Blog

  • 2025: An Extraordinary Year of Impact, Celebrations, and Community

    2025: An Extraordinary Year of Impact, Celebrations, and Community

    As we look back on the milestones, memories and achievements of 2025, the impact of the Frontier community is evident. From student and faculty achievements to entrepreneurial graduates making a difference in rural and underserved communities, this year has been one of inspiration, connection and honoring those who made it possible.

    Celebrating 100 years of Healthcare Service and Education

    In 2025, Frontier Nursing University honored and celebrated 100 years of healthcare service and nursing education since our inception as Frontier Nursing Service in 1925.

    Our students, alumni, couriers, donors, volunteers, friends, and employees have made an incredible impact on FNU’s journey over the past 100 years, and we are incredibly grateful. We invite you to read some of their stories here.

    As part of the 100 years celebration, the FNU community gathered on campus for the unveiling of a new horse sculpture by local artist Christine Kuhn, symbolizing our enduring commitment to educating nurses who serve all people and honoring our Kentucky home, with a nod to the original Frontier nurses who travelled on horseback through the Eastern Kentucky mountains to provide care.

    Frontier Nursing University President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders and the FNU team also traveled across five regions of the country this year to meet over 400 graduates who are transforming healthcare in their communities. The Presidential Tour was a central part of FNU’s 100-year celebration. Throughout the year, the Presidential Tour highlighted the compassion, innovation, and community impact of FNU graduates nationwide. Read more about the tour here and see highlights in our On the Trail Series on YouTube.


    Frontier Nursing University President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders and the FNU team traveled across five regions of the country this year to meet over 400 graduates who are transforming healthcare in their communities.

    New Chapters Begin

    Frontier Nursing University awarded 1,139 certificates and degrees this year in advanced practice nursing and nurse-midwifery specialties, including the Master of Science in Nursing, the Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Post-Graduate Certificates. Our annual commencement ceremony was held on Saturday, Sept. 27, celebrating our graduates’ hard work and commitment to advanced practice nursing.

    Frontier Nursing University also held an investiture ceremony on September 26 for President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders, signifying the beginning of a new chapter of leadership for the university. We were honored to share this important milestone on campus with guests and local leaders. Dr. Flinders, a two-time FNU graduate, officially began her tenure as president on August 1, 2024.


    Frontier Nursing University held an investiture ceremony on September 26 for President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders.

    Frontier proudly welcomed several faculty and staff in 2025 including Dr. Kristin Ashford as Dean of Nursing, and Dr. Laura Manns-James as Interim Department Chair of Women’s Health. Marcus Osborne was selected as chair of the FNU Board of Directors.

    In addition, FNU launched the President’s Academic Fellowship Program this year, a prestigious initiative established to recognize and support outstanding faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their field and made meaningful contributions to our academic community.

    In the fall, Frontier unveiled a five-year strategic plan to optimize the success of students, faculty, and staff. Through a year-long process of collaboration, three strategic priority pillars have been identified, with corresponding work groups composed of representatives from across the institution. This planning initiative invites the FNU community to envision and shape a bold and transformative “Next Frontier.”

    The newly established Alumni Hall of Fame celebrates and recognizes the incredible individuals whose contributions have influenced and formed the past, present, and future success of Frontier. We inducted five people in the Alumni Hall of Fame inaugural class during an induction ceremony in September. The honorees were Dr. Pat Caudle, Kitty Ernst, Dr. Kerri D. Schuiling, Dr. Joan Slager, and Dr. Susan Stone.

    It’s been a year to remember. See some of our favorite memories in this short video.

    National Accolades Highlight Excellence

    FNU was honored with several national awards in 2025. In August, FNU received Insight Into Academia’s Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being Award, recognizing impactful programs that advance inclusive excellence and belonging.

    In September, FNU earned the Health Professions HEED Award for the eighth consecutive year, celebrating our continued commitment to academic excellence, inclusion, and community across campus. That same month, FNU was, for the fifth consecutive year, named one of the best universities to work for by the Great Colleges to Work For program, affirming Frontier as a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and empowered.


    Frontier Nursing University awarded 1,139 certificates and degrees this year in advanced practice nursing and nurse-midwifery specialties.

    Creating Lasting Impact Through Meaningful Connection

    Throughout the year, FNU hosted a vibrant mix of events, and our faculty, staff, students, and graduates proudly represented the university at conferences across the country. Here are some of the highlights:

      • Spring – Alumni and supporters set sail on an Alumni and Friends Cruise to the Bahamas. We also attended the National Student Nurses Association’s Annual Convention, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners National Conference and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses Convention. FNU proudly supported the Virtual International Day of the Midwife on May 5.
      • Summer – The 15th annual Diversity Impact Conference focused on the importance of achieving health equity and reducing health disparities in patient care delivery across healthcare settings. FNU celebrated Preceptor Appreciation Week, honoring preceptors’ critical role in shaping future advanced practice nurses. We welcomed Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman to campus to discuss improving youth mental health and maternal health in Kentucky. FNU also sponsored and attended the Kentucky Symposium for Maternal and Infant Outcomes.
      • Fall – FNU recognized National Midwifery Week and National Nurse Practitioner Week with the release of free CE sessions. We also participated in the American College of Nurse-Midwives Annual Meeting, the Nurse Practitioners for Women’s Health Conference, and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Conference. FNU’s 2025 Day of Giving was FNU’s most successful yet, raising over $116,000 from more than 250 generous donors to support scholarships, clinical supplies, and programs for our dedicated students.

      The FNU community gathered on campus for the unveiling of a new horse sculpture by local artist Christine Kuhn.

      As we close out this extraordinary year filled with inspiration and connection, one theme rises above all others: the profound impact of the Frontier community. As nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners, our alumni, students, faculty and preceptors carry FNU’s Culture of Caring into every community they serve, advancing quality, compassionate healthcare for all. We couldn’t be more excited for the Next Frontier that lies ahead!

  • FNU Partners with Kentucky Organizations to Co-host Symposium for Maternal and Infant Outcomes

    FNU Partners with Kentucky Organizations to Co-host Symposium for Maternal and Infant Outcomes

    Frontier Nursing University faculty members and alumni were proud to present during the Kentucky Symposium for Maternal and Infant Outcomes. The symposium was co-hosted by FNU in partnership with the Kentucky Section of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN); the Kentucky Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Task Force; the Kentucky Perinatal Quality Collaborative and the Kentucky Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

    The symposium brought together healthcare providers from across the state to collaborate on how to improve access, treatment, and outcomes for women and infants. The event included presentations, panel discussions, and simulation-based learning focused on maternal mental health, substance use disorder, sepsis, and maternal cardiac conditions. The event included a variety of distinguished speakers, including opening remarks by Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman.

    “This year’s Kentucky Symposium for Maternal and Infant Outcomes Conference brought together an extraordinary group of leaders and practitioners to discuss ways to improve the care and outcomes for mothers, babies, and families across Kentucky’s rural and underserved communities,” said Frontier President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders. “It was a true honor to hear from Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, whose dedication to this vital work is both inspiring and deeply appreciated. At Frontier Nursing University, we are proud to contribute to this powerful initiative.”

    Several Frontier faculty members, both nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners, presented during the symposium. Their sessions demonstrated the importance of inclusive, cross-disciplinary care teams that incorporate patients and their support networks to deliver continuous and comprehensive perinatal care from pregnancy through postpartum.

    Cathy Collins-Fulea, DNP, CNM, FACNM, co-presented the keynote address, “The Power of Team-Based Care in Maternal Health”.

    Kevin Scalf, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CNEcl, presented “Implementing Team-Based Care Models in Rural Areas: How Midwives and Nurse Practitioners Can Help Improve Outcomes and Prevent Hospital Closures”, along with Deborah Karsnitz, DNP, CNM, CNE, FACNM, and Angela Mitchell, DNP, FNP-BC, CNE.

    Vicki Burslem, MSN, CNM, APRN, CNEcl, FACNM, held a “hot topic” session addressing birth centers in Kentucky.

    FNU faculty member Angie Chisholm, DNP, CNM, also played an instrumental role in the symposium by serving on the planning committee and introducing Frontier presenters. FNU graduate Alisha Morgan, DNP, CNM, FACNM, served as a panelist during the “Building Resilient Systems for New Mothers” session.

    The symposium was a strong reminder that we can make a difference by coming together as providers and educators to learn from one another and work toward a common goal. Collaboration is essential as we strive to expand access to quality care, reduce disparities, and improve outcomes for birthing people and infants. For more on this topic, we invite you to view Frontier Nursing University’s documentary, Nurse-Midwives: Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis.

  • A Century of Stories: Dr. Viktoriya Kashin

    A Century of Stories: Dr. Viktoriya Kashin

    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. Viktoriya Kashin was born in Russia and moved with her family to the United States when she was 8 years old. Dr. Kashin credits her mother, who passed away while Viktoriya was in nursing school, for encouraging her to go into the medical field.

    She became a nurse but her desire to do more for her patients drove her to pursue her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Frontier, graduating in 2020.

    “I felt I was limited as a nurse because my knowledge base was limited,” Dr. Kashin said. “I couldn’t understand certain disease processes or how to help people in certain situations. My dad had a pulmonary embolism. Being in a room with him and unable to assist him felt very helpless, so I decided to go back to school, and I applied to Frontier.”

    Dr. Kashin put her DNP to work in maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Florida Health Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. That’s where she was working when Russia invaded Ukraine in the winter of 2022. Witnessing the devastation of her homeland and its people drove her to take action as part of a medical missionary trip that same spring.

    Her 20-day mission trip began by flying into Krakow, Poland, and then driving to Ukraine. Her group then set up in a refugee center.

    “Every day I would go in and see patients,” Dr. Kashin said. “I had a couple of pregnant patients and a couple of babies that were just born. We also went to train stations and gave out goodie bags full of supplies. Every day, the bomb sirens would go off. Many people at the refugee center had PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Every time a door slammed, everyone would jump.”

    Despite the reminders of violence all around them, the volunteers did their best to make the refugee center as comfortable and welcoming as they could. In addition to the meals, room to sleep, and access to medical care, a hairstylist gave haircuts, and other women offered massages. Often, the refugees just wanted someone to talk to.

    “They wanted to tell you where they came from, about their pets they left behind, their husband or brother or father that’s fighting,” Dr. Kashin said. “We just sat with them and listened and offered encouragement. I held back a lot of tears.”

    While fully focused on her current work, Dr. Kashin is always mindful of the people impacted by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

    “Some images stay with you long after you return home,” she said. “I remember the shocked faces of Ukrainians, quietly asking why we had left the peaceful skies of the United States to come help them. I remember store clerks, eyes full of tears, asking for prayers—for their sons, brothers, and husbands fighting on the front lines.”

    Dr. Kashin and her team were close enough to the front lines to be jarred by the warning sirens and explosions.

    “I remember the twelve of us sleeping like sardines on the floor of a gymnasium, jolted awake by the sound of missiles—grateful each time they weren’t meant for us. I remember families taking shelter in an abandoned hospital, crammed into small rooms, sitting on their beds and staring blankly into space. Some cried as they spoke about the people and lives they had left behind.”

    Understandably, those memories and images linger and present questions to which there are no satisfactory answers.

    “When I returned home, I struggled to name what I was feeling. It wasn’t until much later that I realized: it was survival guilt,” Dr. Kashin said. “I, too, am Russian, with family spread across both Russia and Ukraine. Why do I get to return to safety in peaceful America, while others take cover in subway stations each night?”

    While in Ukraine, Dr. Kashin and her brother Oleg met a few families whom they later helped sponsor to come to the U.S. to escape the conflict. Meanwhile, Dr. Kashin is prepared to go on another mission trip.

    “I am currently registered with several medical mission teams and awaiting deployment,” she said. “I remain eager to contribute where needed and would welcome the opportunity to collaborate with others. If any readers are organizing trips or in need of additional support, I would be happy to discuss joining a future team.”

    Today, Dr. Kashin lives in New York City and is a provider for a private telemedicine company that specializes in hormone replacement therapy for both men and women, erectile dysfunction, and weight loss medication.

    “I apply evidence-based protocols to deliver personalized care that supports hormonal and metabolic health,” she said. “One of the most meaningful aspects of this work is the ability to expand access to care—particularly for patients in remote or underserved areas who may not have consistent access to in-person providers. Many of our patients are uninsured or underinsured, and we are often able to offer more affordable options for treatment and medication. Working in this space has allowed me to combine clinical autonomy with a strong focus on patient-centered care, while helping bridge gaps in access, continuity, and affordability.”

    >> Read More from “A Century of Stories”

  • Presidential Tour Honors Graduates Making a Difference Across the Country

    Presidential Tour Honors Graduates Making a Difference Across the Country

    Frontier Nursing University President Dr. Brooke A. Flinders and the FNU team spent 2025 traveling across the country, meeting with more than 400 graduates, students, preceptors, and partners who are transforming healthcare in their communities every day. As FNU celebrated its 100th year of service and nursing education, the Presidential Tour became more than a series of visits, it became a living testament to the power and reach of the FNU mission nationwide.

    Presidential Tour in Oregon

    Presidential Tour in Oregon

    Across each region we visited — Southeast, Florida, Northwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic — the impact was unmistakable. In busy urban clinics, rural birth centers, homebirth practices, community health settings, and innovative mental health and wellness programs, FNU graduates are advancing equitable care, expanding access, and meeting critical needs. Their work reflects a blend of clinical excellence, compassion, and entrepreneurial vision that embodies the heart of Frontier’s legacy.

    Presidential Tour in New York

    Presidential Tour in New York

    The tour also highlighted the essential role of preceptors and clinical partners who invest their time, knowledge, and mentorship to prepare the next generation of nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners. Their commitment is the backbone of FNU’s community-based model and a key driver of the nursing profession’s future strength.

    Every gathering, whether a practice visit, case day, meeting with a donor, or a community event, reinforced a central truth: the FNU community is a powerful national network improving health outcomes in ways large and small each day. Dr. Flinders delighted in her first year of connecting face-to-face with this community as these experiences revealed not only the depth of the FNU community’s dedication, but also the collective impact of a university rooted in service, innovation, and partnership.

    Presidential Tour in Florida

    Presidential Tour in Florida

    It truly takes a village to educate and prepare nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners. The Presidential Tour illuminated that village – students, alumni, faculty, preceptors, and friends – working together to ensure that individuals and families everywhere have access to competent, compassionate, high-quality care. Through their stories and their service, they are shaping the next century of Frontier’s mission.

    To learn more about the Presidential Tour, click here.

    Presidential Tour in Maryland

    Presidential Tour in Maryland

    Meet some of the inspiring graduates we met during the 2025 Presidential Tour and see the impact they’re making in their communities in our On the Trail video series:

    We also invite you to learn more about some of the graduates we visited on our blog:
    Brandi Milton, Georgia
    Lauren Brannon, North Carolina
    Triana Boggs, Florida
    Auriel Ciccarelli, Florida
    Dr. Marli Parobek, Washington
    Dr. Julian Williams, New York

  • Staff Spotlight: Turning her own experience into impact, Tai Bates helps FNU students thrive

    Staff Spotlight: Turning her own experience into impact, Tai Bates helps FNU students thrive

    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.


    In October 2025, Bates was recognized with the Kentucky State University National Alumni Association 40 Under 40 Award.

    Since joining the staff at Frontier Nursing University in 2024, Tai Bates, MPA, has been dedicated to helping students thrive, both academically and personally. As Student Success Coordinator, Bates plays a key role in the Student Engagement, Access, and Success team, leading initiatives that enhance student performance, promote personal growth and align with FNU’s mission and culture.

    Whether it’s connecting students with interest groups, offering mentorship opportunities, or simply being a listening ear, Bates’ goal is to create a space where students feel a sense of belonging. She also ensures that students are aware of the many resources available to them at Frontier.

    “I have a true passion for making sure our students feel supported, connected, and confident throughout their journey at Frontier,” Bates said. “I want to do all that I can to serve them as they prepare to serve their communities as advanced practice nurses.”

    In her role, Bates collaborates with faculty, staff, and administration to address student needs and foster an inclusive educational environment, promoting a culture of support and community engagement. In addition to her on-campus responsibilities, she also is involved in recruitment and partnership development, attending career fairs, campus visits, and professional conferences.

    “I love being connected throughout the Frontier community and beyond,” she said. “It helps me to understand our goals as a leader in graduate nursing education and how to offer support that promotes the success of all students.”

    Bates values the work-life-balance the university offers for staff members and the university’s Culture of Caring.

    A Kentucky Army National Guard Veteran, Bates brings a wealth of experience to her role at FNU. She has worked with a variety of organizations over the years, including the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and more. She earned her Master of Public Administration degree from Kentucky State University in 2015 and is a Certified Academic Life Coach.

    In addition to her work with FNU, Bates is the founder of Not Easily Combated, Inc., a faith-driven, veteran-founded boutique consulting firm designed to address the unique challenges faced by female veterans in Central Kentucky. The organization was created to amplify the voices of female veterans, provide tailored transition and wellness support, and ensure that they receive the same opportunities and resources as their male counterparts.

    Among the organization’s signature initiatives are HER PATH, a women-focused transition program combining career coaching, VA navigation, and spiritual grounding to prepare for post-service success; Warrior Grace Circles, a peer-led, faith-based healing circles for women veterans to address MST, PTSD, and trauma in a supportive environment, and more.

    “We aim to help institutions that lack holistic empowerment or veteran-inclusive environments,” Bates said. “As a female veteran, I know there are a lot of things that are not provided for us academically, in healthcare or professionally.”

    In October 2025, Bates was recognized with the Kentucky State University National Alumni Association 40 Under 40 Award. The award is given to KSU alumni who exemplify excellence in leadership, service, and professional achievement.

    Bates said receiving the recognition alongside her mother and daughter was an incredible honor. Looking back on her time at the university, she reflected that achieving success as a working single mother required determination and perseverance.

    “They took a kid that had a 2.1 GPA and 12 on the ACT, and at the end of the day, I am a two-time alum there who graduated with honors,” she said.

    Bates attributes her accomplishments to her deep faith.

    “None of this would be possible without my Lord and Savior because he has kept me through, especially as a veteran who’s recovering from PTSD,” she said. “Without having my strong foundation in my faith, I don’t even know if a lot of things that have happened within the last two months would be possible.”

    Outside of her professional endeavors, Bates enjoys spending time with her family, working out at the gym, enjoying good food, shooting at the range, traveling and researching.

    Thank you, Tai, for your leadership, compassion and dedication to others. You are a true asset to FNU.

  • A Century of Stories: Wendy Valhoff, CNM, FNP, MSN

    A Century of Stories: Wendy Valhoff, CNM, FNP, MSN

    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.

    Wendy Valhoff, CNM, FNP, MSN, is a 1980 graduate of the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing and a Fellow of the American College of Nurse Midwives.

    She grew up in California but moved to Kentucky when her husband was drafted and sent to Fort Campbell during the Vietnam War. Valhoff went on to attend Eastern Kentucky University, then obtained her MSN from the University of Kentucky.

    Upon graduating from Frontier, she worked at Booth Maternity Centre in Philadelphia, including a stint as director of their midwifery practice. In 1983, Ruth Beeman recruited her to return to Hyden and assume a faculty position. She eventually became the Educational Coordinator, working with the FSMFN from 1983 – 1990.

    “While part of the FSMFN faculty, I went with Nancy Clark to Nigeria for six weeks, where the two of us precepted midwifery and FNP students from Case Western Reserve University,” Valhoff said. “I also did a one-month clinical stint in Nepal in 2014, supervising nurse-midwifery students and giving gynecology care.”

    In 1991, Cathy Collins-Fulea recruited Valhoff to join her new practice at Henry Ford Health Systems.

    “For the last four years of my employment, I was sent by Henry Ford Health Systems to Dearborn, Michigan, to work at ACCESS, the largest Arab-American organization in the U.S.,” Valhoff said. “There I gave prenatal, gynecology, postpartum and newborn care, and precepted students.”

    Valhoff worked there until she retired in 2010 and moved to London, Ontario, Canada. She became a Canadian citizen 2012 and continues to live there today.

    “Now I devote a great deal of my time to the Canadian Celtic Choir in London, Ontario,” Valhoff said. “Besides singing with the choir, I have held several positions on their non-profit Board of directors, including President, Past President and Secretary.”

    Very active in retirement, Valhoff also serves on the Board of Directors of the London Women’s Canadian Club (LWCC). The LWCC is a philanthropic organization that also promotes Canadian talent and values.

    >> Read More from “A Century of Stories”

  • Graduate Spotlight: Marli Parobek, APRN, DNP, FNP, PMHNP, receives AANP State Award for Outstanding Contributions

    Graduate Spotlight: Marli Parobek, APRN, DNP, FNP, PMHNP, receives AANP State Award for Outstanding Contributions

    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 work with all people, with an emphasis on rural and underserved communities.

    Frontier Nursing University graduate Dr. Marli Parobek, APRN, DNP, FNP, PMHNP, is using her education from FNU to make a lasting difference in the lives of her neighbors. After earning her Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) post-graduate certificate and later her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from FNU, Dr. Parobek has continued to embody the university’s mission of serving communities through compassionate, accessible care as the owner of Precision Psychiatry in Vashon Island, Washington.

    In recognition of her impactful work, Dr. Parobek recently received the 2025 State Award for Outstanding Contributions from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners for her work in Washington state. The award recognizes those who have made significant strides in advancing health care through practice, education, advocacy, research and leadership, and have demonstrated efforts to advance the image, profile and visibility of nurse practitioners. Dr. Parobek accepted the award during the 2025 AANP National Conference in San Diego, California in June.


    Dr. Brooke A. Flinders with Dr. Marli Parobek in Vashon Island, Washington

    Dr. Parobek credits FNU for instilling in her a deep understanding of what it means to give back, noting that the university’s online learning model allows students to remain rooted in their home communities, applying what they learn directly to the people they serve.

    “Frontier keeps the dedication by keeping it small and personable,” she said.

    Dr. Parobek’s practice is focused on medication treatment that is tailored to meet the specific mental health needs of patients. Through her practice, she is dedicated to delivering modern medical solutions with a practical application.

    “I knew that there was such a need for mental health, and I wanted to venture into that as an entrepreneur,” she said. “It was explained to me once that we have these volumes of knowledge in our brain, and you can take the nurse out of the clinic, but you can’t take the clinic out of the nurse.”

    Dr. Parobek said she finds caring for patients in a rural community especially rewarding

    “I love being in a community where I’m serving my neighbors,” she said. “I see them at the grocery store, I see them at church, and that connection is what makes rural medicine in my eyes the most fulfilling. There’s no greater accomplishment than to have one of my current clients refer me to a family member, that they entrust me with someone that they love. That’s what I love about rural medicine: you are caring for the people that you know.”

    In addition to running her own practice, Dr. Parobek leverages her expertise to mentor the next generation of healthcare professionals and advocate for health care policy in Washington State. She credits earning her DNP from Frontier Nursing University with equipping her for these leadership and advocacy roles.

    “I feel so well-prepared when I’m in committee settings and I’m representing the island, or I’m at the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, or as I’m marketing my own business,” she said. “I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment because Frontier has such a good-quality program.”

    We had the opportunity to visit Dr. Parobek during the Northwest leg of our Presidential Tour. Join us in the video below as we visit with her and other alumni in California and Oregon along the way:

    Thank you, Marli, for exemplifying the excellence of FNU graduates by providing compassionate care for patients in your community and by helping shape the future of healthcare.

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

  • Two FNU Leaders Earn Prestigious National Nursing Honors

    Two FNU Leaders Earn Prestigious National Nursing Honors

    Frontier Nursing University is proud to celebrate two outstanding leaders who have been recognized for their contributions and impact in nursing.

    Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing Welcomes Dr. Torica Fuller as Fellow

    FNU graduate and assistant professor Dr. Torica Fuller, DNP, MSN, FNPBC, FNP-C, WHNP-BC (Class 217), CDP, CGRN, NRCME, has been accepted as a Fellow of the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing. Dr. Fuller will officially be inducted on December 12 at the New York Academy of Medicine. The academy selected Dr. Fuller in recognition of her “demonstrated leadership, commitment, and contributions to advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in nursing, health, and healthcare.”

    Dr. Fuller was also recently elected and sworn in as the Chair of the Commission on Advanced Practice Nursing at the North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA). Additionally, her abstract was accepted to be presented at the NCNA’s 2026 Nurse Practitioner Spring Symposium. The abstract is entitled Mental Health in Primary Care: Recognizing Unipolar versus Bipolar Depression.

    Dr. Fuller received further recognition when she received the 2025 J.H. Carney Leadership Award. The award recognizes graduates of Norwayne High School (North Carolina) for their “outstanding leadership, community service, and alumni work.”

    Dr. Khara’ Jefferson Selected for NLN Strategic Action Group

    FNU DNP Program Director Dr. Khara’ Jefferson, DNP (Class 21), APRN, FNP-C, CHC, was recently selected to serve on the National League for Nursing’s (NLN) Outcomes and Competencies for Graduates of Nursing Programs Strategic Action Group (SAG). Dr. Jefferson was one of 18 individuals selected from a pool of over 300 applicants.

    SAG members were selected based on their academic nursing expertise, previous work in developing outcomes and competencies, and alignment with programs across the continuum from practical/vocational nursing, prelicensure registered nursing, MSN, DNP, and PhD programs.

    SAG members will continue their work through December 2026 with public dissemination in 2027. This work group will update the NLN’s 2010 outcomes and competencies with a focus on nursing education of the future.

Request Information Apply Give Now