Cheryl Mele, DNP, completed her Neonatal and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner education at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. She earned her Doctoral of Education Practice at Touro University, Henderson, Nev. Mele is a clinical associate professor at Drexel University. She has instructed pediatric nurse practitioner students for over a decade. She designed the curriculum for the dual certification Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Acute Program at Drexel University.

Academic Distinctions

Mele has participated within various capacities of clinical research with interdisciplinary teams as a staff nurse and APN in the area of infant surfactant trials, SVO2 monitoring, nitric oxide, liquid ventilation, ECMO, brain/ whole body cooling for neonatal asphyxia and pain management protocols. She has collaborated with interdisciplinary teams developing algorithms based on the analysis of research to incorporate evidence base models of care. Mele has participated and chaired various committees to incorporate evidence-based practices such as sedation and pain management in the pediatric and neonatal ICU, palliative care initiatives, education and implementation of paravertebral catheters for postcardiac surgery.

Mele has presented locally, nationally and internationally on various topics related to palliative care and pain management and delivering bad news to patients and families. Mele recognizes the importance of global education and exchange of diverse healthcare platforms. She recently engaged with the Cork University, Ireland on timely topics of palliative care and addiction and the role of the advance practice registered nurse provider.

Professional Society

Selected Publications

Mele, C. (2020). Genomics and Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 50, 128-130. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2019.10.009.

Mele, C. (2018). Near Infrared Spectroscopy. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 10.1016/j.pedn.2017.12.009

Mele, C., & Goldschmidt, K. (2016). Personalized Perioperative Pediatric Pain Management: Myth or Reality?. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 32, 85-87. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2016.10.002

Mele, C., Strawley, C., & Goldschmidt, K. (2015). New Techniques in Pediatric Pain Management: Continuous Peripheral Nerve Block. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2015.07.004

Mele, C., & Goldschmidt, K. (2014). Pharmacogenomics in Pediatrics: Personalized Medicine Showing Eminent Promise. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 29(4):378-82. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2014.04.005

Board membership:

Interdisciplinary Advisory Board for Pediatric Palliative Care

SC NAPNAP Board Education Committee

Research Interests

Genetics, Pediatric Palliative Care and Pain Management. Communication with Pediatric Patients and Families with Relational Crisis. Additionally, Mele’s research interests include holistic, alternate therapies for patient and families experiencing pain, stress and anxiety disorders.

Specialization

Mele is board certified in three areas of clinical expertise: Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Acute Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

DNP |July 2015- march 1, 2016 | Touro UNIVERSITY, Henderson, NV

• Major: DNP in Nursing Leadership
• DNP Project: How to Instruct APNs to Deliver Bad News to Patients and Families

Phd course work | AUGUST 2011 – April ,2013, NO degree | Clemson University, Clemson SC

• Major: Healthcare Genetics

PostMasters Certificate | JANUARY 1997 - 1998 | University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa

• Major: Acute Chronic Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

PostMasters Certificate | JANUARY 1993- 1994 | University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

• Major: Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

MSN | SEPT. 1989 - June 1991 | University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

• Major: CNS Pediatric Critical Care

BSN | Sept. 1979 - June 1983 | Neuman College, Aston, PA