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  • Frontier Nursing University Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager Inducted as American Academy of Nursing Fellow

    Frontier Nursing University Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager Inducted as American Academy of Nursing Fellow

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) Dean of Nursing Dr. Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM, was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) in a virtual ceremony on Saturday, October 31. Dr. Slager was selected for the AAN Fellowship in acknowledgment of her outstanding contributions and impact on nursing and health. 

    Dr. Slager was a member of FNU’s first Community-based Nurse-Midwifery Education Program (CNEP) graduate class in 1991 and proceeded to complete her Master of Science in Nursing in 1993. Early on in her career, Dr. Slager helped to establish Bronson Women’s Service in Kalamazoo, Mich., which is now the state’s largest midwifery service. Dr. Slager has spent over 20 years practicing as a full-scope midwife and has served as a preceptor for over 100 FNU students; she became the school’s Dean of Nursing in March 2018.

    “I am very honored to have been inducted as an AAN Fellow,” Dr. Slager said. “AAN is an organization that promotes nursing leadership to advance health policy and practice in the U.S. I am excited to be part of this prestigious organization and to contribute to the continued evolvement of nursing practice.”

    The American Academy of Nursing selected a total of 230 distinguished nurse leaders to join the 2020 Class of Fellows. The Academy is currently composed of more than 2,700 nursing leaders who are experts in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia that champion health and wellness, locally and globally.

    Through a competitive, rigorous application process, a committee of elected Fellows review hundreds of applications and select new Fellows based on their contributions to advance the public’s health. Induction into the Academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career in which their accomplishments are honored by their colleagues within the profession.

    FNU is extremely honored to have a member of their faculty receive this prestigious award. To find out more about Frontier and why it has continued to rate as one of the best nursing schools in the country since its inception in 1939, click here.

  • FNU Celebrates National Nurse Practitioner Week

    FNU Celebrates National Nurse Practitioner Week

    This week the healthcare community will come together to celebrate National Nurse Practitioner Week, created to honor the dedicated men and women who work hard on the frontlines to care for their fellow citizens. The Frontier Nursing University (FNU) community is excited to celebrate this year as a part of its Family Nurse Practitioner Program (FNP) 50th anniversary. The program was the first of its kind in the United States developed by FNU to extend more comprehensive care to American families.

    To look back on their journey as the first University to offer the FNP, FNU asked some of its faculty to weigh in on what they love about the program and what makes FNU such a unique place to teach, learn, and grow.

    Here is what they had to share:

    What is the most rewarding part of educating our future family nurse practitioners?

    “I feel like I make a difference! I have sought a way to impact change in my career, and it feels like I am doing that when I teach those who are caring for communities across the world. I love when people tell me I have impacted the way they see nursing, patient care or APRN practice. It is an honor to do this work.” – Joanne Keefe,  assistant professor, course coordinator for PC702 (EPI and Biostats)

    “Our graduates are the future. Knowing that we are an integral part of the process is the most rewarding part of educating our future FNPs!” – Ruth Elsasser, course faculty in PC707

    “Seeing the students grow into proficient nurse practitioners that can manage patient needs with care and compassion.” – Amber Littlefield, assistant professor

    “I have confidence that I am passing the torch to FNPs who are exceptionally well prepared to care for our most vulnerable persons. I genuinely believe our graduates will reduce the inequities and disparities that prevent every American from receiving critical care.” -Kathy Gardner, full-time course faculty, PC718

    What drives your passion for teaching?

    “My passion is driven by a calling to serve nurses, as I care for patients: by bringing expertise, evidence, and shared-decision making, in a holistic framework, considering the needs of each individual concerning their environment. I seek to understand and provide opportunities to deepen learning by being open, honest, and approachable.” -Kathy Gardner, full-time course faculty, PC718

    “Interacting with students is the most rewarding part of the job. Every single student is here to make this world a better place. Watching the students work so hard to earn a spot at the table, being part of the solution is genuinely awe-inspiring.”- Rhonda Arthur, faculty and course coordinator

    “My love of learning and the profession itself makes me passionate about teaching and drives me to improve each term. I learn every day as I research new materials for the course, read recent articles, listen to the students as they share information. I know I can make a difference to a student by sharing my own stories, letting them know that I was once where they are and that they can make it through this rigorous program.” -Vicky Stone-Gale, course coordinator for NP702-primary care

    “My underlying passion is to change the spirit of the nursing profession into one of kindness, respect, and support for patients and colleagues. I try to model this and encourage everyone that it really could be this way. It starts with you.” -Joanne Keefe, assistant professor, course coordinator for PC702 (EPI and Biostats)

    Why did you decide to become an FNU Faculty member?

    “FNU has a reputation in training its students as no other program has. Their graduates are practicing throughout the country, and when you meet them, they tell you about the wonderful experience they had at FNU. The faculty and administrators at FNU are highly experienced clinicians and educators and have a reputation in the community for being some of the best in the country”. -Vicky Stone-Gale, course coordinator for NP702-primary care

    “Because of my faculty at FNU! I wanted to be just like them.” -Dr. Mary K. Jones, FNP RCF

    “I was an FNU student and fell in love with the school. I love the passion for education in this environment.”- Amber Littlefield, assistant professor

    “After graduating from FNU with my DNP and experiencing the faculty member’s dedication to student success, I knew that I had found my place; my home.” -Ruth Elsasser, course faculty in PC707

    What drove you to the Family Nurse Practitioner field?

    “I had always wanted to go to medical school, but as a divorced mother of three, that was not going to be feasible. I knew I needed to advance my nursing education, so, thirty-two years ago, I applied to an MSN program. During my interview, the program director told me about their new program- A Master’s in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner track. My interviewer informed me that if I completed this new program, I would assess, diagnose, and treat patients just like physicians. I was so excited that I immediately enrolled. I have never once regretted it.” -Vicky Stone-Gale, course coordinator for NP702-primary care

    “I wanted to contribute to providing the sensitive and competent care that I saw as lacking to vulnerable persons. I enjoy caring for individuals from infancy to geriatric, from all walks of life.”- Kathy Gardner, full-time course faculty, PC718

    “I wanted to make a difference. I loved the work of being an RN but wanted more autonomy and the ability to touch people’s lives my way, using science, knowledge, passion, intuition, and integrity. For me, it is a life purpose worthy of pursuit.”- Joanne Keefe, assistant professor, course coordinator for PC702 (EPI and Biostats)

    Another exciting way that FNU will participate in National Nurse Practitioner week is by joining the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) Open School Chapter on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 8 pm EST for a virtual event hosted by the Right Care Alliance (RCA). Tuesday’s event will consist of study groups discussing various important healthcare topics facing the industry today. Anyone interested in the American healthcare system and health policy is welcome to sign up for the study groups.

    To find out more about FNU’s groundbreaking FNP program, visit the University’s FNP page. Have a wonderful week celebrating the power of nurse practitioners and frontline workers who have put forward so much compassion and grace throughout this challenging year.

  • FNU Honors National Rural Health Day

    FNU Honors National Rural Health Day

    On November 19, Frontier Nursing University (FNU), along with healthcare providers across the country, will come together to celebrate National Rural Health Day (NRHD). NRHD gives the healthcare community a chance to celebrate the community-minded, “can do” spirit that prevails in rural America while bringing light to the unique healthcare challenges that rural citizens face and showcasing the dedicated work of rural healthcare providers.

    In previous years, FNU had celebrated with a weekend of virtual events educating others on the importance of rural health and spreading best practices to other healthcare providers. Last year’s CE session hosted by Dean of Nursing, Dr. Slager, can still be viewed here through the end of the year. With the ongoing pandemic this year, FNU had to make the difficult choice to allocate efforts elsewhere and instead continued to focus on the mission they share with NRHD of bringing quality care to rural communities. 

    Throughout the year, FNU students, faculty and alumni have been out on the frontlines fighting COVID-19 in rural communities. Some examples of FNU frontliners include Jamie Westlund, serving in rural Hawaii amidst a PPE shortage, Korah Schwab extending COVID-19 care to rural immigrant communities in N. C., and Kevin Scalf, PMHNP-BC, who has been increasing mental health care for citizens of rural Eastern Ky. It has been a challenging year, but even a pandemic can’t stop FNU from extending care to underserved communities.

    Those interested in joining FNU to further rural community outreach can take NRHD’s Power of Rural Pledge and commit to advocating for rural communities in four ways throughout the coming year. 

    Collaboration

    Seek out new relationships that will bring additional resources into the rural healthcare fold. Once these relationships are established, it becomes easier to share ideas, resources and information as supporters work together in the common interest of rural health and wellness.

    Communication

    Use all available channels and mediums to spread the word about the Power of Rural. Stay connected with the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) throughout the year and then follow, like, forward, post, and pin stories, ideas, facts, and opportunities to further build partnerships with those working to make a difference in rural healthcare.

    Innovation

    Share facts and information about the need to improve access and outcomes in rural communities with those who influence policy and resource allocation. Then, inform those entering the healthcare workforce about the many fulfilling opportunities available in rural communities.

    Education

    Engage partners from non-healthcare industries to help create additional solutions to prevailing challenges by developing ideas, programs, and models that continue to transform and positively impact rural healthcare. Together we can explore and implement new approaches to reach these at-risk rural populations.

    Although FNU’s primary focus is education, the university works hard each day to follow all four portions of the Power of Rural Pledge. FNU collaborates with existing rural nurse practitioners by engaging them as preceptors for their students and growing the network of nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives throughout rural America. A wide variety of FNU’s communications are also focused on spreading awareness about the importance of rural healthcare. Follow FNU on Facebook, Twitter, or visit their blog to keep up to date on rural health initiatives. Additionally, FNU is consistently updating methods and curriculum to best serve rural communities. One part of every Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) student’s journey includes collaborating with their clinical site to lead a rapid cycle quality improvement project. These projects work to improve a specific area of the student’s clinical site to better care for the community they serve. 

    Individuals interested in working alongside FNU to advocate for NRHD can visit the NRHD website’s toolkit, which features an array of downloadable resources such as flyers, social media graphics, and event ideas that can be used to spread the word. Further support for NRHD can also be given through fiscal contributions here. 

    Since its foundation more than 80 years ago, FNU has been committed to serving rural communities and their unique healthcare needs. It is the university’s mission to continue supporting these communities by encouraging new health care workers to go out and provide care to these essential American regions. 

    Thank you to all of the FNU staff, faculty, students, and preceptors who make rural America a priority!

  • Summer Term Circle of Caring Winners

    Summer Term Circle of Caring Winners

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is pleased to announce the 2020 Summer Term Circle of Caring Award Winners: staff member Aimee Niles and faculty member Kathy Gardner.

    The Circle of Caring Award is given each term to recognize faculty and staff who go above and beyond their job duties and strive to uphold FNU’s mission and Culture of Caring every day. 

    Award winners are anonymously nominated by fellow FNU faculty and staff. Nominations are voted upon by a committee based on the following Culture of Caring characteristics: professionalism, mutual support, respect, positive communication and inclusivity. Here is what was said about this term’s winners:

    Aimee Niles

    “From the moment she began working with FNU, Aimee has kept our scholarly engines running. She often finds articles and other materials within minutes of a request going out, and I’ve known her to stay a teensy bit late on her own time just to wrap up an issue so faculty can move forward. Aimee goes the extra mile to figure out what is obtainable and communicates quickly and transparently. She’s flexible and easy to work with, often suggesting updated resources that she seeks out on our behalf. Aimee is a gem, and I’m sure my own scholarly productivity would be significantly reduced without her critical work behind the scenes.”

    When she found out she would be receiving the award, Aimee said, “I was moved to tears when I learned of my receiving the summer term staff Circle of Caring Award and the ever so thoughtful words and sentiments expressed.  I can’t tell you how much this meant to me, the summer term was an ever so special five years for me at Frontier.  Again I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.”

    Kathy Gardner

    “Kathy is my ‘right-hand person’ in our course. She is always there to support me, discuss our class and provide a second opinion on grading or student situations. When I had to take some leave emergently, Kathy was readily available, took the reins, and the students experienced a seamless transition with my absence. This is not a small feat with more than 200 students in the course. I am grateful for her continued support and encouragement.”

    Congratulations to this term’s winners, and thank you for contributing to the culture of caring at FNU!

    Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations. There were some tough choices this semester! To submit your nomination for the fall term Circle of Caring Award, click here.

  • FNU Receives HEED Award for Third Consecutive Year

    FNU Receives HEED Award for Third Consecutive Year

    Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is delighted to receive INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine’s Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award for the third year in a row. The HEED Award is the only application-based national recognition honoring colleges and universities that show an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion across their campuses. Because FNU values the unique talents, backgrounds, religions and cultures that make up its faculty, staff and student body, it is a true honor to receive this award.

    “Amidst the current social justice movement in our country, it is imperative that FNU serve as an agent for change,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone. “We know that culturally competent care improves health outcomes and begins with a more diverse healthcare system. We are proud to be taking a leadership role in this movement by educating an increasingly diverse student body, but fully recognize that we have much to learn and areas in which to improve. The HEED Award confirms that we are continuing to move in the right direction and to make meaningful progress.”

    “The HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”

    FNU’s commitment to emphasizing and valuing diversity and inclusion was formally instituted with the creation of the Diversity Impact Program in 2010. The following year, FNU held its first annual Diversity Impact Conference. In 2017, FNU established the position of Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO), which sits on the President’s Cabinet. Today, the Diversity and Inclusion Office has grown to include Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Dr. Geraldine Young, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Chris Turley, and Assistant Director of Diversity and Inclusion Devon Peterika. 

    FNU’s diversity initiatives span all facets of the university, but one of the most telling and important data points is the percentage of students of color enrolled at FNU. In 2009, that number was 9 percent. In 2020, it has grown to 25 percent, numbers that University leadership are incredibly proud of, and a trend they hope will continue.

    As Dr. Susan Stone said in her antiracism statement released earlier this year, “[FNU is] committed to building a culture that is inclusive and caring for all.” Her full statement condemning all forms of racial injustice can be found here.

    To learn more about the steps, FNU has taken to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion, visit the diversity page and check out this recent blog. Additionally, if you want to be a part of a university with a passion for including and supporting students, patients, and staff of all backgrounds, please visit the FNU admissions page. 

  • FNU Virtual Event to Focus on Anxiety in Children, Telehealth and Implicit Bias in Healthcare

    FNU Virtual Event to Focus on Anxiety in Children, Telehealth and Implicit Bias in Healthcare

    This year, National Nurse Practitioner Week will take place November 8-14, and Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is celebrating by hosting its fifth annual virtual event dedicated to nurse practitioners. This year’s theme is Empower 2020: Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.

    Over the course of the week, Empower 2020: Year of the Nurse and the Midwife will explore the experiences of nurse practitioners who are committed to better care for families, women and underserved populations. Throughout the virtual event, anyone is welcome to log onto the Empower website to hear from outstanding speakers and participate in a FREE pharmacology CE session on anxiety in children and adolescents. Frontier faculty, staff and students have put a lot of thought and energy into this week and they can’t wait to share it with the healthcare community. 

    Here is a look at Frontier’s schedule for this exciting event:

    Empower will begin at 6:30 p.m. EST on Monday, Nov. 9, with Becoming a Nurse Practitioner: A Journey in Distance Education. Designed for current nurse practitioner students and those interested in becoming a nurse practitioner, this session will give prospective students a glimpse into the FNU distance education journey as current students discuss their experiences. The session will be led by Dr. Paula Alexander-Delpech and FNU Chair for the Department of Family Nursing Dr. Lisa Chappell. Attendees will get the inside scoop from a panel composed of current students from three specialty tracks, including family nurse practitioner, psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner and women’s health care nurse practitioner. Panelists will be taking questions before or during this live session.

    On Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 5 p.m. EST Billinda Tebbenhoff, DNP, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC will take to the virtual stage to present Pharmacology CE – Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: Trends in Treatment. This educational opportunity will focus on the approximately 4.4 million children and adolescents in the United States (CDC, 2020) who meet diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder and the many more individuals who remain undiagnosed. 

    Though anxiety and stress are an expected part of the human experience, consistently elevated anxiety can interfere with a child’s sense of self and impact the entire family. The implications of the current pandemic related to child and adolescent anxiety are beginning to emerge and depend on the child’s stage of development and pre-pandemic functioning. Dr. Tebbenhoff will discuss predictive trends and guidance regarding helping children, families and communities during the pandemic. Following this session, viewers will have the opportunity to complete the post-test and evaluation to earn 1.5 contact hours of continuing education through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

    On Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 6:30 p.m. EST a live panel will lead a session titled Nurse Practitioners Leading Care Through Telehealth. Panel members will include FNU Nurse Practitioner Faculty Members Dr. Jess Calohan, Martha Harvey, Dr. Rachel Mack and Dr. Vicky Stone-Gale. The team will discuss a brief history of telehealth use in their respective specialties, including family nursing, psychiatric-mental health, nurse-midwifery and women’s health. They will also share current telehealth trends and their professional experiences using telehealth as a patient care delivery model.

    This enlightening week will wrap up with Dismantling Implicit Bias to Promote Optimal Health Outcomes on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m. EST. Presented by FNU Faculty Members Dr. Katheryn Arterberry, Dr. Diane John and Dr. Lisa Chappell, the session will focus on the negative impact of implicit bias on optimizing health outcomes. Advanced practice nurses will begin to identify a process for changing attitudes and behaviors which contribute to health disparities. Participants can expect to engage in a reflective and introspective approach while developing a plan to minimize personal biases.

    It will be an unforgettable week learning about and celebrating exceptional health care providers and practices. Visit the Empower 2020: Year of the Nurse and the Midwife website to register for these free sessions, and tune in on Nov. 9 for a powerful week of speakers and inspiration. See FNU’s full lineup of virtual events here.

  • FNU’s 6th Annual Midwifery Week Virtual Event Was A Success

    FNU’s 6th Annual Midwifery Week Virtual Event Was A Success

    Once again, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) joined thousands of nurse-midwives across the country to celebrate National Midwifery Week from Oct 4- 10. Throughout this exciting week, FNU hosted its 6th annual virtual event, Empower, which explored how the midwife community can commit to better care for women and families during these unprecedented times.

    Here’s a recap of the sessions in case you missed them:

    Life of the Nurse-Midwife

    To get things started, FNU faculty Jeneen A. Lomax, DNP, APRN, CNM, and FNU Department Chair of Midwifery and Women’s Health Dr. Tonya Nicholson presented, “It’s the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife: Get the 411 on Becoming a Nurse-Midwife,” featuring a diverse student panel including Jamilla Webb, BSN, RN, Sunoz “Sunny” Soroosh, RN, MPH, Erin Hanks, RN, IBCLC, and Cheryl Appleton, BSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM. During this session, Dr. Jeneen Lomax and Dr. Nicholson discussed the value of midwifery and then got the inside scoop from current FNU students about their experiences. In the session, the presenters and panelists came from a variety of personal and healthcare backgrounds to best present the full scope of nurse-midwifery. As a bonus, this session finished out with questions from the online participants to promote a better understanding of FNU’s approach to nurse-midwifery education. 

    Telehealth

    Faculty members Dr. Tanya Belcheff, Dr. Cassie Belzer, Dr. Judith Butler, Martha Harvey, Dr. Audrey Perry, and Heidi Loomis presented a free continuing education course, “Midwifery Pearls of Telehealth.” The session provided an overview of telehealth from a nurse-midwifery perspective, emphasizing patient engagement, group care, provider satisfaction and best practices for meeting compliance requirements. This information is especially pertinent in the age of COVID-19 and included helpful information to anyone who has had to make adjustments to their practice during this unprecedented year. “Midwifery Pearls of Telehealth” is a continuing education course approved for 1.25 contact hour(s) of continuing education by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners if the post-test and evaluation are completed by Sept. 2021.

    Menopause

    “Hot Topics in the Management of Perimenopause & Menopause: A Conventional & Integrative Approach,” hosted by FNU faculty members Dr. Ruth Ellen Elsasser and Dr. Ana Verzone, was another continuing education opportunity. The session introduced a review of conventional and evidence-based integrative medicine interventions used during perimenopause and menopause. Some of the topics covered included: understanding menopause and its varied presentation and symptoms, knowing the critical differences between perimenopause and menopause, identifying complications of conventional pharmacology and developing a patient-centered, individualized plan of care when managing perimenopause and menopause. Reviewing this session can earn participants 2.0 contact hour(s) of continuing education (which includes 0.75 hours of pharmacology) by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners after completing the post-test and evaluation. The course will be recognized through Sept. 2021. 

    Racial Disparities

    The virtual event concluded with FNU Assistant Professor Dr. Heather Clarke and FNU President Dr. Susan Stone presenting “Racial Disparities in Maternity Care: Where Do We Go From Here?” The session discussed how high maternal and infant mortality rates are directly correlated with racism and how the nursing community can use strategic planning to rebuild these systems and enact real change. The session was designed to help nurse-midwives identify disparities in Black and indigenous women’s health care outcomes and apply real strategies to combat racism and improve outcomes.

    To view recordings of each of the sessions from FNU’s Empower 2020, visit the event page. 

  • Frontier University Celebrates Their 2020 Homecoming Award Winners

    Frontier University Celebrates Their 2020 Homecoming Award Winners

    Each year, Frontier Nursing University (FNU) alumni and faculty gather for fun, fellowship, sharing memories and  to celebrate the accomplishments of their peers at the annual Homecoming event. Although COVID-19 prevented the university from hosting an in-person gathering this fall, the university still worked hard to honor those who have shined exceptionally bright this year through its annual Homecoming awards.

    The annual Homecoming awards fall into two primary categories including The Distinguished Service to Society Award, which provides recognition for alumni who go above and beyond to provide exceptional service in their communities; and The Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award, which honors alumni who have supported Frontier through volunteer efforts and/or donor support. Additionally, FNU also presents its Mary Breckinridge Lifetime Service Award and Unbridled Spirit Award for members of the FNU community who have shown unyielding support to the school.

    The community at FNU is proud of the accomplishments of these award winners and the many ways in which they have represented FNU and its mission. Here are this year’s Homecoming award winners:  

    Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award:

    Rebeca Barroso, DNP, MSN, RN, CNM, FACNM

    Rebeca Barroso lives in St. Paul, Minn., where she was in full-scope nurse-midwifery clinical practice for more than 20 years, after 22 years in direct-entry midwifery practice. Dr. Barroso, who earned both her nurse-midwifery certificate and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from FNU, served as an assistant professor at Frontier from 2011 to 2016. She is currently an associate professor at St. Catherine University in Saint Paul, Minn., where she teaches the graduate level maternal-infant content and pathophysiology for the nurse practitioner students.

    Dr. Barroso has an extensive clinical midwifery background, working with vulnerable women experiencing health disparities from multiple cultural backgrounds. In 2008, Dr. Barroso was the recipient of the Community Service Award granted by Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis for her work with patients from these underserved populations. 

    Dr. Barroso is a co‐editor of Best Practices in Midwifery: Using the Evidence to Implement Change, Second Edition (2016), and DNP Capstone Projects: Exemplars of Excellence in Practice (2015). She is a fellow of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. In 2011, Dr. Barroso won ACNM’s W. Newton Long Award for the Advancement of Midwifery. 

    Throughout her career, Dr. Barroso has been a dedicated supporter of FNU. She has precepted more than a dozen Frontier students and has been a generous donor for more than 20 years. FNU thanks Dr. Barroso for her remarkable commitment to her profession, her community, and to Frontier. FNU is proud to present her with the 2020 Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award.  

    Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award:

    Rebecca Feldman, CNM, PMHNP

    Rebecca Feldman is a nurse-midwife, psychiatric nurse practitioner, and psychotherapist in maternal mental health. She sees clients in private practice in the offices of Boro Park Ob/Gyn and Midwives, and at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Queens, N.Y., as part of the perinatal psychiatry team.  

    She earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from FNU and a Post Master’s in Psychiatric Nursing from NYU. Feldman, who has delivered more than 70 babies, has a broad range of nursing experience, as well as ten years of experience as a nurse-midwife. Her vast experience helped her identify an area of need in women’s health care -perinatal mental health. She applied for grants to start mothers’ groups in English and Spanish. She made these evidence-based support groups available to mothers at no cost and continues to provide mental health services to clients with underlying mental health diagnoses or perinatal mood disorders. 

    Feldman provides mental health care during all aspects of family building, including preconception planning, families struggling with infertility, postpartum parents, as well as those surviving pregnancy, infant or child loss. She facilitates a weekly group for pregnant or postpartum clients struggling with depression and/or anxiety, and payment is only by donation. 

    In addition to her service to her patients, she is also a leader and advocate. She is a frequent guest speaker on maternal mental health and is an advocate for making maternal mental health care accessible to all families in need. Feldman has seemingly always been willing to give her time and expertise to assist others. Even as a student at FNU, she hosted case days in her home. As a graduate, she has precepted FNU students every year since becoming eligible to do so in 2016. 

    Feldman is a credit to her FNU training and a most worthy recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award. 

    Distinguished Service to Society Award:

    Rachel Lien, FNP

    Rachel Lien, who earned her MSN and Family Nurse Practitioner degrees from Frontier, quickly applied what she learned at the school. Shortly after graduation, she signed on at a pediatric inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Massachusetts, where patients from all over the world came for specialized treatment. 

    Based on Lien’s work with patients from Arabic-speaking countries, her community service in interfaith dialogue groups, and a Moroccan American community group, she was awarded the Kathryn Davis Peace Fellowship. This fellowship allowed her to study Arabic for a full summer. An additional scholarship from One Nurse At A Time led her to Pakistan, where she volunteered at a hospital and clinic. Lien worked in the newborn inpatient unit and taught classes to promote health and wellness among the staff and students. 

    Next, Lien traveled to Greece to work at a clinic in a refugee camp. Working abroad taught her that one person traveling to volunteer was not enough and how politics, culture, and organizational structure contribute to the vast disparities in health worldwide.

    With these experiences and new insights, Lien returned to Massachusetts to continue learning and preparing herself to be a more significant agent of change. She is now pursuing her DNP at Frontier and working at Franklin Family Practice. Her tireless efforts to learn how to best serve her community, paired with her commitment to improving health outcomes worldwide, are inspiring. Rachel Lien is an outstanding example of providing service to others, and, for that reason, FNU is proud to honor her as the winner of the 2020 Distinguished Service to Society Award. 

    Distinguished Service to Society Award:

    Melva Craft-Blacksheare, DNP, MS, RN, CNM

    Dr. Melva Craft-Blacksheare is an Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Michigan-Flint School of Nursing. She has been a registered nurse (RN) for over 40 years and a certified nurse-midwife (CNM) for 26. Dr. Craft-Blacksheare, who earned her CNM from FNU, practices as a centering pregnancy facilitator with the St. John Providence Health System in the Metro Detroit area.

    Dr. Craft-Blacksheare is the lead faculty at the University of Michigan-Flint for Maternity Nursing and Issues in Women’s Health courses. She also co-chairs DNP student research projects and serves on the curriculum committee, student concerns committee, and is a former advisory member of the Women’s Educational Center. She is a co-chair for the A.C.T.S (A Chance to Succeed) Mentoring Program. She is on the steering committee of Genesys Hospital Centering Pregnancy.  

    Dr. Craft-Blacksheare is a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, Association of Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, and the Greater Flint Black Nurses Association. She has been the project director for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant “New Careers in Nursing” to increase nursing workforce diversity. She is a chartered member of the Chi Eta Phi, Sorority Inc. Iota Chi Chi Chapter, an international professional nursing sorority whose mission is “service for humanity.” 

    As a leader in her field and at her university, Dr. Craft-Blacksheare embodies the spirit of Frontier. A preceptor to FNU students, she continues to give back to FNU and the nurse-midwifery profession as an educator, researcher, and practitioner. For her decades of service and commitment to FNU, Dr. Melva Craft-Blacksheare is the very deserving winner of this year’s Distinguished Service to Society Award. 

    During each Homecoming Ceremony, FNU also presents awards to some of their most dedicated and passionate supporters. This year’s winners include:

    Mary Breckinridge Lifetime Service Award:

    Dr. Susan Graham and Dr. Jon Kucera

    Dr. Susan Graham, a member of the extended Breckinridge family, and her husband, Dr. Jon Kucera, are longtime FNU supporters. They have inspired others to give as well, such as matching donations to FNU on Giving Tuesday. 

    Their gifts have supported many FNU initiatives, including student scholarships and the Kitty Ernst Midwifery Endowed Chair Fund. In 2019 they made a pledge for the construction of a walking path around the Versailles campus. 

    Not only do they support FNU with financial gifts, but also with gifts of time and expertise. Susan is an active member of FNU’s Leadership Council and stays closely connected to the university and its mission. 

    With the deepest gratitude for their support, FNU proudly presents Dr. Susan Graham and Dr. John Kucera with the Mary Breckinridge Lifetime Service Award.

    Unbridled Spirit Award:

    Ellen Bayard

    Ellen Bayard served as a Frontier Nursing Service Courier from the early fall of 1968 to the late spring of 1969. Since that time, her generous annual contributions have helped to further the mission and work of Frontier. In addition to her financial commitment, Ms. Bayard has volunteered her time and talents as a member of the Courier Advisory Council. 

    In recognition and gratitude for her service as Courier, advisor, and supporter, FNU is proud to present the Unbridled Spirit Award to Ellen Bayard. 

    Thanks again to all of FNU’s dedicated alumni, friends, and supporters. We couldn’t do this without you, and we wouldn’t want to! To learn more about other alumni activities and how to stay involved, visit FNU’s alumni page. For more information on how to become a donor and help Frontier spread quality care to underserved communities, click here. 

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