Your Chapter Board - North Carolina Chapter

President: Samantha Eaker, DNP, CPNP-PC

Sam works as a pediatric nurse practitioner at Duke Urology, caring for children and adults with congenital and acquired urologic problems. She received her bachelor of science in nursing from Georgetown University and her doctor of nursing practice from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She enjoys the continuity of care that pediatric urology provides. When not in clinic, she enjoys spending time with her husband and young son and spoiling her Great Dane.

Immediate Past President: Kristi Hildebrand, MSN, RN, CPNP-AC, CNRN

Kristi earned her acute care PNP degree from Duke University in 2015. Since then, she has dedicated her expertise to working with pediatric neurosurgery patients at UNC Health. Her contributions were acknowledged by NAPNAP, which honored her as an emerging leader. Before assuming the role of president for the chapter, Kristi served as the CE Chair, instrumental in organizing educational initiatives and membership appreciation events.

Secretary: Alexis Elmore, CPNP-PC

Treasurer: Laura BacigalupiMSN, MBA, CPNP-PC/AC

Laura earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the MGH Institute of Health Professions, her master’s degree in pediatric primary care from Duke University, and her post-graduate certificate in pediatric acute care from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is a pediatric critical care nurse practitioner in the pediatric intensive care unit at Duke.

CE Co-Chair: Morgan B. Fowler

CE Co-Chair: Ashleigh P. Martin, MSN, RN

Ashleigh received both her BSN and her primary care PNP degree from Duke University. She currently works at Kids First Pediatrics of Raleigh/Clayton, where she sees patients from birth to age 21. When she is not working, Ashleigh enjoys teaching Pure Barre, decorating cookies, watching NC State sports, and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Membership Chair: Kaitlin Ruffin, MSN, CPNP

Kaitlin received both her BSN and her Primary Care PNP degree from Duke University in 2012 and 2017, respectively. She currently works in urgent care at Duke, seeing young people aged 0-25 years old. Her past experience includes primary care as a PNP and pediatric ICU as a bedside RN.

Social Media Chair: Paige Giguere

Communications Chair: Christine Lipske, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC, IBCLC

Christine earned her Master of Science in nursing in pediatric primary care from Duke University in 2020 and her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Hope College in 2005. She is a pediatric nurse practitioner at Duke Primary Care, where she sees patients from newborns through adolescence. Passionate about breastfeeding support, she became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 2023. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four children.

Scholarship & Grant Chair: April Braswell PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE, FAAN

April is an associate professor of nursing and pediatrics and a certified nurse educator at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Her scholarship and service focus on the investigation and implementation of pediatric holistic comfort care. She has contributed to local, national and international presentations, along with more than 20 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. She serves as an international comfort theory consultant, reviews for four nursing journals, is a member of three expert panels in the American Academy of Nursing, and sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Professional Nursing.

Community Engagement Chair: Brandi Easley