The Pulmonary Hypertension Association is launching a new certificate program in early 2025 for advanced practice providers and nurses who care for pulmonary hypertension patients. The program will help APPs and nurses provide better care, advance their careers, grow professionally and assess their knowledge of the condition through lectures, discussions and online coursework over six months.“After networking with APPs, nurses and other allied health staff during the 2023 PHPN Symposium, we realized the need for a program aimed at improving knowledge of PH and expertise in treating the disease,” said Kimberly Jackson, BSN, RN, CPN, immediate past chair of PHPN.Melisa Wilson, DNP, APRN, BC, nurse practitioner at AdventHealth Orlando, will serve as curriculum director for the new program.Wilson has a long history of service to PHA and PH patients. She co-founded the Orlando PH Support Group and has been a member of the PHA Board of Trustees. Wilson, past Chair of PHPN 2012-2014, has held several leadership positions on the PHPN Executive Committee including Chair of PHPN Executive Committee, PHPN Symposium Planning Committee and PHPN Practice Committee. Wilson also has extensive experience in curriculum design and training other practitioners. Furthermore, she has served on the PH Care Centers Oversight Committee, where she played a pivotal role in defining criteria for the highest standards in patient care.“Melisa’s dedication to providing quality patient care and empowering others to do the same is the embodiment of what we’re striving to build through the program,” shared Matt Granato, CEO and president of PHA.Late this summer, Wilson selected Venus Anderson, pediatric nurse practitioner at Children’s Nebraska, as the assistant curriculum director. Anderson will tailor the program offerings to serve APPs and other allied health professionals who treat pediatric PH patients.Anderson, a member of PHA’s Professional Education Committee, volunteers as a professional mentor and has 26 years of nursing experience.“This is an amazing opportunity to showcase what great work we are doing in pediatric PH as APPs,” Anderson says. “It is exciting to think how much our specialty is growing and to be a part of that.This certificate program will work with the existing accreditation program and other professional education offerings to meet PHA’s goal of improving quality patient care. Groups completing the program together will receive support from faculty and peers via group chats and office hours. Ensure your PHPN membership is active to receive alerts when program enrollment begins later this year.

Melisa Wilson, DNP, APRN, ACNP, BC

Venus Anderson, APRN