Heather Hammer, MSN, APRN

As an advanced practice registered nurse, I am dual certified in Neonatology and Primary Care Pediatrics. As a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP), I specialize in Level III neonatal care. My dual certification as a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) allows me to work in the High-Risk Neonatal Clinic, where I follow former Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients into early childhood.

I grew up around healthcare, as my mom is a labor and delivery nurse. I always admired my mom’s choice to serve her community through her job. Then when I was in college, a close friend had twins in the NICU. This experience allowed me to see the inside struggles of a parent navigating NICU life. I knew then I wanted to care for this population while also caring for their parents. It opened my eyes to trauma-informed care and how important family-centered care truly is for the baby’s health and well-being.

My care philosophy definitely includes a strong focus on the family. As a parent myself, I am even more empathetic towards parents and helping them function in the NICU setting. I know that the NICU is the last place families expect or desire their baby to be, so I give my solemn promise to care for each of my patients as if they were my own child.

In my free time, I love to read, cross-stitch and go hiking with my husband, children and dog.