Heather Lynne Hurford, APRN, CPNP, PNP-PC, PNP-AC, BSN, RN, CPNP-PC

My favorite animated movie is Beauty and the Beast.

Harry Potter series or anything Baby Sitter's Club were my favorites as a kid.

My favorite animated movie is Beauty and the Beast.

Lots of people in my life and family have influenced me over the years. I'm most inspired I think by my niece. She is on the spectrum and has been through some trauma in her life. She is the most resilient person I know and she has such a strong work ethic even though she struggles with many things.

I love reading, biking, traveling and doing service work. I have been able to go all over the world on medical missions and have had some incredible experiences. I'm also into 3d printing and love creating things.

I've been a kid person since I was one. I love talking to kids and playing with them and making them smile. I also love to help people feel encouraged and teaching/encouraging parents is about 80% of the job in pediatrics.

I think I have a great ability to build quick rapport with people, I'm always positive and happy and it rubs off on people. I'm also good at figuring out what's most important to people and what I can say or do to make sure they feel heard and respected so I rarely have negative interactions with families.

Being in pedi for so many years as well as having such a close relationship with my niece, I feel that I'm good at communicating with kids on the spectrum. I'm also used to moving myself around to do exams in unique ways to accommodate patients with challenges.