Apply Now for 2024

Spring 2024 MSW Application Deadline: November 1, 2023
Fall 2024 MSW Application Priority Deadline: January 8, 2024
Summer 2024 Advanced Standing MSW Application Deadline: January 8, 2024
Fall 2024 PhD Application Deadline: December 1, 2023

APPLY
USC University of Southern California

Michelle Zappas

Associate Teaching Professor and Director, Master of Science in Nursing Program

Nursing expert, focusing on health care for vulnerable populations across the lifespan.

Media Contact
Michelle Zappas
Download Hi-Resolution
Curriculum Vitae
Email:  zappas@usc.edu
Phone:  +1 213.821.6898
Rank:  Teaching Professor

Michelle Zappas

Associate Teaching Professor and Director, Master of Science in Nursing Program

Nursing expert, focusing on health care for vulnerable populations across the lifespan.

Media Contact

Biography

Michelle Zappas, DNP, FNP-BC is an associate teaching professor and program director for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program. Professor Zappas received her BSN, MSN and DNP from Columbia University. Equipped with a solid educational foundation, she embarked on a fulfilling clinical career as a family nurse practitioner (FNP). She fell in love with community-based family medicine during her work as a family nurse practitioner and the director of nursing at a family practice in the South Bronx, New York City. There she established a deep commitment to providing evidence-based, preventative and cost-effective health care to a diverse patient population across the lifespan. Since then, she has gained invaluable experience working in various health care settings, including primary care clinics, community health centers and specialty clinics. She has experience in women’s health, urgent care, diabetes, chronic disease management and dermatology. Part of what intrigues Professor Zappas about the role of the FNP is that they tend to be generalists, dabbling and exploring many topics.
Drawing on her passion for education and a desire to shape the future of nursing, Professor Zappas transitioned into academia. Joining the esteemed faculty of USC, she brought a wealth of clinical knowledge and experience into the classroom. She has presented research findings and best practices at national and international forums, contributing to the advancement of evidence-based practice. Professor Zappas’ research interests are about as broad as her clinical interests; however, she is particularly interested in the care of people with disabilities, especially the deaf and hard of hearing community. Her passion for research and scholarship has inspired students and alumni to pursue their own scholarly endeavors. With a passion for education, clinical practice, scholarship and leadership, Professor Zappas is delighted to serve as the program director of the USC MSN-FNP Program and make significant contributions to the nursing profession and the development of future nursing leaders.

Media

Education

Columbia University

DNP 2012

Columbia University

MSN 2009

Columbia University

BSN 2007

University of California, San Diego

BS 2001

Area of Expertise

  • Prenatal care

  • Congenital CMV and TORCH infections

  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing

  • Dermatology

  • Interprofessional Education

  • Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

  • Primary care

  • Diabetes and disease management

Industry Experience

  • Social Services
  • Education/Learning
  • Health Care - Providers
  • Health and Wellness
  • Research
  • Health Care - Facilities
  • Health Care - Services
  • Professional Training and Coaching

Articles & Publications

Zappas, M., O’Neill, S.P., Rotz, C. (2023). Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: A case report. Journal for Nurse Practitioners.

Zappas, M. P., Devereaux, A., Pesch, M.H. (May 2023). The psychosocial impact of congenital cytomegalovirus on caregivers and families: Lived experiences and review of the literature. International Journal of Neonatal Screening, 9(2), 30. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijns9020030

Zappas, M., Cadena, D., Sanchez, C., Hildebrand, J., O’Neill, S. (2022). Nursing. In Gholamrezanezhad, A. & Dube, M. (Eds), Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A clinical guide. Wiley Blackwell.

O’Neill, S.P., Woodruff, K., Sanchez, C., Zappas, M.P. (February 2022). Nurses and Contracts. American Nurse, https://www.myamericannurse.com/nurse-and-contracts/.

Foreman, R.M., Zappas, M., Lavell, J. (2022). Dermatology Dilemmas: Dermatology Variations in Skin of Color. The Nurse Practitioner Journal, 47(2). doi: 10.1097/01.NPR.0000798256.17155.86.

Foreman, R.M., Zappas, M., Lavell, J. (December 2021). Children with hearing impairment and cochlear implants. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 18(3).  https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1eF6w5XgHbcuxE

Zappas, M., Foreman, R.M. (2021). Pharmacogenetics in Practice: Drug management amidst rare genomic testing. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(9). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2021.07.001

Kirkland, T.W., Zappas, M., Liu, A., Hueck, S.E., Fava-Hochuli, J., & Win, M. (2021). Virtual OSCEs during COVID-19: A paradigm shift in training the next generation of nurse practitioner students. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 11(4). http://www.sciedupress.com/journal/index.php/jnep/article/view/19525

Zappas, M., Walton-Moss, B., Sanchez, C., Hildebrand, J.A., & Kirkland, T.K. (2020).  The Decolonization of Nursing Education. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.11.006

Zappas, M.P., Becker K. & Walton-Moss, B. (2020).  Postpartum anxiety. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.08.017

Foreman, R., Zappas, M., & Whitely, C. (2020). Antidepressant withdrawal: A guide for primary care clinicians. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 16(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2019.12.013

Zappas, M., & Foreman, R. (2020). Preparing for Preexposure Prophylaxis. Journal of Doctoral Nursing Practice, 13(1).  http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/2380-9418.13.1.3

Aisner, A.., Zappas, M., & Marks, Adrienne. (2020). Primary care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning patients. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 16(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2019.12.011

Zappas, M., Whitely C., & Carter, S. (2019). Global Travel: What to know before they go. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 15(8). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2019.02.020

Granger, T, Zappas, M, Walton-Moss, B, & O’Neill, S. (2018). Syllabus selections: A patient panel  of case studies to teach across the family nurse practitioner curriculum. Journal of Nurse Practitioners, 58(8), 512.

Zappas, M., & Granger, T. (2017). Managing adolescents with type II diabetes: Promoting a healthy lifestyle. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 13(4), e171-e176.

Zappas, M., Gentes, M., & Walton-Moss, B. (2017). The use of incretin therapy in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 13(6), 418-424.

Young-Pitts, C., Hicks, R., Love, R., Harkless, G., Honig, J., Desjardins, K., Hardin-Pierce, M., Linton, D., Jones, M., Murphy, M., Rotondo, L., Robertson-Bell, T., Bursch, L., Nikbakht, S., Sutter, C., Knestrick, J., Roberts, M.E., Wijewardane, J., Anderson, S., Scordo, K., Fura, L., Witt, D., Kirkland, T., Zappas, M., Sherry, D., Johnson, M., Waldrop, J., Budd, G., Lis, G., Wolf, A., Chase, S., King, J., Ficken, D., & Newland, J. (2016). White Paper: The Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Practitioner Clinical Scholar 2016. The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research Focus

The importance of Integrative Health in primary care: Western medicine will only take you so far!
Zappas, M., & Granger, T.
2018-06-11

Podium presentation at the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners 2017 National Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

Use of a multifaceted team-based approach in preparing the next generation of advanced practice nurses.
Kirkland, T., Zappas, M., Jones-Holley, M., Whitely, C., O’Neill.
2018-04-09

Podium presentation at the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties 44th Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN.

Guided inquiry learning in online graduate courses: The cycle of learning.
Granger, T., & Zappas, M.
2018-04-10

Poster presentation at the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties 44th Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN.

Using a patient panel of case studies to teach across the FNP curriculum.
Granger, T., Zappas, M., Walton-Moss, B., & O’Neill, S.
2018-04-11

Podium presentation at the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties 43rd Annual Conference, Washington D.C.

The dermatologic detective.
Zappas, M.
2018-03-13

Podium Presentation at the California Association of Nurse Practitioners 2018 National Conference, San Diego, CA.

International Travel in 2017: What to know before they go.
Zappas, M.
2017-03-14

Podium Presentation at the California Association of Nurse Practitioners 2017 National Conference, San Francisco, CA.

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Availability

  • Keynote
  • Moderator
  • Panelist
  • Workshop
  • Host/MC
  • Corporate Training

Links