Biography

Dr. Melissa Courtney has been serving the women of Kentucky as a RN/WHNP/CNM for over 30 years. She is excited to join FNU and share her vast clinical knowledge through her new role as WHNP Clinical Bound Team Leader. She has served as a preceptor to many FNU students over the years as well as many other university students. She always enjoys precepting FNU students the most and always appreciates how prepared they are for their clinical experience. Her goal is to serve the FNU students in continuing to provide this strong foundation in preparation for their clinical journey. Dr. Courtney earned her DNP from University of Kentucky (UK). Her DNP Project was titled Increasing Awareness of Implicit Bias and Systemic Racism Among Clinical Staff Caring for non-Hispanic Black Maternal Patients. She created an educational program for clinical staff to create awareness of implicit bias to improve maternal outcomes for Black non-Hispanic patients at UK. She has continued this work and hopes to expand her work to impact Black non-Hispanic maternal patients throughout the state.