APP of the Quarter

Michelle joined the Department of Anesthesiology in 2015 as a nurse practitioner (NP) with critical care medicine. Her NP career initially began in 4400 Surgical/Burn/Trauma ICU but with the growth of the division, her career also expanded to 7800 SICU, eICU, Memorial Hospital Belleville, 8200 COVID ECMO, and a small amount of time at Christian Hospital Northeast to provide additional support during the COVID pandemic. Additionally, in 2019 she accepted an APP Leadership position at Memorial Hospital, Belleville.

Michelle says she is “grateful for the opportunity to take care of patients and families during some of the darkest days of their lives”, citing this as “a constant reminder that both humbles and inspires me to be grateful for everything I have each day.”

Within our department, she finds great joy in the expansion of our critical care APP group, citing these new opportunities to learn and work alongside such a diverse group of highly intelligent, culturally diverse, and engaged colleagues as a personal motivator to continue to improve her practice each day.

Michelle was named the Q2 2023 APP of the Quarter! Her nominator says, "Michelle is a great teammate, leader, patient advocate, and friend. She truly cares about our ICU as one that not only delivers quality care to our patients, but that's great to work in as well."

Outside of work, Michelle is engaged with her spouse, young family (children ages 8, 5, 2), and dog.  She has newly adopted yoga as a daily practice both to challenge her body physically and to release some of the emotional stress brought on by caring for critically ill patients.

Fun fact, Michelle grew up in a small town in southern Illinois - so small that the entire town’s population is less than half that of the BJH patient bed capacity.

Kathleen has been a Physician Assistant in the Surgical ICU at Barnes/Washington University since 2017. Originally from Sacramento, California, Kathleen lived in the Bay Area of California for six years to complete her undergraduate degree at Santa Clara University and then worked as an EMT. She then moved to St. Louis in 2014 to start her Physician Assistant program at Saint Louis University. She quickly fell in love with St. Louis and it's Midwest feel (without the up-North winters) and began working at Washington University soon after gaining her Physician Assistant Master of Medical Science degree.

The Surgical ICU has been the perfect job for Kathleen as she loves to stay busy and work in a fast paced environment. Her co-workers are amazingly supportive and have truly become close friends. She appreciates the challenges that her patients' present and has enjoyed occasionally working at Christian Hospital Northeast whenever needed, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kathleen, her boyfriend (Jeremy) and Jack Russell (Maggie) live in the Central West End and love eating, drinking and playing through the city. She especially loves to spend her free time biking (road and mountain biking), golfing (poorly), going to concerts and having get-togethers with friends and family. She's never met a party she didn't want to host! Fun fact: even though she grew up in California, she only cheers for Michigan sports since her parents are both Michiganders. Go Blue!!

Kathleen was named the Q3 2020 APP of the Quarter because she is an excellent team player and a creative problem-solver who is dedicated to delivering high-quality patient care.

Nicole joined the department in 2013 after graduating from Goldfarb School of Nursing as an Acute Care Nurse practitioner. Nicole is currently the lead APP at Christian Hospital Northeast ICU. Outside of work, she enjoys home improvement projects, gardening, hiking, and spending time with her son, Blake, and daughter, Taylor.

Nicole was named the Q3 2021 APP of the Quarter for her dedication, resourcefulness, and support of her fellow colleagues. Congratulations, Nicole!

Joshua Fender (He/Him) has been an APP with the department since 2021. He has a BS in Fire Paramedicine from Lindenwood University. He obtained his MSN with an emphasis on quality improvement informatics, education, and leadership from Sant Louis University. Josh recently graduated with his AGACNP post-master's certificate from Goldfarb School of Nursing. He has been a recipient of St. Louis Magazine's Excellence in Nursing and March of Dimes Nurse of the Year. In his free time, you can find him mushroom hunting, cooking, and spending time with his partner Eric and their two golden doodles Riley and Zion.

Josh was named the Q3 2022 APP of the Quarter!

His nominator says, "Josh is an incredible team player. He is always helping with schedule changes and picking up extra moonlighting. He is always positive and easy to work with. He will lend a helping hand without being asked and he provides compassionate care to his patients."

Maureen Flanagan (She/Her) is a nurse practitioner from Dallas, Texas. She earned her bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 2014 and went on to earn her RN and MSN from Yale University in 2017. She has been practicing in the Surgical ICUs here at BJH since her graduation in 2017. In her free time, she loves exploring new places around the world, cooking new pasta recipes, and spending time with her dog, Luka.

Maureen was named the Q4 2022 APP of the Quarter! Her nominator says, "Maureen works hard in difficult situations and goes above & beyond to provide great care for her patients. She's smart and is a true team player."

Teresa was born and raised in St. Louis, MO and joined the department in 2016 after graduating from the ACNP program at Saint Louis University. Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, she was a bedside nurse in the emergency department and cardiothoracic ICU at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Outside of work, Teresa enjoys spending time with her husband Brett and their boxer, Shirley. She also enjoys travelling, cooking, SCUBA diving, reading, and spending time outdoors running, hiking, kayaking, camping, and gardening

"I feel blessed to have been chosen to be part of the SICU APP group as my first job out of school. I enjoy the fast paced environment and have an amazing group of co-workers that have helped me learn and grow in my profession!"

Teresa was named the Q1 2021 APP of the Quarter! She is always attentive to the staff and patient needs and is a great resource to have on our care team! Congratulations, Teresa!

Becki Loveless, PA-C graduated from Quinnipiac University in 2000. She has worked in a variety of fields including orthopedics, emergency medicine, CT surgery, and most recently made the transition to critical care in July 2019. She currently works in the CTICU at BJH and in the ED at Missouri Baptist.

Becki has been active in both state and national PA organizations, currently serving as the HOD representative for MoAPA at the national AAPA conference. In addition, she has traveled throughout the country as a lecturer for the AAPA on responsible prescribing of opioids as well as the opioid epidemic. Becki was honored with the designation of Distinguished Fellow of the AAPA for outstanding dedication and achievement in the PA profession in 2015.  In her free time, she spends time being a sports mom for her two boys and traveling the world when there isn't a pandemic going on.

Becki was named the Q4 2020 APP of the Quarter! She has been in the COVID-19 unit working nights for many months without a break. She has been a wonderful resource to her colleagues regarding caring for ECMO patients, and she consistently recognizes and helps out her team when others are overwhelmed with their workloads.

Emily Ferrara Mandernach is an acute care nurse practitioner who joined the Department of Anesthesiology in July 2022. She graduated from Saint Louis University with her Master of Science in Nursing in December of 2021 where she was awarded the Leadership in Nursing award and Summa Cum Laude for her academic achievements. Prior to starting at Washington University, Emily worked as a critical care nurse in the Surgical, Trauma, and Burn ICU at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Her clinical time in the ICU has fueled her passion for critical care and continues to mold her into a strong and compassionate advanced practice provider. Working for Washington University has provided her with the opportunity to engage in various learning environments, participate in high-intensity interventions, and make vigilant decisions that impact a patient’s hospital journey.

Emily’s contribution to the profession extends beyond the ICU. She is also a clinical instructor at Saint Louis University and teaches nursing students hands-on training and provides real-world guidance. Additionally, Emily works as a contributing author and editor of various nursing exam review books and materials for Springer Publishing Company. She continues to write on topics related to her current cardiovascular expertise. Her dissemination of knowledge to others will continue to impact evidence-based care for cardiovascular patients and exemplifies the role of the nurse practitioner as an expert clinician and educator.

Outside of the hospital, Emily enjoys hiking adventures and traveling with her husband, Josh, visiting her family on the East Coast, cooking, and spending time with her dog, Louie, a Yorkshire Terrier mix.

Emily was named Q2 2024 APP of the Quarter!

Her nominator says, “Emily consistently demonstrates exceptional qualities that make her a standout member of the team. Her kindness, helpfulness, and extensive knowledge base have significantly energized and uplifted our group. She approaches every interaction with genuine warmth and empathy, creating a positive and welcoming environment for both colleagues and patients. Her ability to make everyone feel valued and heard is a testament to her compassionate nature.”

Sean Miller has been working in medicine for the past 18 years. He began working as a Paramedic for both rural and suburban EMS districts. He spent two years of his EMS career with a focus on critical care pediatric transport with St. Louis Children’s Hospital. He later entered St. Louis University's Physician Assistant Program where he earned his Master of Medical Science (MMS) degree in 2014.

He first gained experience as a PA in primary care outpatient medicine but later transitioned to the ER. He completed an ER fellowship and remained with the ER for additional training. After completing his ER training, he entered Urgent Care medicine where he has spent the bulk of his career. Most recently, Sean’s drive for professional growth allowed him to begin work at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in the Cardiothoracic ICU. When not working at WashU he returns to SLU as an Adjunct Faculty member providing lectures in EKG analysis while co-managing the orthopedic, cardiac, and GU/Renal modules. In 2023, he began operating Rapid Med Ed, LLC, which is a St. Louis-based training organization for all AHA courses and much more. He and his wife have 3 growing boys ages 10, 8, and 6. They all enjoy playing UNO and traveling to the beach for much-needed relaxation. Fun fact, he has enjoyed Martial Arts for over 25 years and currently holds a 4th degree black belt!

Sean was named Q4 2023 APP of the Quarter!

His nominator says, "Sean undeniably deserves the APP of the quarter award for his relentless commitment to personal growth and improvement. He consistently strives to enhance his skills and knowledge, demonstrating a remarkable dedication to self-betterment. Sean's infectious smile has become a symbol of positivity within the group, uplifting everyone around him. Beyond his professional achievements, it's his warm and approachable demeanor that sets him apart. In any situation, Sean brings a genuine sense of warmth that fosters a collaborative and supportive environment. His ability to radiate positivity and create a welcoming atmosphere is truly commendable, making him not only an exceptional friend but also a source of inspiration for others."

Melissa graduated with a BSN from the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith, in 2011 and obtained her MSN, Adult Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) from the University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, in 2020. She has practiced as an RN in the SICU at Northwest Medical Center, Springdale, Arkansas, from 2011-2013 and the CVICU at Washington Regional Medical Center, Fayetteville, from 2013-2020. While at Washington Regional, Melissa served as Nurse Residency Facilitator and Critical Care Coordinator. Melissa joined the APP group in September 2020 and staff in the CTICUs.

Melissa was named the Q2 2021 APP of the Quarter! Her nominator says, "She is highly motivated and took initiative by looking up patients before her shifts and studying at home with any procedures or devices she wasn’t familiar with. You can tell she cares about her patients and is always advocating for them. She also is a great team player, and I know I can always count on her if I need help."