Kimberlee A. Allred, NNP

Inspired by her father and other family members in medical careers, Kimberlee Allred, RN, NNP-BC, always had plans to become a nurse. But while working in a Houston hospital, she met the leader of a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) training program who encouraged her to consider going into the field. Now, she takes pride in hearing her nieces tell people that "Auntie Kim fixes babies, because 'neonatal nurse practitioner' is too hard for them to say." It's a choice she has never regretted. "I strive to make my family proud," says Allred. "Early in my career, I was just fine taking care of the well babies and their mothers. I slowly started working with the sick babies and have never looked back."

As coordinator of the Neuro-Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Program, she strives to provide high-quality, multidisciplinary, family-centered care for premature and critically ill newborns. She also is a Neonatal Resuscitation Program instructor, a neonatal education instructor for the STABLE (Sugar, Temperature, Airway, Blood Pressure, Lab Work, Emotional Support) program, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), District VIII Perinatal/Neonatal Medicine and an Arizona representative for AAP.

"I continue to choose working at Phoenix Children's because I feel this is where I have grown as a person and as a provider," she says. "Our team effort to build a Neuro NICU here at Phoenix Children's has been the highlight of my career, and I take great pride in continuing to see it grow."

Outside of work, Allred enjoys spending time with family and traveling.