Kelly grew up in Vadnais Heights, MN, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls. She is dedicated to inspiring lifelong learning and supporting students towards their academic goals. Outside of work, she loves reading, hiking, gardening, and spending time with her family. She also has a deep curiosity for learning new things and embracing new experiences.

Theresa aims to help students practice and build on what they have learned; pay it forward to other new students; continue to build on knowledge with lifelong learning; and to be servant leaders.

Theresa says “I have a genuine desire to help others to make a difference in their lives, providing care and support. Nursing offers a wide range of specialties and career paths. Nursing also provides a lifelong learning opportunity. And the emotional rewards of helping others heal, recover, and thrive.”

Her favorite verse, Psalm 23:1, reflects on God as our caretaker and trusting his provision and protection.

In her spare time, Theresa loves to garden, spend time with family, attend church, and deepen her faith. She is married to her elementary sweetheart of 47 years and they have four kids, 13 grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

Personal Teaching Philosophy

1. Wholistic care emphasizing the importance of treating patients as the whole person, physical emotional, social and spiritual needs 

2. Critical Thinking and Evidence-Based Practice 

3. Compassion and Empathy instilling values of compassion and empathy in students, stressing the importance of understanding the patients’ perspectives and experience. 

4. Lifelong learning 

Professional Affiliations

• Minnesota Nurse Practitioner 
• American Nurses Association 
• International Organization Multiple Sclerosis Nurse Practitioner 
• Member Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Center 

Samantha is passionate about her students experiencing her deep desire to apply a holistic and compassionate approach to teaching, mentoring, and advising, with a focus on understanding the individual needs of each student while glorifying God. She is committed to upholding biblical truths in every interaction, believing that this philosophy is essential to providing the highest quality education within a biblical tradition. Whether through mentoring, advising, educating, or offering emotional support, Samantha aims to create an environment where students feel valued and guided. As she remains committed to obedience in her own personal walk with Jesus, she believes that her example and accountability to her faith will be key to her approach in the classroom, advising, and mentoring students.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, staying active outside, drinking coffee and traveling. Samantha and her husband have 7 kids and they attend Grace Church where she serves on the board for Urban Ventures.

Publications

•  Piao, X., Imdieke, B. H., Sommerness, S. A., & Pandita, D. (2024). An Evidence-based Preoperative Evaluation Documentation Template Improves Perioperative Communication. Applied Clinical Informatics, 15(01), 121-128. 
• Elgersma, K., Chevalier McKechnie, A., Sommerness, S., Tanner, L., & Munn, N. (2022). Wayfinding through the “ocean of the great unknown”: How lactating parents establish a direct breastfeeding relationship with an infant with critical congenital heart disease. Cardiology in the Young. page 1 of 12. doi: 10.1017/ S1047951122003808 
• Horning M.L., Friend S., Freese R.L., Barr-Anderson D.J., Linde J.A., Sidebottom, A., Sommerness S.A., Fulkerson J.A. (2022). Parent Weight, Diet, Active Living Outcomes, and Food-Related Outcomes of the Family-Focused NU-HOME Randomized Controlled Trial, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2022.10.009 
• Swanson, N. M., Elgersma, K. M., McKechnie, A. C., McPherson, P. L., Bergeron, M. J., Sommerness, S. A., Friedrich, C. L., & Spatz, D. L. (2022). Encourage, Assess, Transition (EAT): A Quality Improvement Project Implementing a Direct Breastfeeding Protocol for Preterm Hospitalized Infants. Advances in neonatal care : official journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses, 10.1097/ANC.0000000000001037. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/ANC.0000000000001037 
• Elgersma,K.,Chevalier McKechnie, A.,Schorr, E.,Shaha, K., Ramela,S., Trebilcocka, A., Ambrosea,M, Munn, N., Sommerness, S., & Spatz, D. (2022)  The impact of human milk on outcomes for infants with congenital heart disease: A Systematic Review. Breastfeeding Medicine; 17(5);393-411.http://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2021.0334  
• Elgersma, K., Sommerness, S. (2021). What does it mean to be breastfed? A concept analysis in    the context of healthcare research, clinical practice, and parent perspective. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs 2021 Oct-Dec 01;35(4):305-312. doi: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000572  
•  Kahwati, L., Sorenson, A., Texteira-Poit, S., Ivester, T., Sommerness, S., Miller.K…et al. (2019) Impact of the agency for healthcare research and quality’s safety program for perinatal care. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. TJC: Apr;45(4):231-240. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjq.2018.11.002. Epub 2019 Jan 11. 
• Gray, K., Sorensen, A., Sommerness, S., Miller, K., Clare, H., Mistry, K., & Kahwati.   (2018)   Implementation experiences with improving safe medication practices for oxytocin and magnesium sulfate during labor and delivery, Research on Women’s Health. 2018;1(1):2. DOI: 10.24983/scitemed.rwh.2018.00075 
• Sommerness, S, Bangdiwala, A, Hirt, C, Gams, Rauk, P, Avery, M, Delkoski, S., Miller, K.,  & Landers, D. (2017). Birth outcomes after implementation of an evidence-based guideline for managing delayed-pushing in the second stage of labor in women with epidural analgesia. Research on Womens Health (RWH) 2018;1(1):1 DOI: 10.24983/scitemed.rwh.2018.00056. 
• Gams, B, Popp, K, Cramer, J, George, T, Rauk, P, Sommerness, S, Sublette, J. (2017). Delayed cord clamping: How to engage your team for successful implementation of a new practice. Nursing for Women’s Health (NWH). 21(6);1-10. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nwh.2017.10.003 Impact factor 0.51  
• Sommerness S, Gams R, Rauk, P, Hirt, C, Landers, D, Bangdiwala, A, Avery, M, Millar, A, Cho, S., Sheilds, A, (2017). The perinatal birth environment: Communication strategies and process for adherence to a standardized guideline in women undergoing second stage labor with epidural anesthesia. Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nurses. (JPNN); 31(1), 41–50 doi: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000224 Impact factor 0.91 
• McArdle, J, Sorenson, A, Fowler, C, Sommerness, S, Burson, K, Kahwati. (2017). Enhancing Shoulder Dystocia Management through AHRQ Safety Program for Perinatal Care.  Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN). DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2017.11.014 Impact Factor 1.261 
• Webb, J, Sorenson, A, Sommerness, S, Lasater, B, Mistry, K, Kahwati, L. (2017) Advancing Perinatal Patient Safety through Application of Safety Science Principles using Health IT. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making. (2017) 17:176 DOI 10.1186/s12911-017-0572-8 Impact Factor 2.86 
• Kozhimannil KB, Sommerness S, Rauk P, Gams R, Davis S, Miller K, Hirt C, Landers D. (2013). A perinatal care quality and safety initiative: hospital costs and potential savings. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, TJC; 39(8), 339-348 PMCID: PMC3761411 NIHMSID: NIHMS449691Impact factor 1.13 

Regional (Completed)

•  Sommerness, SA., & Gams, B., Marmet, J. Eat Sleep Console to Manage Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Minnesota Perinatal Quality Collaborative/Minnesota Hospital Association. Featured monthly presentation, December 4^th, 2024 
• Gams, B., Sommerness, SA Eat Sleep Console to Manage Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Premier, Inc. Featured monthly presentation, June 15^th, 2023 
• Gams, B., Sommerness, SA., Brown, T., Osborn, C., Vogel, C, Smith, B, Wilson, G, Marmet, J. Eat Sleep Console to Manage Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. AWHONN 2023 Annual National Conference; June 19^th, 2023; New Orleans, LA. [Accepted poster] 
• Sommerness, SA., Brown, T., Gams, B., Osborn, C., Vogel, C, Smith, B, Wilson, G, Marmet, J, Abney, A., Morris, E,. Eat Sleep Console to Manage Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. AWHONN Minnesota. November 4^th, 2022. 
• Sommerness, SA., Gams, B., Osborn, C., Vogel, C, Smith, B, Wilson, G, Marmet, J, Abney, A., Morris, E.,. Pilot Project Implementing Eat Sleep Console to Manage Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in Women on a Maintenance Assisted Treatment Protocol: An Update. Midwest Nursing Research Society, 2022 Annual Research Conference; 2022 March 30; Schaumburg, IL, United States. [Accepted poster] 
• Elgersma KM, McKechnie AC, Sommerness SA, Tanner LR, Swanson NM. Wayfinding through the “ocean of the great unknown”: How lactating parents establish a direct breastfeeding relationship with their infants hospitalized with complex congenital heart disease. Midwest Nursing Research Society. 2022 Annual Research Conference; 2022 March 30; Schaumburg, IL, United States. [Accepted poster] 
• Sommerness, S. Gams, B, and Morris, E., Perinatal Substance Use Road Map Update and Results from a Pilot Study of a Protocol for Eat Sleep Console (ESC) at a Regional Hospital, Minnesota Hospital Association, September 14^th 2021, 10-11 am 
• Ancil Abney, Sommerness, S. Gams, B. Pilot Study of a Protocol for Eat Sleep Console (ESC) at a Regional Hospital, AWHONN MN April 16^th 2021, 1-2pm 
• Arcan C., Friend, S., Sommerness S, Fulkerson. “Associations between obesogenic home food environments and frequency of snack intake among 7-10 year old children living in rural communities.”ISBNPA, April 2020 
• Sommerness, S. Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Birth. March of Dimes Chicago, Illinois.  March 3-4^th, 2019 
• Sommerness, S Management of 2^nd Stage of Labor and Impact on Cesarean Section Rates. AWHONN Illinois, April 4th, 2019 
• Sommerness, S. A Primer on Third Stage Management: Clinical Considerations for the Obstetric Team. Minnesota Perinatal Organization. September 27^th, 2018 
• Sommerness, S, Hoffman, S, & Goering, M. Perinatal Mythbusters!: Test Your Bedside Cred. MN AWHONN April 11^th, 2018 
• Fulkerson, J, Lindberg, R., Sidebottom, A, Hornig, M, Linde, J, Barr-Anderson, D, Friend, S, & Sommerness, S. The Nu-Home Study: A collaboration Between University of Minnesota Childhood Obesity Researchers and Leaders in Organizations Working in a Rural Community. Research Day University of Minnesota, April 6^th, 2018. 
• Sommerness, S. Second Stage Labor: Managing Patients with Regional Anesthesia. March of Dimes 43rd Annual Perinatal Nursing Conference Planning for Healthy Beginnings Tuesday March 13^th, 2:30-3:30 pm. Chicago, Illinois 

Awards

• 2022; 2020, 2019; 2018; 2017: Outstanding Teaching and Dedication Award from the Center for Education Innovation at the University of Minnesota  
• 2020 Daisy Award; Recognition of Nursing Excellence for Exceptional Mentoring, 2020 
• 2013 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Award 2013, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse category 
• 2013 Fairview Health Service “GEM Award” (Going the Extra Mile) for exceptional clinical care  
• 2011 Sandra Edwardson Excellence in Doctorate of Nursing PraciceProjects, given to one student per class 
• 2010 People’s Choice Award for Best Poster Presentation for the Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety (MAPS) titled ‘Journey to Zero Birth Injury: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 
• 2010 Fairview Health Service “GEM Award” (Going the Extra Mile) for exceptional clinical  

Professional Affiliations

• American Nurses Association   (2015-present)                                                                         
• American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) (1999-present)                                            
• American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) (2007-present)              
• Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) (1999-present)     
• Sigma Theta Tau, Xi Chapter (1999-present)