Michele Santilhano
Assistant Professor RN, DNPPrograms and Courses Taught
MCA 1(course manager), 2 & 3 (clinical faculty for all three courses), Peds, Community and Transition to Practice & Health Assessment (clinical & lab faculty).
About Me
My nursing background is in pediatric nursing. I graduated with my ADN as a Registered Nurse from the Royal Free hospital, London, UK in 1993. I spent my first year post grad working as a RN on a Faith Based Hospital Ship with Youth With a Mission before settling in my home city, Cape Town, South Africa where I practiced my RN career from 1995 to 2002. I moved to the northern California in 2003 where I continued my RN career and returned to education to complete my BSN with Chamberlain College of Nursing. In 2019 I graduated with my BSN-DNP with a pediatric primary care focus. I have a passion for a variety of health care related topics including pediatric oncology and academic success for disadvantaged students.
Education
Completed my DNP in Pediatric Primary Care in 2019. Been faculty with SMU since 2015.
Teaching Interests
Pediatrics and Fundamental Med-Surg. Helping students turn challenges into success and thrive in their new career.
Scholarly Interests
Pediatric Primary Care Clinical Experiences. Optimizing student learning in clinical and classroom setting. Non-pharmacological anxiety management of anxiety across the age continuum.
Publications
Cook, L.; Larsen, D., Faxel, M.; Santilhano, M. (2020) Healthy Heroes Poster
Santilhano, M. (2019). “Online intervention to reduce pediatric anxiety: An evidence‐based review". Journal of Child Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. (32):197–209.
Santilhano, M.; Cherven, B. (2018). “Evidence Based Practice for Sickle Cell Disease”; APHON Counts Newsletter – Winter
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
Community Service
Immunization clinics, kids camps, healthcare for unhoused populations.
Honors & Awards
UMKC Womens Graduate Council Award 2019