Clinical Practice

Our Clinical Practice teams include expert Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs), Advanced Practice Specialists (APSs) and Wound Ostomy Clinical Nurses who support nursing practice through leadership, translation of evidence into practice, clinical consultation, education, and nurse mentorship.

Clinical Nurse Specialists

CNSs are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses with expertise in the nursing care of a specialty population or clinical condition and serve as a leader, consultant, educator, and mentor for the nursing staff and teams at UCSF Health. The specialized knowledge and advanced skills required for CNS practice includes clinical expertise in the management of the specialty population/clinical condition and related nursing care; design and implementation of evidence-based practice; education and mentorship; consultation; performance improvement; and team leadership. The role has three spheres of impact that include the patient/family, nursing/interprofessional teams, and the organization/health system. CNSs work collaboratively with the clinical and administrative teams to support and ensure high quality standards of nursing care and professional practice to optimize patient, team, and system outcomes.  

Advanced Practice Specialists

APSs are master’s- or doctorally-prepared nurses with advanced clinical expertise and specialty certification who provide clinical leadership, education, consultation, and mentorship for quality improvement and evidenced-based practice implementation.

Wound Ostomy Clinical Nurses

These specialty nurses have clinical expertise in wound, ostomy, and continence care and advanced wound and ostomy care certification.  They provide direct care consultation for complex wounds and ensure evidence-based nursing care is incorporated into patient care plans and nursing procedures. They provide education to patients, nurses, and interprofessional teams and lead HAPI prevention best-practices across the hospital sites.

Melissa Lee, MS, RN, CNS, PCCN, GCNS-BC, NEA-BC
Interim Director of Clinical Practice 

 

Jonathon Holte, MSN, RN, CNS, CWON, PHN
Wound Care Team Manager

Clinical Nurse Specialists (Adult Services)

Lindsay Bolt, MS, RN, CNS, AGCNS-BC, PCCN-K, CMSRN
Medical CNS

Michelle Macal, MSN, RN, CNS, PCCN
Surgical CNS

Annie Leemhuis, MS, RN, CCRN, ACCNS-AG
Medical-Surgical Critical Care CNS

Amy Larsen, MS, RN, CNS, ACCNS-AG, CCRN, SCRN
Neuroscience Critical Care CNS

Cass Sandoval, MS, RN, CNS, CCRN, CCNS
Cardiovascular Critical Care CNS

Marilyn Bazinski, DNP, RN, AGCNS-BC, AP-PMN
Pain Management CNS

Philip Garcia, MS, RN, AGCNS-BC, GERO-BC, PCCN
Geriatric-Medical CNS

 

Elise Hazlewood, MS, RN, CNS, CCNS
CardioPulmonary CNS

Meghan Talbert, MSN, RN, CNS, AGCNS-BC, CDCES,BC-ADM
Diabetes-Medical CNS

Vivian Huang, MS, RN, CNS, AGCNS-BC, BMTCN, OCN
Hematology, Blood & Marrow Transplant, and Cellular Therapy CNS

Emely Alfaro, MS, RN, CNS, OCN
Outpatient Oncology/Infusion Services CNS

Jason Leung, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC, OCN, MEDSURG-BC
Outpatient Oncology/Infusion Services CNS

Kara Merski, MS, RN, CNS, AGCNS-BC, OCN, NPD-BC
Outpatient Oncology Practices Adult Solid Tumor CNS

Advanced Practice Specialists (Adult Services)

Tawnya Napoli, MS, RN, AGNP-BC, CCRN, CHPN
Palliative Care Advanced Practice Specialist

Esther Rov-Ikpah, MS, RN, BC-ADM
Diabetes Care & Education Specialist

Jenna Dran, MSN, MPH, NP
Perinatal Care Advanced Practice Specialist

 

Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialists and Advanced Practice Specialists (Benioff Children’s Hospital -SF)

Jeannie Chan, MS, RN, NNP-BC, CNS
Intensive Care Nursery CNS

Mary Nottingham, MSN, RN
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Advanced Practice Specialist

Lori Fineman, MS, RN
Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Advanced Practice Specialist

Lana King, MSN, RN, CNS
Hematology/Oncology/Blood & Marrow Transplant CNS

Brianna Rojo, MSN, RN, CNS
Neonatal Cardiac CNS


 

Wound Ostomy Clinical Nurses

Jane Balmediano, MSN, RN, CWCN​
Adult Wound Ostomy Clinical Nurse

Joanna Cuanico, MS, RN-BC, AGCNS-BC
Adult Wound Ostomy Clinical Nurse

Grace Lioue, MS, RN, CWON
Adult Wound Ostomy Clinical Nurse

Karen Vuong, MSN, RN, CWOCN, AGPCNP-BC​
Adult Wound Ostomy Clinical Nurse

Maggie Griffith, BSN, RN, CCRN
Pediatric Wound Ostomy Clinical Nurse