Deborah Fisher PhD, RN, PPCNP-BC, CHPPN

Dr. Fisher is a pediatric nurse practitioner with over 35 years of experience in pediatrics and over 25 years of experience as a nurse practitioner. During her career, Dr. Fisher taught undergraduate pediatric nursing, published on pediatric pain and palliative care topics, developed an online pediatric pain module, and continued her clinical practice. In 2003, she was selected as one of the first 100 ELNEC-PPC Trainers. In 2005 she collaborated with a local pediatrician and pediatric hospice medical director in developing the first pediatric palliative care service at Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University.  Under her leadership, the program grew from a small nurse practitioner (NP) run service to a robust interdisciplinary model with paid positions for 2 MDs and 1 NP with a pediatric palliative care fellowship. She is now a part of the PANDA Palliative Care service at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC.  In 2018, she was selected as a Cambia Sojourns Scholar. She relished the opportunity to focus on developing the PANDA Prep Curriculum and her leadership skills within the palliative care community. She is a member of the Maryland Alliance of Hospices and served as the education committee co-chair. In addition, she is a member of the NHPCO and serves on the Pediatric Advisory Council.

Dr. Deborah Fisher discloses that funding for this project was received in part from the Cambia Health Foundation as part of the Sojourns Scholars Leadership Program and from a Suzanne Feetham Nursing Research Support Grant.