EdD, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC , Doctoral (Current)
Suzanne Herrera Phipps, EdD, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, is pursuing her second doctorate and second nurse practitioner certification. Mrs. Phipps is enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program at the University of Illinois Chicago, College of Nursing, with an expected graduation of Fall 2025.
Mrs. Phipps DNP Project will be focused on using the SMART Student Health Model, which is used in at-risk, low-income high school students that look at the whole child. She will be researching ways to assist clinicians to be able to differentiate between mild, moderate, and severe mental illness using the ABC 30 Assessment Tool.
The goal is to facilitate focusing on timely and appropriate referral of MH resources for the adolescent, family, school, and community. Currently, SMART is only being used in three states. Mrs. Phipps is employed as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in a free, charitable clinic, which serves those who are uninsured (i.e., self-employed, refugees, migrants, and undocumented immigrants), and she has the intention to make Intimate Partner Violence (PV)MH services available for all. Also, Mrs. Phipps desires to bring IPV MH services to retail-health clinics in her state which are accessible and affordable clinics for patients.
In addition, Mrs. Phipps is a Master of Science (MSN) Program Director for a mid-size, Christian university in her state. She hopes to champion a new DNP/PMHNP program. An area where mental health resources are scarce, and there is a need to formally educate DNP/PMHNPs for the community.