Spring 2026

2026 National Day of Service

The Greater Texas Chapter of NAPNAP celebrated our National Day of Service by gathering to put together bags of valentines goodies. 120 bags were assembled and donated to the Child Life Department at Children's Medical Center in Dallas.

NEWS AND RESOURCES

NAPNAP Board

2025-2026

President:

April Meras

Past President:

Joyce Henry

President Elect:

Lindsey Clark

Treasurer:

Melissa Rowles

Secretary:

Alison Harker

Continuing Education Chair:

Quanica Darden

Legislative Chair:

Cathy Lux

Membership Chair:

Van Nguyen

Newsletter/Technology Chair:

Lindsey Clark

Public Relations Chair:

Terry Willey

Nominations Chair:

Julianne Doucette

Texas Tech Student Rep:

Jen Buys

Baylor Student Rep:

Sammie Smith

Pharmville 2025 Co-Chairs:

Quanica Darden & Terry Willey

Upcoming:

March 18-21, 2026

NAPNAP National Conference

March 31, 2026

Greater Texas NAPNAP Chapter Meeting (location TBD)

April 28, 2026

Greater Texas NAPNAP Board Meeting

May (2nd or 9th), 2026

Greater Texas Spring Family Event

We are in the process of filling the board positions for next year. The following positions are available:

President Elect

Newsletter Chair

If those or any other positions interest you, please inquire using the link below.

Join the Board

Wanted: Student Reps

Questions for Sammie:

1. What do you plan to get out of joining NAPNAP as a PNP student?

a. As a student, being a NAPNAP member grants me access to PNP mentors, potential scholarships and preceptors, and allows me to stay current on information that affects my current learning and future practice.

2. What ways can NAPNAP members support PNP students?

a. NAPNAP members can support students by serving as clinical preceptors, delivering guidance on board exam studying, and providing job interview preparation information via meetings or digital forums.

Meet Sammie Smith our Baylor Student Representative

A little about Sammie:

I am first-generation college student and bachelor’s prepared Registered Nurse. I obtained my BSN in 2019 from the University of Oklahoma and began my nursing career in Adult Surgical Trauma in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am currently working to attain a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care.

I most recently worked as a school nurse in Dallas, Texas. I hold credentials as a Registered Nurse and Nationally Certified School Nurse. I have been actively working as a Registered Nurse for six years, with five years serving the pediatric population. I am a committed patient advocate with a heart for children and education.

If you are interested in becoming a student rep or know of someone who is, click the link below to give us a little information to get signed up.

NAPNAP Student Rep

47th National Conference on Pediatric Health Care

Wednesday, March 18 – Saturday, March 21, 2026

(Pre-Conference Day: March 17, 2026)

DAVID L. LAWRENCE CONVENTION CENTER PITTSBURGH

1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd

Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222

Spring Family Event

Plans are being made to host a day for members and their families to get together and enjoy food, friends, and fun. This year we will be holding our event at Pop Stroke in the Colony. Tentative dates are May 2 or 9th. Watch your email for details.

Be On The Lookout

Beyond Pharmville Symposium Coming Summer of 2026

We welcome presentations that deliver innovative and evidence-based learning. Topics may include: Holistic therapies, pharmacology, acute and primary care updates, specialty practice pearls, practice innovation, quality & safety, wellness, and research.

Presentation formats:

Sessions (60 minutes)

Skills sessions

Posters

How to submit:

Click below to review the guidelines and submit

Submit or Refer a Colleague HERE

Interested in being a Vendor?

For more information submit HERE

We just wanted to give a little shout out to several of our board members.

Our Chapter Treasurer, Melissa Rowles, has been nominated for the 28th Annual DFW Hospital Council Employee of the Year in the category of Preceptor of the Year. The winner will be announced on April 21st. We are all pulling for you Melissa!!!

Our Chapter President, April Meras, just got promoted to APP III within the Parkland Hospital System. APP III status is earned by advanced practice providers who practiced a higher level or professionalism that goes beyond patient care. Way to go April!

Our Newsletter/Technology Chair and President Elect, Lindsey Clark, just passed her exam to obtain her Pediatric Mental Health Specialist (PMHS) certification through the PNCB to better serve the mental health needs of pediatric patients in her rural healthcare setting.

We are so proud of each of you and want you to know that you make a difference not only in the lives of your patients, but in advocating for our profession through your continued dedication. Please let us know if you have an accomplishment to share because you deserve to be celebrated!

For questions, comments, research, or other story ideas that you think would be great for our quarterly newsletter, please reach out to Lindsey Clark at lindsey.clark2207@gmail.com