FIGURE
At Health House, a primary care clinic in rural South Carolina, one pediatric NP specializes in the cases we all wish would just go away: child sexual abuse. Westley Byrne, NP, DrPH, applies research-based, culturally sensitive care to children who have endured the worst life can bring. Adding to their troubles, many of these distraught families don't have the money to pay for Westley's care, and Medicaid rates for South Carolina NPs are abysmal.
After days like this, most of us would choose to immerse ourselves in our personal lives, but Westley has never reconsidered her job choice. In her "spare" time, she lobbies managed care organizations to include NPs as primary care providers, works tirelessly for the NP National Marketing Campaign, and spearheads new projects that persuade industry to honor NP prescribing laws.
Westley is an empassioned advocate, a quality pediatric NP, an intellectual, and The Nurse Practitioner journal's 2002 NP of the Year!