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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 the University of Cincinnati.

Amy obtained a Master’s in Nursing degree from The Ohio State University. While in the Master’s program, she completed the Keep Your Children/Yourself Safe and Secure (KySS) Mental Health Fellowship and the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Disabilities (LEND) Fellowship, in addition to helping create the Family Resource Network of Ohio website.

Throughout the years, Amy has played an active role in advocating for children and their families as well as the nursing profession. She was a contributing author to the book, NURSEPRENEUR: Translating the Art of Nursing into Entrepreneurship. She was a featured author in Daily Devotional: Prescriptions for the Soul. Amy has also helped develop and host several continuing education courses for nurse practitioners, and presented poster presentations at local and state conferences. Amy is the 2020 recipient of the Nurse Practitioner of the Year Award for the Ohio Chapter. In 2023 and 2024, she received Presidential Commendation, a special recognition awarded by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.

In addition, she is the 2019 recipient of Ohio State University, College of Nursing, Alumni Association Community Service Award. She previously served on the Ohio State University, College of Nursing, Alumni Society Board of Governors. Mrs. Provenzano is the immediate Past-President (2022-2024) of the Ohio Chapter.