NPACE Phoenix 2025 Acute Care, Primary Care & Pharmacology Conference

hris has been board certified as an adult nurse practitioner since 1999. He has also gone on to earn his Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner Certification (ONP-C). His specialty has been in the adult orthopedic spine for the last 23 years. Chris has spent over 12 years moonlighting in the emergency department near his hometown in the St. Louis area. He is on the executive board for the Association of Missouri Nurse Practitioners (AMNP). He has also published in JNP, Orthopedic Nursing, & the International Journal of Therapy and rehabilitation. Chris has also presented numerous webinar presentations for various organizations in his field of expertise over the years. Dr. Hemmer started teaching as an adjunct for Saint Louis University in 2007. In 2013, Christopher accepted a full-time position with the nursing school as an assistant professor for graduate students. He has since been promoted to full tenure Associate Professor at Saint Louis University School of nursing. Chris frequently presents orthopedic and radiologic talks on the local, state, and national levels over the years.

Karen M. Myrick, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, ONP-C, FAANP, FAAN, is the Program Manager for the Institute for Orthopedic Education, which is part of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. Karen came to Mass General from Connecticut where she was a distinguished professor of nursing, known for her expertise in orthopedics and sports medicine. She created a Post-Master's Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Certificate program for NPs and PAs, one of only two such programs in the nation and the only one for PAs. In addition to her academic role, Dr. Myrick maintains her clinical practice as a nurse practitioner in an orthopedic urgent care setting. She also serves as the Director of Nursing Education and Practice for Springer Publishing, where she contributes to the advancement of nursing knowledge and practice. Committed to advancing healthcare through research, Dr. Myrick focuses on athletes and sports medicine. Her work has garnered multiple grants, enabling her to pioneer innovative approaches in clinical health assessment, biomechanics, sports performance and injury prevention. She has authored and edited several textbooks. Dr. Myrick's contributions to the field include the development, testing and publication of a physical examination technique for diagnosing hip labral tears. As an educator and organizer of large meetings and continuing medical education events, she serves as the meeting coordinator and CME officer for the New England Shoulder and Elbow Society.