Mission and Purpose

It is our belief that all children have a right to quality health care and the opportunity to develop in a safe and secure environment. The Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners supports and promotes the role of the pediatric nurse practitioner as well as other providers, educators, and researchers who have an interest in optimizing the health of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.

The purpose of our chapter is to maintain an organization as a leader in improving the quality of health care for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. This is accomplished simultaneously through the promotion and professional development of the pediatric-focused provider’s role and advocacy efforts on behalf of pediatric patients and the nursing profession.

Meet Our Board Members

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. She previously worked 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… 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

Meet Our Committee Members

2024-2026 Conference and Event Planning Committee

Erica Lucas, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, NNP-BC – Co-Chair (2024-2026)

Julie A. Loyke, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC, FNP-C – Co-Chair (2025-2026)

Kimberly Joo, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC – Co-Chair (2024)

Amy Provenzano, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC (2024-2026)

Hetal Patel, MSN, APRN, FNP-C (2024-2026)

Mandi Cafasso, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC (2024-2026)

Jecika C. White, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC (2025-2026)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee

Stephanie Hosley, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE – Co-Chair

Jecika C. White, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC – Co-Chair

Committees and Board Positions

Vacancies

Ohio Chapter Volunteer Form

Are you interested in serving on the board or a committee for the Ohio Chapter? Please let us know by completing the Ohio Chapter Volunteer Form.

Board Member Vacancies:
- None
Committee Member Vacancies:
- Awards, Grants, and Scholarship Committee: Vacancies
- Communications Committee: Vacancies
- Conference and Event Planning Committee: Vacancies
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee: Vacancies
- Health Policy Committee: Vacancies
- Membership Committee: Vacancies
- Philanthropy and Community Engagement Committee: Vacant
- Student Engagement Committee: Vacant

History of Ohio Chapter

The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners’ founding members, Janet McCleary and Phillis Cunningham, share the evolution of the organization and Ohio’s important role as the birthplace of the national organization.