Meet Our Board Members

Meghan E Abrams, DNP, NP-C

Meghan received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. She worked as a registered nurse for several years in her hometown of Chesapeake, VA in the medical-surgical and mother-baby hospital units before she went back to school at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, where she earned her Master’s of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. As an FNP, Meghan worked in Internal Medicine in Washington D.C., inpatient/outpatient Lung Transplant/Advanced Lung disease at Stanford Hospital, and in the ambulatory care setting at the University of Colorado Hospital’s Center for Lungs and Breathing. In 2019, Meghan graduated from the University of Colorado with her Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP). In 2020, after 12 years of dedicated clinical work, Meghan left the bedside to pursue her dream of becoming a Respiratory Medical Science Liaison (MSL) with Syneos Health for GSK, where she excelled greatly and was named a “rising star” within the organization. She was then able to use this experience as a platform to join Novartis’ Medical Affairs team as a Respiratory MSL.

Meghan also has experience in medical research, and functioned as a co–investigator on two NIH-funded studies in pulmonary medicine while at CU. Furthermore, she also led a Quality Improvement Project within CU’s dedicated Multidisciplinary COPD Clinic on improving care for COPD patients, the paper for which was published in the Journal of American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and was presented at the American Thoracic Society’s Annual meeting in 2020. Meghan is also the current President of the Colorado Society of Advanced Practice Nurses, Colorado’s official state NP political organization, and is a newly appointed member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Pulmonary Advanced Practice Providers.

Meghan lives in the foothills of Denver, Colorado with her husband (Chase) and two fabulous “doodles” (Kona and Chloe). She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, reading, and listening to live music.

FNP-C

Amy Carlson is a certified family nurse practitioner who has worked at Catalina Chest Clinic for more than 5 yrs. She currently specializes in Sleep and Pulmonary medicine. She is married to Maj. (retired) Jason Carlson and has 3 children. She is originally from the Midwest (Go Vikings!). She has lived all over the US in relation to her husband’s Air Force career, but has now settled in Tucson permanently. She and her family enjoy all things Tucson, and they have become Wildcat’s fans!!

During her career as an RN, she specialized in critical care nursing. Her undergraduate degrees in nursing are from Southwestern Illinois College and Creighton University. She obtained her Master’s degree in Nursing and her Family Nurse Practitioner degree in Tucson at the University of Phoenix. She has a special interest in obstructive sleep apnea and COPD, providing extensive education and disease management to help patient’s achieve better health and improved quality of life. Amy has daily appointments for new sleep medicine patients, Pap compliance and related Cpap, BIPAP, and ASV issues, follow up visits, same and next-day appointments for urgent pulmonary symptoms, medication and oxygen refills and renewals, and COPD management appointments.

Post-MS, MSN, AGACNP-BC, ACCNS-AG

Rhea is an acute care nurse practitioner who began her medical career working in MICUs. After obtaining a post-Master’s degree from the University of Maryland, she began working in a teaching community hospital where she currently runs the pulmonary service and provides back up to the ICU. She also teaches residents procedural skills and bedside ultrasound, which is a passion of hers. In addition to being a board member for the Association of Pulmonary Advance Practice Providers (APAPP), Rhea is a member of CHEST, SCCM, and the ACCN.

MSN, NP-C, CCRN, FCCS

Kimberly is trained in pulmonary and critical care medicine working currently in the ICU setting. Her passions include treating and caring for patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Pulmonary Hypertension, and Autism. Her practice experience includes critical care medicine, pulmonary medicine, and hospitalist medicine in a variety of settings to include the intensive care unit, pulmonary clinic, long term acute care, long term vent unit, and skilled nursing facilities.

Kimberly began her career in 2002 in bedside nursing, leadership, education and administration including chief operating officer and as a hospital administrator. After 5 years in administration she transitioned back to clinical practice as a Nurse Practitioner in pulmonary and critical care medicine in 2012.

Professional growth and empowering patients to take control of their health has been a priority to Kimberly over the years. She has sat on the board of the Allied Health Committee at Florida Hospital Orlando since 2015, Served on the advisory board for the Chicago IPF foundation in 2015, was responsible for development of the first 24 hour magnesium pump in 2004 to combat renal wasting syndrome, partnered in the development of medical software for patient population health management, and also helped develop a black box warning app for both patients and providers.

Lora Jenkins-Lonidier, DNP, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, CCRN

Lora Jenkins-Lonidier has served in numerous roles throughout her career.  Since 2007, she has worked with Jackson Pulmonary Associates (JPA) located in Jackson, MS. The group consist of 13 physicians and 21 advanced practice providers.  Lora works as an Acute Care Nurse practitioner (ACNP) within several hospitals for which the practice is affiliated with providing care to the Acute/Critical care/Pulmonary patients, she also works part-time as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) with Sleep Solutions a company within the JPA umbrella caring for patient with disorders of sleep while serving as the Administrative NP for Jackson Pulmonary Associates.

Born and raised in Alabama but moved to its twin state of Mississippi while in high school.  Lora started her nursing career in 1985 as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) before returning to Meridian Community College and completing her Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN-RN) in 1988.  In 2000 a Master of Science in Adult Nursing (MSN) was completed from University of Southern Mississippi.  Wanting to continue her growth in nursing and knowledge base, she obtained a post master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2003 then completed a post master’s degree as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in 2004 from the University of Mississippi Medical Center.  The University of Tennessee Health Science Center provided a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) in 2009.  In 2014, a Health Care Nursing Administration post masters was completed at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

She maintains and seeks avenues to be involved in the career path of professional affiliations important to her.  Currently she is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (ACCN), American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Nurses Association (ANA) and its state affiliate the Mississippi Nurses Association (MNA) for which she is an active member and serves on the Advanced Practice Providers Committee, Health Policy Committee, and Provider Unit Committee.  She also serves as a member of the Thrive Patient and Family committee, member of the Nursing, Surgery and Emergency sections with the Society of Critical Care Medicine.  She now seeks to become more involved in the Association of Pulmonary Advanced Practice Providers where she begins March 1, 2022 as part of the Executive Committee as the role of Secretary.

Founder/ President, MSN, FNP-C, FCCP

Corinne is a Nurse Practitioner who began working in pulmonary disease in California in 2005, and since 2011, she has worked in a private pulmonary practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Corinne is currently one of 10 NPs nationwide to become a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians.

Involvement and the representation of advanced practice providers in the pulmonary world has been one of her priorities, so that Corinne founded and is the President of the Association of Pulmonary Advanced Practice Providers (APAPP). She also works closely with the American College of Chest Physicians’ CHEST programs and serves on the Interprofessional Team Network, Clinical Research Network, and on the Executive Programing Committee. Additionally, Corinne serves on the American Board of Internal Medicine Pulmonary Disease Board.