Melanie Freas

Melanie Freas, winner of the Phillip D. Raso Scholarship, holds a master of science degree in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania, and is a board certified acute care nurse practitioner. She is currently a doctoral candidate in the Drexel University Doctor of Nursing Practice Program.

She has practiced in a variety of critical care settings throughout her nursing career including Surgical Intensive Care, Interventional and Medical Cardiology, as well as Electrophysiology. Melanie is currently an acute care nurse practitioner for Cardiac Surgery at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Melanie has been instrumental in developing an innovative research project. This research project, when completed, will examine quality outcomes and demonstrate the effectiveness of our independently run advance practice provider’s clinic. The aortic surveillance clinic serves over 650 patients with complex aortic disease. It is the largest independently run nurse practitioner practice in the region. Melanie is the creator of an aortic valve repair surveillance clinic, in which she is the sole provider. This nurse practitioner run aortic valve repair surveillance clinic is the first of its kind, and the only one in the United States. In its second year running, she has seen over 80 patients in this clinic. She has been asked to serve as a consultant to establishing aortic surveillance clinics at several hospitals along the east coast.

She has served as a preceptor for LaSalle University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Melanie has lectured classes to both nursing staff, nursing grand rounds, and at APP grand rounds. She has been an author on abstracts that have been presented both nationally and internationally.