Biography

Sonya DiCiro is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who has been practicing since 1997. She received a Master's degree in Nursing from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a DNP from Walden University. She is practicing in the family planning clinic in the Butler County Health Department in rural Missouri. Before this position, Sonya had a successful career in internal medicine, primary care, and OB/GYN for 27 years. Her nursing career began in 1983 as a registered nurse after graduating from an associate degree nursing program, and then she earned a BSN and MSN/FNP while working as an RN and raising a family. Later, she returned to complete a DNP after her three children graduated from college. Sonya has been a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) for 28 years, which has allowed her to work with diabetes patients in hospital and outpatient settings, teaching all aspects of diabetes and insulin pump therapy. She holds RN and APRN licenses in Missouri and Minnesota and has had extensive experience as a clinical preceptor with nurse practitioner students. Sonya was previously a contributing faculty member at Walden University for five years. She was honored to receive the 2024 Daisy Award for Walden University as a DNP student. Sonya enjoys spending time with friends and family in her free time, shopping, decorating, gardening, and traveling. She is a wife, mother of 3, and grandmother of 3. She comes from a long line of nurses, including her mother, mother-in-law, several aunts, sisters, and nieces and nephews. Sonya also volunteers as a board member for Recycling Grace, a charitable organization dedicated to helping women break the cycle of addiction and become productive members of society. She volunteers with the non-profit Caring Hands charitable clinic to provide quality and dignified healthcare for the uninsured and underinsured. Sonya believes nursing is a calling and is proud to be a nursing professional.