Personal Statement—

I believe health equity is the cornerstone meeting some of the most complex challenges we face in healthcare. My drive for social justice in healthcare is paired with a passion for educating nurse practitioners. This has driven all of the opportunities I have sought for the past 19 years in varied roles including roles as an: obstetric nurse, pediatric intensive care nurse, post-surgical/ trauma nurse and as a Family Nurse Practitioner for the past ten years working in safety net organizations and academic centers serving Chicago’s west side neighborhoods. I have extensive experience in clinical education of APRN’s and I’m passionate about the importance of training the next generation of Nurse Leaders in Community Health and Primary Care.

My clinical expertise includes cardio-metabolic chronic disease management and prevention, particularly obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, prediabetes, hypertension and heart disease. My success as a practitioner is heavily influenced by my nursing roots that began in community health, where I came to understand the intersection between social determinants of health and wellbeing. I spent seven years as both a community health nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner previously at Erie Family Health Center, a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center, which allowed me the experience to better understand challenges faced by under-resourced communities face as they try to manage chronic disease. Moreover, my practice aims to focus on improving health for the population as a whole, not only those who generally have access to high quality care. I firmly believe that the basic elements supporting a community’s health are:  safe neighborhoods, access to clean air, clean water, and good quality, and understanding nutritional recommendations. I believe that these basic elements can address the state of health in the United States today. The World Health Organization reports the most common modifiable risk factors for chronic disease development include unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and tobacco use.

In my practice interests I am focusing on financially sustainable programs that provide lifestyle interventions for chronic disease prevention, health, and wellness. I have focused my research efforts on how social determinants of health impact disease prevention strategies, particularly evidence-based diabetes prevention programs. Currently, I am working on the issue of food insecurity and doing qualitative work on how this affects the members of African American churches on the West Side of Chicago. 
 

Positions and Honors

Honors/Awards:

American Public Health Association- Public Health Nursing Section Scholarship Recipient

Sigma Theta Tau International, Gamma Phi Chapter – Rush University

Advanced Education Nurse Traineeship Scholarship – Rush University

Deans List: Winter 2005, Fall 2004, Winter 2004, Fall 2003 – University of Michigan

Awarded A.J. Brown Excellence in Community Health Nursing – University of Michigan

Sigma Theta Tau International, Rho Chapter Member – University of Michigan

School of Nursing Leadership Scholarship- University of Michigan

Professional Organizations/Committees:

Chicago Department of Public Health -Food Access Work Group Healthy Chicago 2025

American Association of Nurse Practitioners

Member Preventive Cardiology Nurses Association

American Public Health Association-Public Health Nursing Section

Chair Rush University Department Advisory Committee-Ambulatory Nursing 2018-2020

DNP Representative -Rush School of Nursing Community Partnership Committee 2018-2019

Member Policy and Advocacy Committee 2019-2020

Member Advanced Practice Provider Executive Recognition Committee

Natalie Raghu DNP, FNP-C, BC-ADM, APRN-FPA

559 William St. River Forest IL 60305

Mobile (734) 255-0854

nraghu@eriefamilyhealth.org

natalie.render@gmail.com

Education:                                                                                        

Doctorate of Nursing Practice –                                               December 2020

Transformative Leadership Population Health

Doctoral Project: Feeding the Soul, Body and Mind: A Diabetes Prevention Translation within Faith Communities

Rush University, School of Nursing- Chicago IL                                August 2010

Masters of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner

magna cum laude

Capstone Project: Expedited Partner Treatment in Primary Care- Erie Family Health Center

Residency: Medical Home Project, Rush University Pediatrics

                                                                                                            May 2005

University of Michigan, School of Nursing - Ann Arbor, MI

Bachelors of Science in Nursing

 cum laude

Licensure and Certifications:

Full Practice Authority- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse -State of Illinois

Registered Professional Nurse -State of Illinois 041.348062

Certified Nurse Practitioner, Family Practice -American Association of Nurse Practitioners

Board Certified Advanced Diabetes Management 6.2017

Advanced Cardiac Life Support AHA

Diabetes Prevention Program Certified Lifestyle Coach

Professional Experience:

Erie Family Health Center                                                                     August 2022-Present

Medical Director Advanced Practice Providers

AdvancingPractice Faculty Development and Academic Practice Partnership Lead

5. Senior Provider Leader for more than sixty five NP/PA/CNM providers
5. Lead development, planning, implementation and evaluation of Ongoing Peer Provider Evaluation and Focus Peer Provider evaluation
5. Provider leader in core team member EPIC EMR transition implementation and optimization team
5. Mentor and lead process improvement and development for APP providers
5. Provide mentorship and support to provider leaders across the organization
5. Build partnerships with external academic partners to support the development of current APPs and learners
5. Lead efforts for grants and development funding for current APP providers and learners
5. Develop in collaboration with other leaders  Quality Improvement initiatives to meet the complex needs of healthcare delivery in FQHC

Erie Family Health Center                                                              February 2020- June, 2022

Director AdvancingPractice- Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program, Family Nurse Practitioner Primary care

5. Lead internal implementation team, engage and educate additional internal stakeholders about program and their roles in fellowship implementation.
5. Lead collaboration with University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) to establish and implement program curriculum and evaluation methods
5. Establish systems for integrating residency into Erie’s existing operations (i.e., preceptor identification and training, data collection, developing ramp-up schedules, etc.)
5. Collaborate with existing Erie training programs and develop structures for interprofessional learning.
5. Manage budget for multi-year 3.3 million dollar federally awarded HRSA grant
5. Lead development of curriculum including planning, implementation, evaluation and process improvement
5. Develop didactic sessions for post graduate training and lead curriculum development in areas not limited to diabetes, heart failure, asthma, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, COVID-19, pediatric urgent care topics
5. Lead development and implementation of program marketing materials and program recruitment activities.
5. Present during HRSA award calls on current innovations using telehealth and virtual platforms for fellowship training
5. Direct ongoing program implementation, ensuring adherence to activities and timelines and identification and remediation of any challenges.
5. Supervise Residency Coordinator and provide feedback on office management issues, activities and the status of various projects.
5. Oversee internal project team on residency-related activities and issues.
5. Lead ongoing collaboration with UIC to continuously evaluate and improve residency and preceptor curriculum.
5. Ensure that program is meeting all grant and institutional policy and procedures.
5. Develop reports for and serve as point of contact with federal funder.
5. Communicate regularly with internal stakeholders regarding successes and challenges and secure feedback and assistance as needed.

Rush University Medical Center –Prevention Center                 March 2016- April 2020

Family Nurse Practitioner/ Nurse Manager

5. Provide primary and secondary prevention with focus on lifestyle and behavior change to patients with chronic disease including diabetes, coronary artery disease, obesity, congestive heart failure, COPD, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and prediabetes
5. Diagnosis and treat diabetes, coronary artery disease, obesity, hypertension, and prediabetes, thyroid disorder, and other endocrine disease
5. Independently assist patients in the management of insulin pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitoring
5. Created and Sustained Nurse Practitioner Lead lifestyle medicine and intensive diabetes management clinic
5. Created a financially sustainable approach to diabetes prevention within primary and secondary prevention models
5. Lead in Clinical Pilot Program for diabetes prevention program using advance practice nurse as primary lifestyle coach
5. Expertly use motivational interviewing with medically and socially complex patients in primary/secondary prevention of cardio-metabolic disease
5. Treated and managed patients with obesity including lifestyle management after bariatric surgery for sustained weight loss
5. Utilize lifestyle interventions for weight loss for chronic disease prevention and management including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, post-acute myocardial infarction, post-acute stroke, complex cardio-metabolic disease, obesity and hepatic steatosis
5. Direct and manage day to day clinical operation of Prevention Center including JACHO compliance, orientation, managing medical assistant staff members and coordinating clinical care of patients
5. Meet and exceed RVU targets and patient satisfaction scores for the organization

Rush University School of Nursing                                     May 2015-May, 2020

5. Adjunct Faculty NSG 625
5. Preceptor for Family Nurse Practitioner Doctorate of Nursing Practice
5. Preceptor for Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Doctorate of Nursing Practice
5. Site Director – Family Nurse Practitioner Doctorate of Nursing Practice -Program Focused on Diabetes and Oral Health
5. Second reader on DNP project proposal -Integrating Oral Health Care into Routine Diabetes Management in the Primary Care Setting- Jordan Lavrencik DNP Candidate Rush University School of Nursing

Rush University Medical Center

Per Diem Nurse Practitioner Walk in Center

June 2014-December 2018

5. Diagnosis and treat adults with acute medical issues or exacerbations of chronic medical conditions including but not limited to asthma, diabetes, common cold, influenza, urinary complaints
5. Work independently as sole provider in clinic managing acute medical issues and appropriate emergency medical response and referral

                        January 2011-April 2016                 

Erie Family Health Center Family-Chicago IL

Family Nurse Practitioner Internal Medicine and Pediatric Primary Care

5. Diagnosis and treat adults with multiple chronic health conditions including diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, asthma, arthritis, COPD, PCOS and obesity using current evidence and guidelines
5. Provide immediate care to newborn through adulthood for a large variety of problems including common cold, influenza, urinary complaints, cellulitis/ abscess, and asthma exacerbations
5. Active member of Internal medicine and pediatric team specifically developing coordinated diabetes care clinic and leadership in the area of childhood obesity
5. Provide full range of well woman care including appropriate cervical and breast screenings
5. Coordinate primary care to a population of low income, underinsured and uninsured patients many speak English as a second language
5. Facilitate group visits with overweight and obese pediatric patients and their families in efforts to facilitate behavior change and prevent chronic disease
5. Care for children in immediate care setting with acute illness and facilitate transfer to local emergency department
5. Precept Family Nurse Practitioner students in both pediatrics and internal medicine in clinical and residency
5. Site Manager of Rush University/Erie Family Health Advanced Practice Nurse Traineeship student placement

                                                    March 2008- December 2010 

Erie Family Health Center Community Health Nurse

5. Co-Facilitated centering pregnancy group prenatal visits
5. Triaged patients with variety of conditions via phone and in-person including pregnant women, patients with multiple medical problems and children from newborns to elderly
5. Managed emergency situations including respiratory failure, respiratory distress, cardiac events and psychiatric episodes
5. Counseled patients on newly diagnosed disease and infections including STD’s, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes
5. Determined the best resources for patients’ medical problems and assist them in navigating the healthcare system including connecting patients to mental health resources, case management and other social services

                                                                                                   October 2008- September 2009

Loyola University Medical Center Maywood IL Post Anesthesia Care Unit

Staff Nurse

5. Provided competent and compassionate care to patients from infants to adult’s recovery from anesthesia
5. Identified key changes arising in critically ill patients including multiple traumas, organ transplant, cardio-thoracic, orthopedic and neuro-surgical patients
5. Cared for patients with both natural and artificial airways following a broad range of surgeries including management of patients on ventilators
5. Managed adult and pediatric patients in decompensating hemodynamic states
5. Provided leadership to co-workers on topics related to pediatric nursing skills including PALS, airway management, post-op management, developmental levels and safe drug dosing
5. Acted as preceptor for nursing students on the unit and educated them in caring for patients recovering from anesthesia

                                                                                     October 2006- October 2008            

Children’s Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Staff Nurse

5. Provided family-centered care for patients of varying ages from neonates to adults with a variety of illnesses taking into consideration developmental levels
5. Managed nursing care for patients with severe respiratory distress, respiratory failure, post-op organ transplantation, hematology/oncology patients, cardiac failure patients, patients with one or multi-organ system failure, patients on continuous renal replacement therapy and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
5. Assessed changes in critically ill patients and intervened appropriately
5. Responded to numerous emergency situations earning respect from my coworkers and physicians for calm, level headed and quick response while keeping families informed of the current situation
5. Participated in the educational success of new registered nurse by acting as a preceptor

Prentice Women’s Hospital-Northwestern Memorial Hospital Labor and Delivery

Chicago, IL

Staff Nurse                                    

                                                                                  July 2005-March 2007           

5. Administered support women of varied age from teens to late adulthood during labor, delivery and recovery of both vaginal and caesarean deliveries
5. Resuscitated preterm and full-term newborns at delivery using NRP guidelines
5. Provided treatment to special patient populations during labor and delivery including women with HIV, diabetes, cancer, preterm labor, placenta Previa, placental abruption, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, intrauterine fetal demise and psychological disorders
5. Performed role as circulating nurse in the Operating Room as well as assisting in other gynecological procedures.

Abstracts/Manuscripts

Raghu, Cultivating diversity in the advanced practice registered nurse workforce: An exemplar

from an advanced practice registered nurse fellowship program. Journal of the American

Association of Nurse Practitioners 00 (2021) 1–8, © 2021 American Association of Nurse

Practitioners DOI# 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000679

Yingling, C., Raghu, N Advancing Diversity in the Community Health APRN Workforce:

Deliberate Strategies for a Challenging Issue Illinois Society of Advanced Practice Nurses Midwest. Virtual Conference. October 21, 2021.

Raghu, N., Zimmerman, L., Avery, E., Kazlauskaite, R. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

            (APRN)-guided diabetes prevention: a sustainable care model of an evidenced-based

            Lifestyle intervention In: University of Chicago 2018 Annual

Nursing Research and Evidence Based Symposium. October 9, 2018. Chicago, Illinois.

 Raghu, N., Zimmerman, L., Avery, E., Kazlauskaite, R. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

            (APRN)-guided diabetes prevention: a sustainable care model of an evidenced-based

            lifestyle intervention In: Golden Lamp Society Annual

            Luncheon, Rush University Medical Center, May, 2019. Chicago, Illinois.

Professional Presentations

Raghu, N January 19, 2021 Update on Lipid Management -Erie Family Health Center

Adult/Family Medicine

Yingling, C., Raghu, N Advancing Diversity in the Community Health APRN Workforce:

Deliberate Strategies for a Challenging Issue Illinois Society of Advanced Practice Nurses Midwest. Virtual Conference. October 21, 2021.

Raghu, N August 12, 2020 Pediatric Urgent Care Boot Camp- Erie Family Health Center

            AdvancingPractice Fellowship didactic session

Raghu, N September 10, 2020 Community Health Outside the Exam Room- Fall Seminar Series for

            The Real Deal Blood Tests in Primary Care: The what, when

            and why. University of Illinois at Chicago FNP and PMHNP doctoral students- ANEW grant

            Program.

Raghu, N November 18, 2020 Cancer Screening: The Impact on the communities we serve and practical

 Applications of current guidelines

Raghu, N September 19, 2020 Feeding the Body, Mind and Soul: A Diabetes Prevention Program Pilot

            During the COVID-19 Pandemic Northwestern University DPP research group.

Raghu, N. April 20, 2020 COVID-19: Impact on African Americans in West Side Alive

Churches. - West Side alive church pastors and coordinators

Raghu, N February 4, 2020 Lifestyle Interventions for Heart Failure: Behavioral Interventions

 for improved patient outcomes. Medical Home Network- Population Health Care

Management Team

Raghu, N. January 15, 2020 Lifestyle Interventions for Chronic Disease: Nurse Innovations in

Preventive Care Sigma Theta Tau- Rho Chapter Rush University

Raghu, N. Browning, M., Bauhs, M., Strong, A. October 30, 2019 Ambulatory Nursing

 Professional Practice Made Easy: Understanding Nursing Structure

Honors/Awards:

Sigma Theta Tau, Gamma Phi Chapter –Jezek Anderson Scholarship for Doctoral Studies Award June 2020

American Public Health Association- Public Health Nursing Section Scholarship Recipient

Sigma Theta Tau International, Gamma Phi Chapter – Rush University

Advanced Education Nurse Traineeship Scholarship – Rush University

Deans List: Winter 2005, Fall 2004, Winter 2004, Fall 2003 – University of Michigan

Awarded A.J. Brown Excellence in Community Health Nursing – University of Michigan

Sigma Theta Tau International, Rho Chapter Member – University of Michigan

School of Nursing Leadership Scholarship- University of Michigan

Professional Organizations/Committees:

Accreditation Site Visitor- National Nurse Practitioner Residency Training Consortium

Member of Erie Family Health Center Quality Improvement Committee

Chicago Department of Public Health -Food Access and Maternal Child Health Work Group Healthy Chicago 2025

American Association of Nurse Practitioners

American Public Health Association-Public Health Nursing Section- member

American Public Health Association-Recognition Committee Member

Preventive Cardiology Nurses Association Member

Chair Rush University Department Advisory Committee-Ambulatory Nursing 2018-2020

DNP Representative -Rush School of Nursing Community Partnership Committee 2019

Member Policy and Advocacy Committee Rush University Medical Center- June 2019-April 2020

Member Advanced Practice Provider Executive Recognition Committee Rush University Medical Center- June 2019-April 2020

Languages:

Intermediate –High proficiency in Medical Spanish