Secretary
Kristina Banks, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC
Kristina Banks, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC has been a board certified pediatric nurse practitioner in primary care (CPNP-PC) for more than 16 years. She earned the DNP degree in 2016, through which she developed a group well-child visits for 1 month old infants, the first of its kind. Kristina shared her experience of implementing well-child group visits via a well-received podium presentation at the Ohio Chapter’s annual conference in 2022. She transitioned into full-time academia in July 2021, and now serves as lead pediatric faculty at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. In this role, she teaches all the primary care pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) courses, and oversees both the primary and acute care PNP program tracks. Kristina also practices as a PNP at Senders Pediatrics, a large, innovative primary care pediatric practice outside of Cleveland. She currently practices one day a week, caring for ill patients. Prior to serving in her role as Secretary of the Ohio Chapter, Kristina served as a member of the Ohio Chapter’s Conference Planning Committee (2022-2024). She is also actively involved with meeting and networking with other pediatric faculty from across the country, from monthly meetings with acute and primary care program directors to the Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (AFPNP), a national organization of nursing educators who teach in pediatric, family, and school nurse practitioner programs, and who collaborate on relevant practice and educational issues.
Treasurer
Amanda Jett, MS, APRN, CPNP-PC
Amanda Jett, MS, APRN, CPNP-PC has been a board certified pediatric nurse practitioner in primary care for over 6 years. She is also board certified as a Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PMHS). Amanda works in a diverse climate of suburban and rural private practice where she cares for the underserved and coordinates resources for those at risk. In this role, she has been able to advance mental health care for patients in the communities around Ohio in collaboration with Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Behavioral Health Services. She has knowledge and experience in caring for patients, educating patients and their families, leading staff, and conducting peer reviews as well as being involved in educating students and serving as a preceptor. Amanda began her work with the Ohio Chapter as a student while enrolled in the master’s-level graduate degree program at The Ohio State University.
Health Policy Chair
Mandi Cafasso, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC
Mandi Cafasso, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC is an assistant professor and the Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in the College of Nursing at the University of Cincinnati. She has been teaching in the DNP program since 2017 and has served as a DNP Project Chair or DNP Project Team member for over 25 DNP projects. Mandi earned the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in 2015 at Otterbein University. She previously worked as a nurse practitioner in the Division of Endocrinology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center for 21 years. In this role, she provided care to patients with general and complex endocrine disorders, including thyroid disease, Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, precocious puberty, short stature, and panhypopituitarism. Mandi is currently the President of the Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society. She has been the lead author of a book chapter, “Management of Endocrine Disorders” in Primary Care Pediatrics for the Nurse Practitioner: A Practical Approach (Kyle, 2021). She has also been the author or co-author of several articles for peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Pediatric Nursing and al The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. Mandi has a passion for health care policy. She has attended the Nurse in Washington Internship (NIWI) and serves as the Southwest Region Co-Director and Grassroot Advocacy Chair for the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses (OAAPN) where she advocates for changes to Ohio’s Nurse Practice Act.
Awards, Grants, and Scholarship Chair
Stephanie Hosley, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE
Stephanie Hosley, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE is a board certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner in primary care. To learn more about Stephanie, visit Nationwide Children’s and The Ohio State University.
Communications Chair
Sarah Seim, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC
Sarah Seim, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC is a board certified pediatric nurse practitioner at Dayton Children’s. She currently works as a nurse practitioner in the sedation services/anesthesia departments. Sarah earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Cincinnati in 2001. She has worked as a nurse practitioner at Cincinnati Children’s and Dayton Children’s hospitals in various areas, including general pediatrics, urgent care, anesthesia, and sedation services. Sarah has presented on topics that include quality improvement and evidence-based practice.
Continuing Education Co-Chair
Erica Lucas, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, NNP-BC
Erica Lucas, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, NNP-BC is board certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner. She currently works as a nurse practitioner at Dayton Children’s in the Urology department. She earned both Master of Science in Nursing degrees from Wright State University. Prior to working as a nurse practitioner, she taught obstetrics (OB) and pediatrics in the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program at Hondros College of Nursing. As an educator, Erica is passionate about teaching nurses how to critically think while focusing on providing family-centered care. Prior to working as a nurse practitioner she worked as a bedside nurse for over 18 years.
Continuing Education Co-Chair
Julie A. Loyke, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC, FNP-C
Julie A. Loyke, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC, FNP-C is board certified as a pediatric and family nurse practitioner. She is faculty at Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing (FPB) at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She is currently the lead faculty in the pre-licensure nursing program at FPB where she teaches third year nursing students the joys of pediatric nursing. Julie has also practiced as a nurse practitioner in a variety of clinical areas, including pediatric acute care and primary care in rural Ohio. Julie is committed to advocating for and protecting the health and well-being of children. She has years of experience caring for the most vulnerable members of our society, including those who are victims of child abuse, specifically child sexual abuse. She is a member of the Child Advocacy and Protection Program at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, which is a team of experts focused on stopping and preventing child abuse. Julie served as the Co-Chair of the Child Maltreatment Special Interest Group (SIG) at the national level for the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. In addition, she has served on numerous committees, such as the Cuyahoga County Child Fatality Review Board and, along with other community partners, participated in developing a community-based Child Advocacy Center serving families in the greater Cleveland area. Julie had been the co-author of articles published in peer-reviewed journals, including Building a Safe and Healthy America: Eliminating Corporal Punishment via Positive Parenting and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: An Update for the Forensic Nurse. Her role as an advocate for patient safety is evident in her interview contribution regarding engaging tummy toys for babies. In 2024, Julie received national Presidential Commendation, a special recognition honoring members for their dedicated leadership and meaningful contribution to our organization. In addition to her professional achievements, Julie is passionate about hiking and back country camping adventures as well as spending time with her three beautiful granddaughters and soon-to-be grandson!
Membership Chair
Shannon White, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Shannon K. White, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC is board certified as a family nurse practitioner. She began working as a nurse practitioner in the Headache Center at Cincinnati Children’s in 2007. Shannon is also an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Cincinnati. She has helped to further develop the role of the nurse practitioner in a multi-disciplinary headache center, assisted in the development of a nurse practitioner-managed acute care unit for patients with intractable migraine, presented on pediatric headaches locally, nationally, and internationally, and has been involved as a sub-investigator in numerous clinical headache research trials.
Student Engagement Chair
Nicole Showalter, BSD, RN
Nicole Showalter, BSD, RN, is a graduate student in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care specialty track within Yale School of Nursing’s Graduate Entry Pre-Specialty in Nursing (GEPN) program. She is poised to receive the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in May 2025. Nicole’s career journey began with a bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication Design from The Ohio State University in 2017. After four years in design, she transitioned to health care, inspired by her volunteer work in pandemic response initiatives in 2020. This pivotal experience led her to Oxford, England, where she served as a nursing assistant in the National Health Service, igniting her passion for nursing. In 2022, Nicole earned an RN license and has since built a diverse clinical background by working in an adult medical-surgical unit, pediatric outpatient clinic, pediatric summer camps, vaccine clinics, and telephone triage services. She has held multiple leadership roles, including Lead Nurse at Oxford Royale Summer Camp, Pediatric Cohort Representative for Yale School of Nursing, and Director of Public Relations for the HAVEN Free Clinic, a student-run primary care clinic in New Haven, Connecticut. An Ohio native and member of the Ohio Chapter, Nicole looks forward to returning to the buckeye state to practice as a nurse practitioner. As Chair of Student Engagement, she is committed to strengthening connections between students, the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) profession, and the Ohio Chapter. Her focus is on increasing student engagement, fostering connections, and creating meaningful opportunities for collaboration and professional growth.
President: Kimberly Joo
President (2026-2028): Kimberly (“Kim”) Joo, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE, EBP-C, is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner with more than 30 years of experience in pediatric nursing. Throughout her career, she has also served as a nurse educator and healthcare leader. She began her career as a bedside registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where she practiced for 17 years while raising three sons with her husband. During that time, she earned a… Read more
President-Elect: Amanda Jett
President-Elect (2026-2028): Amanda Jett, MS, APRN, CPNP-PC, PMHS, is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner with nearly 10 years of experience in pediatric primary care. She currently practices at Nationwide Children’s in Columbus, Ohio, where she provides comprehensive primary care to children and adolescents. Previously, Amanda practiced in both suburban and rural private practice settings, where she served diverse and underserved populations across Ohio. In that role, she collaborated with Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Behavioral Health Services… Read more
Immediate Past President: Keeley Harding
Immediate President (2026-2028): Keeley Harding, DNP, APRN, CNS, CPNP-AC/PC, is dual board-certified as both a primary care and acute care pediatric nurse practitioner. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from The Ohio State University in 2015. During her doctoral studies, she developed OhioAPRN.com, an online educational resource designed to increase Ohio legislators’ understanding of the role and scope of practice of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). She currently serves as adjunct faculty… Read more
Secretary: Jennifer Stefanich
Secretary (2026-2028): Jennifer Stefanich, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner specializing in pediatric genetics at a leading children’s hospital in Northeast Ohio. She provides comprehensive care for infants, children, and adolescents with genetic, developmental, and complex medical conditions, with a strong focus on family-centered care, early identification, and improving health outcomes across the lifespan. Jennifer brings a diverse clinical background that includes pediatric critical care, emergency transport medicine, and outpatient specialty practice.… Read more
Treasurer: Michelle Halton
Treasurer (2026-2028): Michelle (“Shellee”) Halton, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner with a career dedicated to providing high-quality pediatric care across urgent care, primary care, and academic healthcare settings. For the past three years, she has cared for patients in Urgent Care and Kids Express at Dayton Children’s Hospital. Before relocating to Ohio, Shellee practiced in Birmingham, Alabama, where she served as a pediatric nurse practitioner at Urgent Care for Children, the… Read more
Health Policy Chair: Amy Provenzano
Health Policy Chair (2026-2028): Amy Provenzano, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, is board-certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) in primary care. She is currently working as a PNP in telehealth at Cortica where she cares for children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Amy is certified as a Level 1 and Level 2 Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) provider through PDA North America. She also teaches in the master’s degree program in the College of Nursing at… Read more
Awards, Grants, and Scholarships Chair: Jecika White
Awards, Grants, and Scholarships Chair (2026-2028): Jecika White, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC is, is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner in primary care. She graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from Akron University in 2015. Prior to obtaining a master’s degree, Jecika worked as a pediatric trauma surgical nurse at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. Jecika is currently working as a pediatric nurse practitioner at MetroHealth caring for youth in foster care. She… Read more
Communications Chair: Sarah Seim
Communications Chair (2026-2028): Sarah Seim, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with more than 25 years of experience caring for children and families. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati in 2001. Sarah spent 25 years at Dayton Children’s Hospital, where she practiced as a nurse practitioner in a variety of settings, including general pediatrics, urgent care, anesthesia, and… Read more
Continuing Education Co-Chair: Hetal Patel
Continuing Education Co-Chair (2026-2028): Hetal Patel, MS, APRN, CPNP-PC, CPHTC, is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner specializing in primary care with extensive experience in pediatric health promotion, preventive care, and the management of acute and chronic illnesses. She currently practices with Childcare Consultants, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio, where she provides comprehensive, evidence-based care tailored to the needs of children and their families. She earned a Master of Science (MS) in nursing from The Ohio State… Read more
Continuing Education Co-Chair: Therese Hughes
Continuing Education Co-Chair (2026-2028): Therese Hughes, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC, is a dual-certified pediatric nurse practitioner in primary and acute care. She currently serves as a member of the Advanced Illness Management (AIM) Team, a hospital-based pediatric palliative care program within the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to joining Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Therese worked as a registered nurse at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children’s… Read more
Membership Chair: Shannon White
Membership Chair (2026-2028): Shannon K. White, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She began working as a nurse practitioner in the Headache Center at Cincinnati Children’s in 2007. Shannon is also an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in the College of Nursing at the University of Cincinnati. She has helped to further develop the role of the nurse practitioner in a multi-disciplinary headache center, assisted in the… Read more