The Complete Neonatal Course: Navigating Prematurity, the NICU and Beyond

Shannon Tinkler, MSN, CNS, RNC-NIC, is a neonatology educator for the Neonatal Special Services, at Sutter Health, California Pacific Medical Center. She has been a neonatal nurse for 18 years. Before joining the NSS, she was the Clinical Nurse Specialist and Neuro NICU educator at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, focusing on training the nursing staff in the care of the newborn brain. Shannon is passionate about delivering the highest quality of care to the tiny (and not so tiny) patients in the NICU, as well as educating nurses and practitioners on delivering evidence-based care.

Michelle has been a respiratory therapist since June 2000. She started working in a Level III Neonatal ICU six months into her career. In 2005, Michelle obtained a Neonatal Pediatric Specialty certification and transferred to the Sacramento Regional Neonatal Respiratory Care Specialist. Michelle held this title for almost 17 years. In 2021 Michelle received her Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy from Boise State University. Michelle started teaching the neonatal/pediatric lecture and laboratory course at the American River Respiratory Care Program in 2017. Michelle has taught and created programs for various training centers and hospitals for the Neonatal Resuscitation Program and STABLE program for approximately 20 years. Michelle is currently working as the Respiratory Supervisor and Educator at Mercy General Hospital.

Karen Pryor, PhD, PT, DPT, CH, CFPS, has a doctorate in physical therapy and has practiced for 40 years in the field. Dr. Pryor is the owner of Health Sphere Wellness Center, an integrative therapy clinic in Nashville, Tennessee. Involved with early intervention in the birth-three population for over 30 years, she has developed neuroplasticity techniques that are used in a wide variety of settings, including homes, childcare centers, and school systems, to advanced pediatric therapy programs. Dr. Pryor serves on several boards, including the Leadership Interagency Council for Early Intervention (2014-2019), a position to which she was appointed by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. In 2010, she received the President's Volunteer Service Award for her contributions to the advanced treatment of children from President Barack Obama. In addition to her work with children, Dr. Pryor has served as an adjunct professor at the Tennessee State University Occupational Therapy Assistant program. She is a clinical instructor for several universities and colleges. With her years of experience and passion for complete wellness, Dr. Pryor advances a more expansive view of how to integrate therapy throughout the lifespan by using neuroplasticity techniques.

Julia Muzzy Williamson, PharmD, BCPPS, BCNSP, C-ELBW, is an assistant professor of practice at North Dakota State University and a pediatric clinical pharmacist currently practicing in the neonatal intensive care unit at Sanford Health in Fargo. At NDSU, she instructs students in the Doctor of Pharmacy program on topics including nutrition, pediatrics, and women’s health. She also mentors pharmacy students in research projects focused on breastfeeding and clinical practice in the NICU. Her practice in the NICU focuses on nutrition in the smallest patients including management of complex patients with short gut, parenteral nutrition dependence and complications, and micronutrient management. Dr. Muzzy is currently dual board certified as a Pediatric Pharmacotherapy Specialist and Nutrition Support Pharmacist.

Dr. Humphries is a Board-Certified Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP). She has over 20 years of experience that includes registered nurse in the Burns and Trauma Unit and Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at UAB, SICU at Walker Baptist Medical Center, and Psychiatric Unit at Montclair Baptist. She found her calling in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and furthered her career as an advanced practice nurse practitioner. She currently works at DCH Northport Medical Center in the NICU. In addition, Dr. Humphries plans to expand her career to include education and leadership. Dr. Humphries graduated from Bevill State Community College with an Associate degree in Nursing (ADN) in 2001, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN) from the University of North Alabama in 2011, her Master of Science in Nursing degree (MSN) in the NNP tract at the University of Alabama of Birmingham (UAB) in 2014 and her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree (DNP) and Nursing Education Certification at UAB in 2019. She was recently awarded the Kim Noland Spirit Award from the Florida Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (FANNP). Additionally, she received two scholarships from FANNP while in graduate school. She published a literature review titled Perinatal Palliative Care in the FANNP newsletter in 2018 and a peer-reviewed article in the Alabama Nurse titled Early Placement of PICC Lines and Early Removal of UVC to Reduce CLABSIs in the NICU in 2019. She holds memberships with ASNA, FANNP, and AAP. In 2018, she served as President Elect of District 2 in the Alabama State Nurses Association (ASNA) and then President of the district in 2019-2021. Dr. Humphries currently serves as the Vice President at the state level for ASNA. Dr. Humphries is chair of the Research and Poster committee for FANNP and recently lectured on a Neonatal Pharmacology in the FANNP 2021 conference.

Stephanie Abbu, DNP, RN, CNML, is Manager for Neonatal Services at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. As a second career nurse, she has 18 years of healthcare experience as a registered nurse, assistant manager, business coordinator, and manager. Dr. Abbu is a national speaker on neonatal care, nursing research, nursing practice and professionalism, mentoring, leadership, and family and patient engagement. As a member of the TN Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative for the past decade, she is a nurse leader devoted to improving the outcomes of mothers and babies.

Mel Cook, MSN, RNC-NIC, C-ELBW, PHN, DNP-c, has been a registered nurse for over 9 years and most recently served in a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) while obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, certifications in Neonatal Intensive Care (RNC-NIC) and extremely low birth weight (C-ELBW) infants and becoming a Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Instructor. She is skilled at stabilizing critically ill neonates through collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, while managing all physical, psychosocial, and medicinal aspects of the neonate’s care. Additionally, she has a keen eye for process improvement and is committed to supporting interdisciplinary health care teams, enhancing the quality of care for neonates and their families in the NICU. This is augmented through pursual of a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, where she is refining her ability to evaluate and disseminate solid research evidence to enhance clinical environments, therein promoting safe, cost-effective, and patient-centered care.

Dawn M. Kersula, MA, RN, IBCLC, LCCE, FACCE, is a lactation specialist and perinatal educator who founded/continues to staff the outpatient lactation clinic at a hospital in Vermont. She has worked with birthing and breastfeeding families for more than 30 years. Respected for her expertise in the field, Dawn is a requested presenter at international childbirth conferences and locally continues to coordinate her hospital's perinatal education programs/support groups. As president of the Vermont Lactation Consultants Association, she works closely with the Vermont State Breastfeeding Network to offer training opportunities throughout the state and has had the opportunity to impact change through several legislative initiatives that have resulted in pro-breastfeeding legislation in Vermont. Dawn's passion and commitment are evidenced through her certification as a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE), active involvement with ILCA (International Lactation Consultants Association), and appointment as a fellow with the American College of Childbirth Educators (FACCE). Her master's research focused on PTSD following traumatic childbirth experiences and, in her role as a perinatal psychologist, she continues to have a special interest in the developmental transition to motherhood. To her credit, Dawn has published over 30 articles pertaining to the specialty of breastfeeding.