Your Chapter Board

President: Karen Acevedo, MS, RN, CPNP-PC

Karen Acevedo, a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner, has served in the UCSF Fresno Pediatric Pulmonology clinic practice since 2018. Currently, she holds the role of associate director of clinical operations at RubiconMD, a multi-specialty e-consult platform. At RubiconMD, she spearheads diverse clinical quality initiatives, enhancing specialty care access across multiple clinics nationwide

President-elect: Elizabeth Ibarra, DNP, FNP-C, AC-PNP

Dr. Elizabeth Ibarra is a dual-trained nurse practitioner specializing in both FNP and AC-PNP roles. Presently, she serves as an urgent care provider and has recently opened her own wellness clinic. She is passionate about educating the community and providing resources for both patients and parents — especially in underserved communities. As the regional representative and president-elect, Dr. Ibarra aspires to lead by example, advocating for pediatric nurse practitioners across the Los Angeles area. Collaborating with fellow chapter leaders, her goal is to unite efforts and address national issues, fostering bridges of support within the community.

Secretary and website chair: Elissa Singson, MSN, APRN, CPNP-AC, PHN

Elissa Singson is a board-certified acute care pediatric nurse practitioner and currently works at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles in the division of infectious diseases. She has been a chapter board member since 2019 and enjoys collaborating with PNPs at the local and national level.

Membership Chair: Julia Srivastava, MSN, RN, CPNP-AC/PC

Julia Srivastava is a new graduate nurse practitioner at Children's Hospital Los Angeles in Cardiology. She joined NAPNAP while she was a student at UCLA as a student ambassador and is so happy to now be part of the CA: Los Angeles Chapter. NAPNAP has given her the opportunity to meet many incredible and passionate nurse practitioners.

Social Media Chair: Melanie Reynolds, MS, RN, NPD-BC, CPNP-AC/PC

Melanie Reynolds is an experienced pediatric nurse practitioner with a passion for APP empowerment and professional development. She specialized in pediatric pain management and palliative care in Seattle before moving to southern California to work at CHLA as their senior advanced practice professional development specialist.

Community Outreach Chair: Shannan Terry, PMHS, CPNP

Shannan Terry is a primary care pediatric nurse practitioner who has been practicing at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Kids Involved in the Dependency System (KIDS) Hub Clinic since it was established in 2007. The Hub clinics in Los Angeles County are a medical home for this underserved community and provide evaluations for child maltreatment. Shannan received her certification in primary care mental health (PMHS) in 2014 and is also the nurse practitioner for the Adolescent Clinic at Harbor-UCLA. In her free time, she enjoys surfing, snowboarding and rescuing retired greyhounds.

Student Liaison: Bethany Elliott, BSN, RN, CCRN, CPN, TNCC, PHN

Bethany Elliott is currently pursuing her DNP and CPNP-AC at Rush University in Chicago, slated for graduation in April 2024. With six years of bedside experience in the PICU, she now serves in radiology at CHLA. Outside of work, she enjoys embarking on adventures with her mini-Aussiedoodle, Pepper Anne.

Professional Development Chair: Jennifer Pugh, DNP, MSN, APRN, CPNP

Jennifer Pugh, DNP, MSN, APRN, CPNP, serves as the executive director and associate chief nursing officer for advanced practice and pediatric critical care at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). Known for her authentic leadership style, Jennifer prioritizes fostering interpersonal relationships, unifying clinical teams alongside physicians and health care professionals to revamp local health care practices. She obtained her master's and bachelor's degrees from California State University, where she previously worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner and adjunct faculty member. In 2016, she redirected her focus towards leadership, culminating in the completion of her doctorate in nursing practice degree, further bolstering her executive leadership role.

Additional Chapter Officers:

Past President: Wendy Miyares, MSN, CNS, CPNP

Treasurer: Veronica Torres, MSN, CPNP

Newsletter Chair: Deborah G. Harris, MN, PNP-AC/PC, CNS, CPHON

Scholarship Chair: Kaaren Waters, DNP, CPNP-PC, CPHON

Legislative Chair: Kamala Gipson-McElroy, DNP, APRN, PHN, CPNP-PC