Equity Focused Program Design to Improve Experience and Outcomes for UCSF's Publicly Insured Perinatal Patients

Andrea Kuster, DNP, RN, PHN, FNP-BC, IBCLC, is an Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Faculty Practice and Clinical Partnerships in the Department of Family Health Care Nursing at UCSF. Her clinical practice is in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at UCSF Health, where she is also Director of Obstetric MediCal Services and collaboratively precepts groups of family nurse practitioner (FNP) students. Dr. Kuster earned her MSN at San Francisco State University and worked for fifteen years in public health nursing before obtaining her post-masters FNP certificate at UCSF. As a FNP, Dr. Kuster worked in direct service and management positions in community-based reproductive health and pediatric and adolescent primary care settings. Dr. Kuster has continued to focus on health/care equity and access since joining the UCSF FNP faculty in 2016. One of her greatest clinical and social justice passions has been to support lactation as a powerful means of health promotion and disease prevention. Dr. Kuster is active in the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, and belongs to several other professional organizations including the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the International Lactation Consultation Association. Dr. Kuster received the UCSF School of Nursing Excellence in Teaching Award for Creating a Supportive Learning Environment in 2018 and the UCSF School of Nursing Overall Excellence in Teaching Award in 2022.