As a doctorally prepared Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), dually board certified as a Pediatric Primary Care ARNP and Psychiatric-Mental Health ARNP, my primary appointment is with the University of Iowa College of Nursing as an Assistant Professor – Clinical Track Faculty. My professional and scholarly work is grounded in advancing psychosocial care for children with particular emphasis in the areas of pediatric psychosocial oncology and mental health challenges for children with chronic illness. Over two decades of experience in the field of pediatric nursing have shaped a clinical and scholarship trajectory concentrated on pediatric growth and development, mental health and the impact of life experiences on quality of life, with a more specific focus on the intersection of mental health and pediatric chronic illness. My overarching goal is to integrate evidence-based psychosocial interventions into pediatric care settings to improve mental health outcomes and overall quality of life for patients and families.

I serve as the Director of the Pediatric Psychosocial Oncology Program at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, where I lead initiatives aimed at improving, standardizing and evaluating psychosocial care delivery. Clinically, I maintain active practice as an ARNP in this program allowing me to bridge direct patient care with system level innovation. These dual roles enable me to observe firsthand the psychosocial challenges faced by children with chronic illness and design implementation strategies to integrate evidence-based interventions responsive to their needs.

Curriculum Vitae