The Faculty Group Practice is pleased to welcome Laura Ellender, MSN, RN, CEN, FNP-C, to the role of Director, Advanced Practice Providers!
Although this is a new role for her, Ellender is certainly not a new face at UTMB, nor is she unknown to many of the APPs whom she will support as director. She has worked at UTMB for nearly 15 years in different capacities, an enduring career she attributes to the support and development she has received along the way.
“I have been able to learn from some of the best, who have always encouraged my professional growth,” she says. “I love my job because I feel everyone shares the same vision and is dedicated to our missions at UTMB. I feel cared for, as a person, and professional,” she says.
Currently serving as a nurse practitioner at the UTMB Health Pediatric & Adult Primary Care Clinic at South Shore, she feels strongly about preventive healthcare and appreciates the opportunities this role has given her. She is able to build and maintain relationships with patients, caring for them across the lifespan.
“It is a collaborative environment in which I can ensure to provide high-quality care for my patients. I have an opportunity to show compassion and create a positive change every time I see a patient.”
Ellender has always wanted her career to be impactful – it was one of the reasons she pursued advanced practice nursing. Now, she is making a difference in a new way.
As APP Director, she is a representative and spokesperson for APPs across the institution, partnering with departments, administrative service groups and health systems in aligning their goals with the university’s mission, vision, and goals. Her two-year term began Sept. 1, 2023.
Ellender credits the inaugural APP Director, Dr. Stephanie Kemmerling, with building a solid foundation for the role, and she hopes she can add on to what Kemmerling began.
“Some of my goals while in this role are advocating for our APPs, ensuring APP practice and compliance is maintained, and working toward APP productivity and retention,” Ellender says.
Outside of work, Ellender loves spending time with her family – her husband, three children, and their dog, as well as exercising and watching sports. Her favorite are baseball and football, especially during college football season.
The Faculty Group Practice leadership appreciates her commitment to APP excellence and her support of her colleagues across the institution and looks forward to her continued great work in this capacity.
APP Corner is a monthly feature by, about, and for UTMB's Advanced Practice Providers.