Melissa M. Condren, MSN, RN, CPNP is the recipient of the 2020 M. Louise Fitzpatrick Nursing Scholarship Award. Melissa earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Allied Health Sciences with a minor in Psychology from the University of Connecticut in 2013. Melissa went on to complete the Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing (GEPN) Program at Yale University, where she earned her Certificate in Nursing in 2014 and graduated with her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in 2016. Melissa is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP).

Melissa is currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at the University of Massachusetts Medical School Graduate School of Nursing. She has a passion for quality improvement and incorporating evidence-based practice into the clinical setting. Melissa is in the process of developing her DNP scholarly project, which will be implemented in her current workplace. Melissa is currently practicing as a PNP in Pediatric Otolaryngology at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut. She previously worked as a PNP in Pediatric Pulmonology at UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. In addition to her clinical role at UMass Memorial, Melissa served as a consultant for the Massachusetts Technology Assistance Resource Team (MASSTART), a free service supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which helps families and schools plan for the safe integration of children with special health care needs, particularly those with medical technology, into school. Melissa performed home and school visits, conducted school nurse trainings, attended IEP meetings, and helped create individualized health care plans and emergency plans.

Melissa enjoys scholarly writing and is first author of the article, “Polytobacco Use Among Adolescents,” in Pediatric Nursing. She is co-author of the “Respiratory Guidelines” chapter in Pediatric Practice Guidelines, which is scheduled for publication in 2021. Melissa is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Honor Society of Nursing and the Connecticut chapter of the Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses (SOHN).

Melissa is a life-long learner with a love for teaching and mentoring students. She enjoys teaching nursing and medical students in the clinical setting and conducting nurse training sessions. Melissa plans to utilize skills gained from her DNP education to incorporate nursing education into her future career, while maintaining her clinical practice. In the clinical setting, Melissa will continue to pursue quality improvement and leadership opportunities. She looks forward to facilitating and implementing evidence-based programs and policies that will foster positive change for patients, families, health care professionals, and institutions.