This year’s 23-24 Cohort includes (L-R): Megan Lewis - HealthFirst Family Care Center, Jennifer Branson - Lamprey Health Care, Marina Partridge - Ammonoosuc Community Health Services, Lucila Fields - Lamprey Health Care (not pictured)
Raymond, NH – August 22, 2024 - Lamprey Health Care’s Family Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program proudly celebrated the graduation of its 2023-24 cohort on Thursday, August 15, at the Puritan Backroom Conference Center in Manchester, NH.
The esteemed Fellowship Program offers a rigorous, one-year paid educational experience which recently awarded accreditation from the Consortium for Advanced Practice Providers.
Paula Smith, the Fellowship Program Director, emphasized the program's significance as the only one of its kind in New Hampshire. “We established this program in 2017 to enhance the skills and confidence of new Nurse Practitioners working in federally qualified health centers,” Smith explained. “Our goal was to support their transition from academia to clinical practice.”
Rosemary Smith, the Clinical Director of the Fellowship, spoke on the challenges faced by new practitioners during their first year of clinical practice. “As Family Nurse Practitioners in federally qualified health centers, you encounter complex patients with multiple comorbidities. The first year can be overwhelming,” she said. “Our fellowship provides robust support through experienced preceptors, UNH faculty, and peers across the state. With weekly didactic sessions, group problem-solving opportunities, and a strong emphasis on self-care and wellness, we aim to ensure our fellows not only succeed but thrive in this demanding profession.”
The Fellowship Program spans 12 months, requiring fellows to complete 1,680 hours, including direct care for at least 600 patients across diverse age groups and diagnoses.
The following 2023-24 fellows recognized included:
As the 2023-24 cohort steps forward, Rosemary Smith will retire as Clinical Director. Lamprey Health Care is excited to welcome Karen Prazar, who will assume the role of Clinical Director for the 2024-25 cohort. Karen previously served as Preceptor for Lamprey Health Care fellows.
For more information on the Nurse Practitioner Fellowship, go to https://www.lampreyhealth.org/programs-and-classes/nurse-practitioner-fellowship-program