APAPP Welcomes New Board Members
It is with great pleasure that we introduce the newest additions to our esteemed board at the Association of Pulmonary Advanced Practice Providers (APAPP). Each of these individuals brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and enthusiasm to their respective roles, and we are excited to have them on board as we continue our mission to advance excellence in pulmonary care.
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to:
Sarah Tomashefski, MSN, AGNP-C
Sarah Tomashefski is the Lead Outpatient Pulmonary Advanced Practice Provider for Prisma Health in Greenville, SC and the Director of the Pulmonary APP Fellowship program. She is a Boston College graduate of the Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP program and has worked as a Pulmonary NP since 2017. She is passionate about training new APPs in Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine and is currently running the only outpatient Pulmonary APP Fellowship in the country. She is a leader in the Prisma Health Lung Cancer Screening Program, aiming to increase patient access for these important health screenings. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor for the School of Health Research at Clemson University, and previously received funding to complete research regarding Lung Cancer Screening awareness in Primary Care. She also has a clinical appointment as an Instructor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and is a volunteer at the Greenville Free Medical Clinic. In 2023, she presented at the CHEST conference on behalf of APAPP (Association of Pulmonary Advanced Practice Providers) regarding starting APP Fellowship programs in Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, and published a piece on the same topic in CHEST Physician in 2024.
Barb Chamness, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Barb is a certified Nurse Practitioner graduating with her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She has been working in the realm of pulmonary/sleep/critical care as an NP for a private practice in Colorado Springs, CO since 2017. She is currently working in the outpatient setting. She has been involved in promoting ongoing education in various ways, including providing yearly lectures on asthma and COPD for NPs and PAs in her local community . She began her nursing career in a medical/surgical unit with a focus on cardiac/stroke. While going back to school, she worked as a clinical instructor with undergraduate medical/surgical nursing students. She has been involved with APAPP unofficially in recruiting members, brainstorming educational topics, and advocating for the association. She was one of the first members to join the association and helped manage the booth at CHEST. She is excited to be part of the faculty at the inaugural APAPP national conference in 2024.
Tyler Kuhk, MN, ARNP, CCRN, AGNP-C
Tyler Kuhk is an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner at Overlake Medical Center & Clinics – Pulmonary Medicine in Bellevue, Washington. He attended Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree in 2010. During his undergraduate studies he was the President of the Lakehead University Nursing Association (LUNA) and later became heavily involved in the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) where he served as Ontario Regional Director (2007-2008) and as President (2008-2009). As President he was also a board member of both the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU). Tyler began his career at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) as a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse, specializing in orthopedics and cardiac-telemetry. He also worked casually in a long-term care facility where he continued to foster an appreciation for gerontology. When the opportunity presented itself to relocate to the Pacific Northwest, Tyler transitioned into the critical care environment for the next six years, practicing in Tacoma, Everett and Bellevue, mainly in the cardiovascular ICU setting. In 2013 he decided to embark on a new journey within nursing and started his Master of Nursing Degree at the University of Toronto in the Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner stream. During his studies he trained in a variety of settings including inpatient cardiology, inpatient internal medicine and outpatient pulmonology. He graduated in November 2015 and began practicing in outpatient pulmonology in April 2016. His main areas of clinical interest include chronic cough, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. In his spare time, Tyler loves to travel, hike and stand-up paddle board.
Alanna Kavanaugh, EdD(c), FNP-BC, MSN, BSN, CCRN
Alanna Kavanaugh, a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, stands at the intersection of exceptional patient care, education, and leadership. With a Master’s degree from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and an ongoing pursuit of a Doctorate of Nursing Education at Columbia University, Teachers College, Alanna embodies a commitment to academic and clinical excellence.
As the Assistant Dean of Graduate Nursing and Chair of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at her alma mater, Alanna has spearheaded transformative changes. Under her guidance, curriculum restructuring has yielded outstanding results, notably elevating board certification scores from 44% to an impressive 97% for first-time test-takers. Her innovative initiatives include a transition-to-practice boot camp, targeted remediation programs, 1:1 faculty-student coaching, and peer mentorship programs, facilitating seamless practice transitions for students.
Alanna’s influence extends beyond academia. With over 17 years of clinical experience, she has significantly contributed to the Pulmonary Division at Weill Cornell Medical College where she served as the sole Nurse Practitioner in the department. Her initiatives in oxygen therapy, patient education, and support group work have positively impacted patient care. Actively engaged with the American Lung Association and COPD Advisory Board, Alanna continues to shape the landscape of pulmonary care.
Her dedication to advancing nursing knowledge is evident in an extensive list of presentations, podcasts, and publications. Notably, her research on “Preferences for Asthma Decision-Making” has been accepted by the European Respiratory Society. Recognized as a trailblazer in healthcare, Alanna has secured notable grants, including two consecutive $25,000 Stonywold Grants and a $1,500 Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation grant. Her impactful work is featured in magazines and online platforms, including the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation’s Breathe Bulletin and Weill Cornell Medicine.
Serving as the Secretary on the Board of the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York and as the President of her local Sigma Theta Tau chapter, Eta Sigma, Alanna Kavanaugh’s multifaceted contributions underscore her dedication to elevating healthcare, education, and professional organizations alike. Her journey exemplifies excellence and innovation in the dynamic field of nursing.
These individuals’ dedication to enhancing the field of pulmonary care and commitment to supporting our members will undoubtedly contribute significantly to the success of our organization. We look forward to working closely with them in the coming years as we strive to uphold the highest standards of practice and professional development.
Interested in getting involved in APAPP leadership? Email to join a committee, make a nomination, or share ideas.
