Rising Star

Michele Talley, PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN

Describe a day in your life.

Well, that’s an interesting request. My day starts and ends with my family! My week looks different in between that time, and each day has its agenda. Throughout the week, I work at the UAB School of Nursing on various clinical and global partnership initiatives, mentor students, and mentor faculty and staff. Additionally, I work on the sustainability of the PATH Clinic and guide its operations.

I often run analyses for the clinic and disseminate scholarship. I manage two HRSA grants focused on behavioral health integration at various clinics along with the training of behavioral health integration among nurse practitioner students, social work students, and psychiatry residents.

I will also be teaching a population health course this spring to DNP students. Then every other Thursday, I practice at the UAB PATH Clinic, a nurse-led interprofessional free clinic for adults with diabetes. I enjoy every minute!

What inspired you to work in geriatrics?

I love caring for adults! When I started my nursing career, I began in cardiology, and in the last 15 years, I have landed on diabetes management. Diabetes is a complex condition that, if uncontrolled, can cause many complications later in life. I work to prevent these complications with patients as they age.

How do you see the field of geriatrics evolving in the future?

I envision personalized medicine really impacting the care of all adults in the future. I also feel that providing “care in place” will become significantly important with our aging population.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw the need for providing acute and emergent care in a setting other than the hospital, and I believe this trend will continue in the future. A great need exists to educate the current and future workforce in caring for acute and emergent care in alternative settings and exploring various interprofessional models of care to support this in the future. (Photo: Michele Talley, PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN.)

What is your favorite part of your job?

I love to create and develop nurse-led, team-based, patient-centered models of care.

What are your hobbies/favorite activities?

I enjoy spending time with my family and friends! I love sunsets, and I enjoy puzzles!

Describe where you hope to be in five years in your career. 

I hope to further my career in academic leadership and continue my work within academic practice partnerships focused on transforming a healthcare workforce equipped to care for the most complex and vulnerable of populations.

How long have you been a GAPNA member?

Since 2017

How and why did you get involved with GAPNA as a leader?

I joined GAPNA and started the inaugural Acute and Emergent Care Special Interest Group. As an adult acute care nurse practitioner, I found GAPNA’s interest in expanding acute care educational sessions at conferences and involvement refreshing! I also found the members and leadership to be engaging and kind.

Any workplace honors you’d like to mention?

• 2022- Induction as a Fellow, American Academy of Nursing, Washington, DC
• 2021- 70 Visionary Leaders' Alumni Award, UAB School of Nursing, Birmingham, AL
• 2021- Outstanding Preceptor of the Year, Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
• 2020 - Induction as Fellow, National Academies of Practice, Virtual 
• 2019 - Induction to Fellow, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Indianapolis, IN
• 2018 - Outstanding Faculty Practice Award, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, Indianapolis, IN
• 2017 - State Award for Excellence, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Philadelphia, PA

Anything else you’d like us to know?

I am sincerely humbled by this honor and look forward to many more years with GAPNA as my professional home!

Michele Talley, PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN