Autumn graduated with her bachelor’s degree of nursing (BSN) from Trinity Christian College, her master’s in nursing education (MSN), and Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) from Chamberlain University.  Autumn’s nursing career has specialized in obstetrical care where she practiced bedside at Advocate Christ Medical Center.  Since obtaining her master’s while working bedside, Autumn focused on higher education teaching simulations, didactic courses, and clinical rotations at Chamberlain University, Lewis University, and Trinity Christian College.  Through her bedside and teaching experiences, she truly found her passion for maternal health and nursing education which she now is applying to her current role as the Obstetrical Outreach Nurse Educator at the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM).  In this role, she is responsible for assisting and providing education to the hospitals within UCMs perinatal network and also partaking in Morbidity and Mortality(M&M) reviews at each specific site.  She works closely with the hospital educators on the Nursing Quality and Education Committee (NQEC) to determine the educational needs of the network hospitals.  She strives to help improve statewide maternal outcomes as she chairs the Administrative Perinatal Center (APC) educator group.

Autumn can be reached at autumn.mels@uchicagomedicine.org or at (708) 712-0112.