Akron Children’s is proud to announce that Julie Branch, clinical coordinator for Pulmonary Medicine, and Stephanie Estephan, quality initiative specialist, have been recognized as Top Nurses by Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. This prestigious award celebrates the exceptional contributions of nurses in promoting community well-being. “Receiving the Top Nurses Award means the world to me,” […]
Advanced practice providers thrive in their roles on the night shift
Physician assistant Staci Shaffer has always been a bit of a “night owl,” so it’s no surprise that she is Akron Children’s first advanced practice provider (APP) night house officer, hired in 2017 when this service was added. “I am happiest at 2 a.m.,” she said. Staci loves the variety that this role offers, as […]
Nursing is more than just a job for allergy nurse Marjorie Billock
From the moment her father told her she’d make a great nurse, an 8-year-old Marjorie Billock knew her career path was set. Now 28 years into a distinguished nursing career, Marjorie has cared for patients all over the country, following her husband’s Navy career. In 2024, she brought her wealth of experience to Akron Children’s […]
Akron Children’s fosters compassionate caregivers through its nursing career programs
At Akron Children’s, the future of nursing is being shaped by programs that foster both professional growth and personal connection. Through initiatives like the Nurse Technician and Career Launch programs, the hospital is creating a pipeline that empowers nursing students to gain hands-on experience, develop meaningful relationships with patients, and transition seamlessly into full-time nursing […]
April Petty receives the 2024 Faces of Care Award
Congratulations to April Petty, BSN, RN, CPN, a staff nurse at Akron Children’s Special Care Nursery at Wooster Community Hospital, for receiving the 2024 Faces of Care award. This prestigious recognition, presented by the Greater Cleveland Nurses Association and Cleveland Magazine, celebrates nurses in Northeast Ohio who have made significant contributions to the nursing community. […]
PICU nurse Christian Fair shares why working at Akron Children’s is more than a job
Akron Children’s bedside nurses are some of the first faces patients see when they are admitted to the hospital. As such, they wear many hats from caregiver to counselor to educator. It takes a special person to be a pediatric nurse, and Akron Children’s is lucky to have many exceptional caregivers, like pediatric intensive care […]













