By Tucker Carden
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Professor and Associate Dean for Access and Engagement Felesia Bowen, PhD, DNP, RN, PPCNP-BC, FADLN, FAANP, FAAN, has been appointed to the National Academies Standing Committee on Primary Care. A prestigious body of 21 nationally selected experts, the committee maintains surveillance of the primary care field, including published studies and changes in clinical practices and policies, and responds to questions from government agencies and sponsors. The committee also serves as a focal point for discussions on priorities in primary care policy in the federal government, discussing relevant primary care data and information during public meetings each year.
As one of only three nurses on the committee, Bowen will contribute a nursing lens to discussions on workforce development, access to care, health policy and emerging innovations in healthcare. Bowen is grateful for this opportunity and understands the gravity of her appointment and the responsibility of the committee.
“Serving alongside this distinguished interprofessional team of experts is a true honor,” she said. “As the prevalence of chronic health conditions continues to rise, access to affordable, high-quality primary care is essential to the health and well-being of our communities. The most effective solutions are rarely developed in isolation. When experts from diverse disciplines come together, the resulting recommendations are more comprehensive, inclusive and grounded in the lived experiences of patients and families.”
A nationally certified pediatric nurse practitioner, Bowen has distinguished herself as a leader in the areas of pediatric asthma, health disparities and health equity. She has a strong academic nursing background with expertise in teaching, service and research. Bowen is Immediate Past President of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Bowen also has served on the Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of Pediatric Health Care, the official journal of NAPNAP.
A decorated Veteran of the First Persian Gulf War, Bowen also is the recipient of several grant awards, including a five-year Health Resources and Services Administration grant to conduct an upstream, community-level intervention to reduce childhood obesity and its associated poor health outcomes in the Birmingham area. Her expertise in pediatric health care has been recognized at the municipal, state and national levels. Bowen previously served two terms at the National Academy Forum for Children’s Well-Being.