Sarah Heinonen, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC

As a practicing dual board certified (acute/primary care), CCS Paneled, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with over 24 years of pediatric experience, my focus is on delivering high-quality, evidence-based patient and family centered care. I am dedicated to ensuring multidisciplinary team collaboration, with effective communication to support the mission of improving the outcomes of the pediatric patients and families I serve.

My pediatric clinical experience ranges from PICU/CTICU, Cardiology to my current position (>7yrs) in Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, as an inpatient Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (III) and Co-Director of the Pulmonology Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) Program, PNP Faculty for HRSA Pediatric Pulmonary Centers (PPC) Grant, Chair for the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) Asthma & Allergy SIG as well as CHLA Medical Board Member and most recently honored with a seat on the Board of the BPD National Collaborative.

I received my Doctor of Clinical Nursing Practice (DNP), Post-Master’s Graduate Nurse Educator Certificate (NEC) and Post Master’s Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certificate (ACPNP) from Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland; with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) / Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (Primary Care) from The University of Texas at Austin; in Austin, Texas, and my Bachelor of Science (Nursing) from Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York.

My clinical practice is enhanced by my passion for clinical and translational research for which I actively engage to ensure evidence is utilized in support of current practice. I commit time toward additional professional activities related to scholarship such as academia, precepting, grant writing and publications. One of my greatest passions is engaging in volunteer work and I specifically have been involved in pediatric global healthcare missions for over 30 years and more recently have had the immense joy of working with refugees to provide healthcare which aligns with my desire to work toward global health equity.

Pediatrics has always been my career of choice; however, motherhood really highlighted the importance of the care we provide this population and understanding the perspective of the caregiver. I am blessed with a supportive family to include a wonderful spouse and four strong, incredible daughters that truly have improved me as a whole person but I believe have positively impacted me as a pediatric clinician.