNU is also a sponsor of and frequent presenter in the monthly Woodford County Chamber of Commerce Health & Wellness Round Table. Brittney Kinison graduated from Leadership Central Kentucky, a regional leadership program offered by Commerce Lexington, and Amanda Revely is currently participating.

Employees enjoyed making memories at the summer bash and with a Couch to 5K group. The Kentucky affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives hosted its first Miles for Midwives 5K on September 2 in Lexington, Ky. The event, which was sponsored by FNU, included several members of the Frontier community.

We are so proud of the FNU community and look forward to 2024!

December 28, 2023
2023 Highlight: FNU Graduates Celebrate with Friends & Family at Commencement

As 2023 comes to a close, we will be sharing a few highlights from the year on our blog. We hope you enjoy!

FNU’s commencement ceremony honored the nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners who have completed the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, Master of Science in Nursing degree, or Post-Graduate Certificate. FNU awarded over 1,000 degrees again this year.

Several student and faculty members were also recognized with student leadership awards, an exemplary DNP project award and student choice awards for excellence in teaching. View the award winners here.

During the commencement ceremony, FNU awarded an honorary doctorate to Michael Steinmetz. Steinmetz served as the Executive Vice President for Finance and Facilities at Frontier from October 2009 to August 2022, when he retired.

Following commencement, all of the alumni and their guests were invited to a celebration on the Frontier campus. The event included food prepared by FNU’s culinary staff, live music, self-guided campus tours, and activities for kids and grownups alike.

Here are some of the photos from this very special day:

December 22, 2023
2023 Highlight: FNU Welcomes New Board Members

As 2023 comes to a close, we will be sharing a few highlights from the year on our blog. We hope you enjoy!

Frontier Nursing University’s Board of Directors is comprised of individuals who are invested in the success and growth of FNU. The Board is integral in leading FNU to carry out the mission we’ve held since 1939 – to educate nurses who are leaders in the primary care of all families, with an emphasis on underserved and rural populations.

FNU hosted our board of directors on campus in the fall.

FNU welcomed four new board members in 2023:

Dr. Vernell DeWitty

Dr. Vernell DeWitty

Dr. Vernell DeWitty is the Director for Diversity and Inclusion at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), where she advises the nation’s top academic nursing leaders on building consensus around a strategic approach to diversity and inclusion. Previously, she directed the Robert Wood Johnson New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program, a nine‐year $41 million national collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and AACN that focused on diversifying the nursing workforce. In this capacity, she created and implemented strategies and resources that contributed to the academic success of underrepresented and disadvantaged students in 130 nursing schools located in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Dr. Dewitty is currently leading the delivery of technical assistance programming for 32 nursing schools funded by the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) to increase nursing workforce diversity.

Dr. DeWitty has provided consulting services to healthcare systems in obstetric and neonatal risk assessment and guided new product development while serving as the Director for Consultation and Marketing at the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). She earned her master’s degree from the Catholic University of America in Women and Neonatal Nursing and served as the first Director for Maternal and Newborn nursing at Howard University Hospital. Dr. DeWitty served as Interim Chief Executive Officer, Director of Patient Services, and Director of Program and Business Development at the Hospital for Sick Children, a pediatric rehabilitation hospital located in Washington DC. As a member of the Executive Management Team, she was responsible for directing patient care services of 130 rehabilitation beds and overseeing 185 FTEs with a $15 million operating budget.

She earned her doctorate from George Mason University, MBA from Howard University, MSN from The Catholic University of America, and BSN from Dillard University. She is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Dr. Tim Raderstorf

Dr. Tim Raderstorf

Dr. Tim Raderstorf is the Talent Partner for AndHealth, a digital health company focused on helping people reclaim their lives from chronic illness. He holds volunteer positions as the Head of Academic Entrepreneurship at the Erdős Institute and the Chief Operating Officer of the non-profit NursesEverywhere. He is a member of the American Nurses Association’s Innovation Advisory Board. Dr. Raderstorf was the Chief Innovation Officer at The Ohio State University College of Nursing in his previous role. From TED talks to textbooks, he uses every platform he can find to empower those on the frontlines to change healthcare.

As the first nurse to hold the Chief Innovation Officer title in academia, he takes pride in educating the world on the role of the nurse as an innovator. He is the founder of the Innovation Studio, a maker space that democratizes innovation, providing every interprofessional team that pitches their innovation with the funding, tools, and mentorship needed to turn ideas into actions.

Throughout his career, Dr. Raderstorf has founded multiple businesses and has been the first employee for a profitable healthcare startup. His new textbook, co-authored with Bern Melnyk, Evidence-Based Leadership, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Nursing and Healthcare: A Practical Guide for Success, was a #1 new release on Amazon and the American Journal of Nursing’s Management & Leadership Book of the Year. Some of Dr. Raderstorf ’s recognitions include the Early Career Innovator of the Year and Distinguished Recent Alumni at the Ohio State University, the Innovation Studio being named Non-Profit of the Year by Columbus Business First in 2019. He was most recently inducted into the 2020 Class of 40 under 40 by Columbus Business First and as a 2021 Fellow at the American Academy of Nursing.

Dr. Raderstorf earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio State University, a Master of Science in Nursing from Xavier University, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Ohio State University.

Dr. Joanna Santiesteban

Dr. Joanna Santiesteban

Dr. Joanna Santiesteban has been a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist for over 20 years. She attended Indiana University Bloomington, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She received her medical degree from Loyola University Chicago and completed her OB/GYN residency at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Dr. Santiesteban lives in eastern Kentucky and serves as Chief of Staff at Highlands Appalachian Regional Healthcare. She is involved with obstetrical substance abuse treatment programs and care for an underserved population. She provides obstetric and gynecological care at Big Sandy Healthcare, a Federally Qualified Health Center in southeastern Kentucky.

She is clinical adjunct faculty at Lincoln Memorial University College of Medicine and is community area faculty at the University of Pikeville College of Medicine.

Dr. Santiesteban is the mother of 5 children. She enjoys yoga, reading, and visiting with family and friends.

Tara Martino

Tara Mitchell Martino is a Nationally Certified School Nurse in Massachusetts and is a current FNU student studying to be a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. She is a school nurse and has been a labor support person, a WIC breastfeeding peer counselor, and a foster parent. She is a two-time surrogate gestational carrier and a proud supporter of the movements for Women’s Rights, Black Lives, and LGBTQIA++ Equality.

Tara is the Scoutmaster of Westport’s all-girl Boy Scout Troop 33. She is also a Girl Scout Cadette Level-3 Troop Leader of Troop 68111 and Assistant Scoutmaster of BSA Troop 3.

A mother of four children, Tara’s goals after graduating from Frontier are to establish her own practice while enrolling in FNU’s DNP program. She also hopes to continue to serve the underserved children in her area. She would also like to volunteer for Doctors Without Borders and to research the impact of psychedelics on neuroplasticity and treatment-resistant depression.

Note: The FNU Board of Directors added a non-voting student member because they felt it important to hear student feedback as part of the Board.

December 21, 2023
2023 Highlight: FNU Announces Staff DEI Ambassador Program Participants

As 2023 comes to a close, we will be sharing a few highlights from the year on our blog. We hope you enjoy!

In 2023, FNU launched the Staff Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Ambassador program. This program mirrors the Nurse Educator DEI Fellowship program initiated by FNU in January. Ten faculty members participated in the 12-week initiative, which was fully funded by Frontier. A total of 15 FNU staff members are participating in the Staff DEI Ambassador program.

Like the Nurse Educator Fellowship program, the Staff DEI Ambassador program rejects the traditional DEI approach. It uses an individualized peer education model to facilitate the development of knowledge and skills to engage in anti-racism education.

The Staff DEI Ambassador program aims to promote the acquisition of DEI-related skills, build DEI capacity within the University, and evaluate a peer-to-peer education model to improve staff knowledge and engagement in anti-racism work. The program includes weekly 2-3 hour sessions culminating in a capstone project. Each ambassador will work with their assigned DEI Faculty Fellow mentor to develop their project. At the end of the program, the ambassadors will present their project to the FNU community.

“These initiatives came out of the President’s DEI Task Force,” said FNU Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech, Ph.D., PMHNP-BC, APRN. “I am so proud that the university has invested in this important development and training.”

December 18, 2023
2023 Highlight: FNU Relaunches Summer Courier program

As 2023 comes to a close, we will be sharing a few highlights from the year on our blog. We hope you enjoy!

After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, one of Frontier Nursing University’s oldest programs relaunched this summer behind the leadership of the Director of Annual Giving and Courier Program, Lisa Colletti-Jones. The Courier Program, which was operated from the Versailles campus for the first time, provided an opportunity for two college students to participate in an eight-week service learning internship within Woodford County, which is home to the city of Versailles and the FNU campus.

The Couriers Rebecca Kouvei and Echioma Onyemaobi with Lisa Colletti-Jones, Director of Annual Giving and Courier Programs.

Courier Rebecca Kouvei

As a senior public health major at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Rebecca Kouevi is passionate about connecting with patients to understand their problems better and collaborate with them to find effective solutions. Her studies include epidemiology and disease control concentrations, and she is minoring in sociology.

“I chose (sociology) because I wanted to bring that patient-centered and cultural sensitivity aspect to care,” Rebecca said. “First of all, let’s treat the person in front of us. It is about more than just the medicine prescription or their presenting disease. Different factors – economic, social, health, and diet – contribute to their health and wellbeing as a whole person.”

Rebecca, who resides in Richardson, Texas, just outside of Dallas, is a first-generation college student and is on track to graduate next spring. She hopes to become a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner and later plans to do medical missions and work with underserved populations, hoping to work for World Health Orginization (WHO).

“I love how versatile a physician assistant’s career pathway can be, the freedom to jump from one specialty to another – like surgery, primary care, and pediatrics. However, nurse practitioners’ practice independence is a big draw also,” Rebecca said. “Whether I become a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, I do not think I can go wrong either way. They are both helping people. Whatever I decide, I hope to make a difference in my patients’ lives and positively impact the community I serve.”

Rebecca has worked with the Woodford County EMS and The Midway Center for Integrative Health during the Courier program. She has gone on calls with the EMS, which has given her a first-hand perspective of how the EMS personnel interact with patients in the most stressful of times.

“One call I was on was with an elderly patient,” Rebecca said. “She had fallen on her head. When the EMS arrived, I saw so much more than just bandaging someone up. Her daughter was there and in disarray. One of the EMS people was over there calming her down, offering to let her ride with us while at the same time taking care of the mom who fell. It’s just nice to see the interaction between providers, patients, and families. The tender care, empathy, and compassion displayed left an imprint on me.”

At The Midway Center for Integrative Health, Rebecca has worked with Dr. Jim Roach, M.D., ABIHM, ABOIM. “One of the first two questions he asks is about their spiritual and mental health, followed by their diet inquiry,” Rebecca said. “He is really thorough, and I like how he is able to take time with each patient to conduct a comprehensive assessment and determine root problems. I continue to learn about the importance of humanizing healthcare delivery and providing care for that patient right in front of me and value them. It is paramount to collaborate with patients, to put yourself in their shoes, seeking to understand the buy-in for patients, and considering their lifestyle to formulate an effective and comprehensive care plan that they can adhere to for optimal outcomes.”

Rebecca said the Courier experience has been fun, educational and has sharpened her healthcare delivery vision.

“Everyone is super friendly, and I have enjoyed meeting various people from diverse backgrounds and disciples,” she said. “Each week, we have discussions with different practitioners and professionals who are experts in their fields. It has been amazing getting everyone’s knowledge and insight, and advice on how to improve the healthcare system. It is easy to focus on all the things that are wrong with healthcare, but we have physicians and nurse practitioners who are there because they want to be there. They care about their patients and seek to help them attain a quality life amidst their health challenges. Focusing on people will make a difference for everyone.”

Rebecca said that the Frontier community, led by the Annual Giving and Courier Program Director, Lisa Colletti-Jones, has gone above and beyond and made her Courier experience positive.

“I am just impressed by the staff members,” she said. “They are passionate and caring people who do their work well. They are dedicated to ensuring an impactful and hands-on experience for us to explore our individual interests. I am so thankful for Lisa and everyone here who made the program successful. It has been a great time, and I am so grateful for this experience and all the ways it has enriched my professional development.”

Courier Echioma Onyemaobi

Completing his freshman year at the University of Texas Permian Basin, Echi Onyemaobi is taking the time to learn what he wants to do after his college days are over. He is already enrolled in UT Permian Basin’s nursing program and embraced the opportunity to learn more about healthcare as an FNU Courier this summer.

With most summer internships tagged for juniors and seniors, Echi was prepared to work through the summer. But an advisor suggested he look into courier service and helped him set up his profile on Handshake. Not long after, he came across the Courier program and realized it was the opportunity he was looking for.

“When I came across the Courier program, I saw it was more like community service,” Echi said. “That’s what really caught my interest. I’m a freshman, so I’m here to explore.”

Echi, who was born in Nigeria, moved to Odessa, Texas, with his family when he was young. Along with his mother, he has an older brother and older sister. His father passed away when Echi was little.

He has already immersed himself in college life, enjoying the small atmosphere. He is active in student government, having recently been elected as treasurer.

“It’s been a good experience so far,” Echi said of college life. “My teachers have been really encouraging.”

Outgoing and eager to learn, Echi enjoys building relationships and helping others.

“What got me interested in nursing is that you can actually have a more personal relationship with patients,” he said.

During his time as a Courier this summer, Echi shadowed Patty, a hospice nurse with Bluegrass Care Navigators. He went on patient visits with her and had the chance to watch first-hand how she interacted with her patients.

“One thing that she made me see is the importance of a personal relationship with your patients,” he said. “She has that. I see I see it in her patient’s eyes. They are excited to see her. It’s not like we can reverse aging or make them feel younger, but I feel these moments are really important in people’s lives. She could just go and check her patients and move along and just walk away. That’s what she’s getting paid for. But she takes the extra step to make sure the patient is actually happy and at ease. That’s what I really like about this experience. It’s important to do your job, but there’s nothing more important than actually maintaining that relationship that you have with your patient. It can change everything.”

While the Courier program did not change Echi’s mind about wanting to be a nurse, it did give him a much deeper understanding of the profession.

“One thing I’ve loved about this experience is that it showed me the true motivation behind my wanting to become a nurse,” he said. “The Courier program was really a good idea for me because this reinforced my decision to pursue nursing. I have more of an understanding of what nursing can actually be, and I want to become a nurse now more than ever.”

December 14, 2023

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