APPS News

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are essential for the function of the Duke University Health System and the Duke Department of Neurology, where they treat patients within all of our major disciplines. To help mark National NP week, this week’s spotlight interview shines on Duke Raleigh’s John Howell II, MSN AGACNP-BC, whose typical week includes patients with stroke, seizures, multiple sclerosis, and other conditions.

This week’s “Spotlight” interview shines on Sandra Napier, MSN, FNP-BC, a member of the acute stroke team at Duke University Hospital. Napier talks to us about her work reviewing the vital signs trends, medications, and diagnostics for stroke patients, collaborating on multidisciplinary teams to develop tailored care plans for those patients, and mentoring medical and advanced practice students in the hospital.

For this week’s “Spotlight” interview, we talk to Susannah White, PA-C, the newest member of our epilepsy and sleep team. White talks to us about how a love of the brain (as well as a hatred of writing research papers) led her to become a physician assistant focusing on neurology. She also talks about the pleasures of being able to help individuals with sleep apnea, how advanced practice providers are an integral part of the team at Duke, and hiking, baking and working toward her pilot’s license when she’s not at Duke.

Cosette Burian, PA-C, MMS, was first acquainted with the devastating effects of neuromuscular diseases as a child, when she saw her father develop progressive fatigue and muscle atrophy that refused to respond to treatment. Now, as our first physician assistant in our neuromuscular division, she’s helping patients with similar and other conditions.

Faced with treating a seemingly untreatable condition--dementia and memory loss--Michelle Sanfilippo, PA-C looks to connect with the people behind the symptoms. For this week’s “Spotlight” interview, Sanfilippo talks about how not all dementias are the same, and how small changes can make a big difference in the lives of her patients and their families. She also shares what she’s learned from her patients and how her experience as a Stephen Minister complements her clinical work with her patients.