Katherine McHugh, MSN, RN, CPNP-AC

Washington, DC

678-480-6829 | mckatiehugh@gmail.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckatiehugh

Education

2023      Master of Science, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 8/2020 – 5/2023

School of Nursing

2011      Master of Science, Clinical Nurse Leadership

University of Maryland, Baltimore, 8/2010 – 12/2011

School of Nursing

2007      Bachelor of Arts, Journalism and Mass Communication, Advertising Sequence

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 8/2004 – 12/2007

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Clinical Experience

Children’s National Hospital, 2022 – Present

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Leukemia/Lymphoma Program, 10/2023 – Present

• Write patient care orders, including chemotherapy orders, prescribe therapy, and provide home care orders
• Perform lumbar punctures, bone marrow aspirates, and bone marrow biopsies
• Collaborate with physician colleagues to develop appropriate plans of care
• Assess, diagnose, monitor, and promote clinical status of patients utilizing evidence-based practice and medical knowledge
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across the institution to ensure quality patient care
• Serve as the team’s lead histiocytosis nurse practitioner in collaboration with our expert physician
• Manage patient care and outcomes in collaboration with team colleagues

RN II, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders Outpatient Clinic, 2/2022 – 10/2023

• Administer high-risk chemotherapy and biotherapy infusion therapies
• Independently manage care of patients with multiple types of central lines
• Recover post-anesthesia patients from non-operating room anesthesia procedures
• Anticipate, proactively plan for, and reinforce educational needs for complex patient populations

National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Pediatric Oncology Branch, 2020 – 2021

Clinical Research Nurse III with Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., 2/2020 – 11/2021

• Work collaboratively with the neurofibromatosis type 1 and pediatric oncology teams to develop, implement, and evaluate patients on clinical trials
• Responsible for research study coordination and data management with a specific focus on managing subject recruitment and enrollment, consistency of study implementation, data management and integrity, and compliance with regulatory requirements and reporting
• Managed study inquiries and continued data management and regulatory compliances for immediate post-marketing phase of the first and only FDA-approved treatment for pediatric patients with NF1
• Authored annual continuing review reports for Pediatric Oncology Branch protocols and submitted to IRB for approvals
• Completed and reported serious adverse events (SAEs), Unanticipated Problems (UPs), and major deviations, per protocol timeframes to IRB and/or sponsor as needed
• Attributed study drug adverse events and tracked all minor protocol deviations
• Consented and re-consented patients within appropriate scope of practice per the institution’s guidelines

Children’s National Hospital, 2011 – 2020

Clinical Program Coordinator, Neuro-Oncology, 7/2016 – 2/2020

• Orient newly diagnosed brain tumor patients and families
• Aid in protocol enrollments, including phase I and II clinical trials
• Obtain prior authorizations for chemotherapy medications and facilitate appeals for denials
• Spearhead educational initiatives to patients and their caregivers
• Create educational materials, including new diagnosis binders and treatment/procedure handouts
• Problem-solve non-compliance issues by creating calendars and reminders to help keep families organized
• Liaise with patient families and hospital systems to ensure care

RN II, Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders Outpatient Clinic, 6/2015 – 7/2016

• Spearhead unit-level and systems-level quality improvement as co-chair of Shared Nursing Leadership
• Led unit as charge nurse and precept new hires and newly chemotherapy-certified RNs
• Specialized in apheresis/plasmapheresis procedures
• Administered high-risk chemotherapy and biotherapy infusion therapies
• Modeled clinical skills with complex patients with rapidly changing needs, utilizing resources and escalating as appropriate

RN II, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, 2/2014 – 6/2015

• Became proficient in administration of infusion therapies, including vasopressor and narcotic/paralytic drip management, IV fluid resuscitation in a code setting, and electrolyte repletion
• Followed and analyzed continuous cardiac and respiratory monitor readings, such as EKG tracings, O2 stats, CVP/arterial line waveforms, CO2 monitoring, and arterial/venous blood gases
• Involved in insertion or discontinuation of CV catheters, arterial lines, external ventricular drains, epidural catheters, ETTs, chest tubes, and foley catheters
• Skilled in managing patients on invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation

RN II, Hematology/Oncology Care Unit, 11/2012 – 2/2014

• Planned, managed, and assessed care of pediatric hematology and oncology patients, including administration of blood and blood products, chemotherapeutic agents, and adjuvant therapies for chemotherapy treatment
• Organized patient outcomes through coordinating the integration of patient’s plan of care across specialties, including physician, physical therapy, pharmacy, nutrition, social work, and clinical care management

Student Nurse, Clinical Practicum, Surgical Care Unit, 8/2011 – 12/2011

• Honed pediatric surgical nursing skills under the supervision of a preceptor
• Created an informational pamphlet for the unit

Washington Hospital Center, 2012

Clinical Nurse I, 2NW Surgical Oncology, 2/2012 – 11/2012

• Planned, managed, and assessed care of surgical patients, including oncology, trauma, GI, colorectal, OB/GYN, and bariatric

Licensure

Nurse Practitioner: District of Columbia NP1025571 (Exp. 6/30/2026)

Registered Nurse: District of Columbia RN1025571 (Exp. 6/30/2026)

Controlled Substance: CN210136361 (Exp. 6/30/2026)

NPI: 1417734005

DEA: MM8356912

Certifications

Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Acute Care, Cert #202314879

APHON Pediatric Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Provider

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certification

Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers

Professional Memberships

Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON)

2020 – Present: Local chapter President

2018 – 2020: Local chapter Program Coordinator

2016 – 2018: Local chapter President

2012 – 2016: Local chapter Program Coordinator

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)

               2023 – Present: Member

Awards

2018      Daisy Team Award

2017      Official Citation from the Maryland General Assembly signed by Maryland State Senator Brian J. Feldman in recognition of an outstanding career as a Neuro-Oncology Clinical Program Coordinator at Children’s National Hospital and commitment to patients and their families

2017      Official Citation from Maryland United States Senator Chris Van Hollen in recognition of dedication to Children’s National Hospital and efforts to provide outstanding and compassionate clinical care to children with brain tumors and hematologic malignancies

2017      APHON Local Chapter Excellence Award

2016      Children’s National Hospital Power of One Award

2016      APHON Local Chapter Community Service Award

2014      Daisy Award Nominee

Fellowships/Trainings

2025      Alliance for Childhood Cancer Legislative Action Days

2017 – 2018 PANDA Cubs Primary Palliative Care Resource Team Training

2016 – Present Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program)

2013 – 2014 Pathways to Nursing Care Excellence Fellowship (PNCE) Program

MSN Capstone Projects

2011 Feasibility of Implementing Dedicated Education Units at the University of Maryland Medical Center

2011 Clinical Nurse Leader Scholarly Paper: How nurses can use social media to promote public health initiatives

Conferences

2024      Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) 48th Annual Conference

2021      Children’s Tumor Foundation NF Conference

Abstract co-author

2021      Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) 42nd Annual Conference

Poster presentation first author

2020      Children’s Tumor Foundation NF Conference

2020      Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) 44th Annual Conference

2020      19th International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (ISPNO)

2020      European Neurofibromatosis Meeting

Abstract first author

2018      18th International Symposium on Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (ISPNO)

2017      Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) 41st Annual Conference

Local Chapter Award Recipient

2017      International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP)

Session Moderator

2016      Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) 40th Annual Conference

2015      Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) 39th Annual Conference

Presentations and Publications

McHugh, K. Bringing an Online Presence to Local Chapters. APHON Counts. Volume 36, Number 4, Winter 2022-2023.

McHugh, K., Baldwin, A., Tibery, C. PKs, AEs, IRBs … What’s All This Research Stuff About? Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses 45th Annual Conference. 2021 October.

Gross, A., McHugh, K., et. Al. Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Selumetinib in Children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 on a Phase 2 Study for Inoperable Plexiform Neurofibromas. Children’s Tumor Foundation NF Conference. 2021 June.

McHugh, K., Gross, A., et. Al. Volumetric Response of Biopsy-Proven Atypical Neurofibromas to the MEK Inhibitor Selumetinib. European Neurofibromatosis Meeting. 2020 December.