Dr. Elaine Smith is an experienced nurse educator with over 24 years in nursing practice, teaching, and staff development. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Educational Leadership from the American Sentinel College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Post University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Eastern Kentucky University. She is board-certified by the ANCC in Nursing Professional Development and is a graduate of the executive healthcare leadership and management program at the University of Kentucky's Gatton College of Business and Economics.  Dr. Smith’s clinical background encompasses pediatric hematology-oncology, pediatric nephrology, newborn nursery care, women’s health, and neonatal intensive care. She currently serves as the undergraduate nursing student placement coordinator and staff development specialist at a large academic medical center.