Ashley Citron, MSN, APRN, CNP

I’m a nurse practitioner (NP) specializing in otolaryngology with a particular interest in pediatric airway and aerodigestive disorders that may affect respiratory and swallowing functions. I genuinely love connecting with my patients and providing care to improve their lives.

My aunt, a pediatric nurse practitioner, sparked my desire to become a nurse. She spoke proudly about her work, and I had never met someone who loved their job as deeply as she did. In college, I worked as a medical assistant at a primary care practice to further my knowledge before attending nursing school. This experience confirmed that healthcare was the path for me.

After graduating from nursing school, I worked in the emergency room (ER) in Long Island, NY. I was exposed to fantastic learning opportunities, seeing and doing things I never expected, such as assisting in performing a thoracotomy and performing cardiac massage. Eventually, I gravitated toward the pediatric side of the ER. It was there that I genuinely felt I could make a difference.

I knew that when I finished my graduate degree, I would pursue a career in pediatrics. After graduating amidst the COVID pandemic in 2020, I left the east coast and took a job on the transport team at Cincinnati Children’s. When the opportunity to join otolaryngology/ear, nose and throat (ENT) came my way, I couldn't pass it up. Being a part of patients’ lives across their lifetimes is amazingly rewarding. We get to see them as tiny babies from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) needing trachs (tracheotomies) up until they're graduating high school — trach-free. I have grown so much as a provider, and I look forward to continuing to provide world-class care to our unique patient population!

In my practice, treating the patient as a whole is essential. Kids are so much more than just their diagnoses; ensuring they are treated with kindness and compassion is essential. Collaborative care is one of the cornerstones of our program, and it allows us to see our patients from every angle to ensure we're providing the most comprehensive care possible. I feel so lucky to be a part of the Cincinnati Children's team!

In my free time, I love to travel, read and run. Last year I ran the Berlin Marathon to raise money for rare cancer research! I'm also always looking for the next local restaurant to try!