Q&A with Rosie Mayo, DNP, CPNP-PC, pediatric nurse practitioner in the Division of Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation Medicine
Hometown: Potomac, Maryland
Educational/professional background: I earned my BSN at Georgetown University; a Master’s in Public Health Nursing/Global Health at the University of California, San Francisco; and a DNP at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
What inspired you to pursue a career in nursing? I’ve always enjoyed helping and caring for others and wanted to find a career that would support communities.
How would you describe your work to a 5-year-old? I used to help sick kids feel better in the hospital. Now I help families take care of their kids who have disabilities.
What attracted you to UW–Madison or UW Health? The School of Nursing at UW–Madison has a great reputation, and after I graduated I learned about all the amazing things the Waisman Center provides for our community. The Waisman Center not only does research but also provides clinical care and Autism treatment. It has an amazing Family Navigation team that helps families find community support.
What is your favorite thing to do in Madison? I like the bike paths in Madison and love the outdoor neighborhood gatherings during the summer.
What’s one thing you hope trainees and students will learn from you and your work? As a nurse I’ve had many amazing opportunities to care for kids in different ways. I’ve worked in many hospitals across the country and in a lot of different kinds of clinics. Nursing is a great career because there is always an opportunity to learn a new field, and you can continue grow your career in a lot of different ways.
In terms of my work, I’m still learning about Developmental Pediatrics, but I find that this is a field a lot of people may not know about — but it is highly needed. There are so many kids with developmental disabilities that deserve quality and comprehensive care. Primary care providers are fantastic, but they are already so busy and do not have the time or expertise that may be needed to care for these kids. I hope to see more health care providers going into this specialty.
Do you feel your work relates in any way to the Wisconsin Idea? If so, please describe how. I knew that I was fortunate enough to have an education and wanted to ensure that my education did not only benefit me but was something I could use to benefit others beyond the classroom. I think any degree in health care relates to the Wisconsin Idea.
What are some of your hobbies and other interests? I love hiking and camping.