Cheri Salazar
RN, CPNP-PC/AC, CHPPN
Specialty: Pediatric Primary and Acute Care, Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care, Chronic Care
Location: MSU Pediatrics Westside, Cedar Pediatrics at the Ingham County Health Department
Education, Certification, and Experience:
I'm Cheri Salazar, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner certified in Primary Care and Acute care as well as Hospice and Palliative Care. I worked full time as an inpatient nurse practitioner for the Hematology/Oncology service while coordinating the Sparrow Pediatric/Perinatal Hospice and Palliative care program. Prior to this, I worked as an NP for the Pediatric Neurosurgery Department at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit. While at CHM, I helped develop the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program at Wayne State University and served as faculty for 3 years. I've precepted numerous NP students from various universities, who currently work in this community and around the country. I was a clinical instructor for a year at MSU CON before my return in 2023 to the University as full-time fixed-term faculty.
I received my BS in Biology and Anthropology from Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. I went on to receive my BS and then MS in Nursing from Columbia University in New York, NY. During this time, I worked as a staff nurse in the PICU at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. I am an End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) trainer and hold certification for Bereavement from Resolve Through Sharing. I also have certification in Gross Motor Assessment and Hammersmith Infant and Neonatal Neurological Assessment.
I have given many lectures on end of life, palliative care, oncological disorders and emergencies, head injury and neurological conditions. I have served on the boards of the Michigan Chapter of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Society of Pediatric Nurses and am currently serving on the Board for the Davies Project and The Children's Palliative Care Coalition of MI.
Career Highlights:
My journey in nursing has been marked by a commitment to innovation and compassionate care. At Wayne State University, I played a pivotal role in establishing one of the first Acute Care NP programs in Michigan, providing a transformative educational pathway for countless aspiring acute care nurse practitioners across the state and beyond. Additionally, my passion for palliative care led me to create and lead the Pediatric and Perinatal Palliative Care and Hospice program at Sparrow Hospital. Through this program, we provided invaluable support to families facing the challenges of caring for children with chronic and complex needs. Our efforts not only offered comfort and dignity to these families but also enabled 30 children to peacefully pass away in the familiarity of their own homes. These experiences reaffirm my belief in the power of nursing to make a profound difference in the lives of patients and their families, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have played a part in their care.
Practice Site:
MSU Pediatrics Westside, providing high quality primary care to children and families on the Westside of Lansing.
Cedar Pediatrics at the Ingham County Health Department ensuring access to affordable, high quality, and comprehensive primary care to all regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Ingham Community Health Centers maintain the highest possible standards of quality in all efforts to understand, describe, and improve the health of its patients and the community.