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Celebrating AAP-CA3’s Member Nurse Practitioners
Martha Fuller, PhD,PPCNP-BC
What is your Education/Training?
I have a BSN in Nursing from Syracuse University, an MSN and PNP from Columbia University, and a PhD from the University of San Diego
Why did you decide to become a Nurse Practitioner?
While in nursing school, I volunteered at a hospital in Haiti and worked with an incredible NP who provided caring, comprehensive care. Later, as a bedside nurse in pediatrics (in both a general pediatrics ward and a PICU) I saw many children whose injuries or illnesses could have been prevented, I was interested in providing care to children and families that focused on prevention and health promotion.
Do you have any advice for those considering a career as a Nurse Practitioner?
Yes! Currently I am a faculty member at the University of San Diego Hahn School of Nursing teaching students who are becoming primary care pediatric and family nurse practitioners.
I encourage nurses who want to build on their nursing skills and provide comprehensive care working with multidisciplinary teams to take the time to explore educational and career opportunities. Spend time shadowing a PNP in different settings to see if this is the right career for you. As a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, I have worked hard in multiple settings and have never been bored!
Shelby Abramson, FNP, IBCLC
What is your Education/Training?
I am a Family Nurse Practitioner and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant with Children’s Primary Care Medical Group, where I serve as the Director of Lactation Services and work almost exclusively with infants and their parents to support growth and feeding. I have a BA in World Literature from UC Santa Cruz and a BSN from the University of Arizona. My initial lactation education was through UC San Diego. I completed most of my clinical requirements for my MSN with providers at El Rio Health, a large Federally Qualified Health Center, in Tucson, Arizona where I started a Lactation Program in 2019 after graduating from Northern Arizona University.
Why did you decide to become a Nurse Practitioner?
I was working as a Nurse Home Visitor providing lactation support to first-time, low-income mothers in Southern Arizona after getting my start as a NICU nurse. I accompanied a teen mother and her infant to a pediatric appointment where the mom was very motivated to breastfeed, but the dyad was experiencing multiple challenges. The pediatrician did a phenomenal job examining and treating the infant, but mom was instructed to schedule with her obstetric team for care; a major barrier due to insurance and transportation. I thought, there must be a better way, and saw a clear need for an expert in lactation, someone capable and competent in treating a breastfeeding dyad as a connected unit. I knew the scope of practice of a Nurse Practitioner would allow for this; it was a boon that the credentials also allowed for billing and reimbursement, which then allowed for accessibility to those who did not have the resources to navigate or pay for lactation support out of pocket.
Do you have any advice for those considering a career as a Nurse Practitioner?
I literally have my dream job in the relatively new specialty of Breastfeeding Medicine. I spend the majority of time providing direct patient care related to infant feeding, and some administrative time sharing my expertise on lactation with pediatrician colleagues and showcasing our unique model of provider-led lactation support. It is a privilege to work with families at what is often a vulnerable transition point in their lives, and so rewarding when parents come away empowered and their babies thriving. I have the very good fortune that the leadership of Children’s Primary Care Medical Group, keenly aware of myriad benefits of breastfeeding, had the vision to prioritize accessible lactation support to patients across San Diego and Southern Riverside, and to be offered a role to help expand the effort last year. To those considering a career as a Nurse Practitioner, be reassured there is meaningful work, strong organizations that value their employees and optimal patient outcomes, and a niche to best utilize your strengths and passion.