By Sarah Morgan Johnson
Several University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing faculty have been elected to serve at the national and state levels of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. They join Professor and Associate Dean Felesia Bowen, PhD, DNP, APRN, PPCNP-BC, FAAN, who is NAPNAP President-Elect.
NAPNAP is the professional home for pediatric nurse practitioners and all other advanced practice registered nurses with a pediatric focus.
Faculty members serving on the national executive board include Assistant Professor Jeremy Jordan, PhD, CRNP, CPNP-AC, CCRN, CNE (MSN 2014, PhD 2021).
Jordan, a Member-at-Large, represents chapters, special interest groups and various national committees. His previous NAPNAP involvement includes his time as co-chair of the Acute Care Special Interest Group, being an inaugural member of the NAPNAP National DEI Committee and serving as the Communication and Membership Chair of the Alabama Chapter of NAPNAP.
His two-year term began in 2023, and Jordan is working with other members of the Executive Board on NAPNAP’s new strategic plan for 2024-2027. He expressed enthusiasm about how research and diversity, equity and inclusion are prioritized in the plan.
“DEI and Research are very important aspects of my career, and it is truly amazing to see them being prioritized by our professional organization,” Jordan said. “Through this new strategic plan, we will better serve our members in their extremely important work caring for children in the U.S. and abroad, conducting research that will improve the lives of children, and educate the next generation of pediatric nurse practitioners. Children and their families are at the center of what I do every day, and NAPNAP truly embraces that.”
Dual DNP-PhD Pathway student, Leslie Pitts, MSN, CRNP, CPNP-AC, CDCES, AP-PEN (BSN 2006, MSN 2009), has been named President of the Alabama Chapter Board of NAPNAP.
“This role is incredibly meaningful to me as it represents an opportunity to give back to the community that has supported my professional journey,” Pitts said. “I look forward to working collaboratively with my colleagues to advance our mission of improving child health outcomes and supporting pediatric nurse practitioners. Specifically, I am excited about the opportunities to grow our partnerships with other nursing and pediatric organizations to influence health policies that impact the children of Alabama. I also hope to support and inspire current PNP students and provide professional development opportunities for pediatric NPs in Alabama.”
The Alabama Chapter was named the NAPNAP National Small Chapter of the Year for the second consecutive year in 2024. This chapter is active in state legislation and partners with the Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Alabama and the Alabama Coalition of Nurses. In 2023, they joined forces with local organizations like the E.WE Foundation, Hudson Alpha Genetics Laboratory and Children's Rehabilitation Services to hold educational conferences in cities across the state.
Pitts notes that the chapter also has a long history of philanthropic outreach, a value that continues to guide partnerships and initiatives today.
“Over the past year, we partnered with the child life team at a local children's hospital for a book drive, the I3 Academy to provide community education on healthy food choices and provided financial support for three statewide
Children's Advocacy Centers. Additionally, the Alabama Chapter offers several annual scholarships and grants to support PNP students and the professional development of current PNPs,” Pitts said.
Also at the state level, Instructor Alexandra Armstrong, MSN, CRNP, CPNP-AC (MSN 2014), Instructor Sherita Ethridge DNP, CRNP, CPNP‐PC, CNE (MSN 2004, DNP 2020) and Instructor Heather Hyde DNP, CRNP, CPNP‐PC (BSN 2014, MSN 2018, DNP 2020), are serving on this year’s Alabama Chapter Executive Board.
