Bethany Thomas CRNP, CNRN is the recipient of the 2019 Miriam M. Powell Scholarship. Bethany graduated from Thomas Jefferson University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in 2009. She worked at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from 2009-2013 in the Neuroscience Intermediate Care Unit. She obtained her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Thomas Jefferson University in 2013 and transitioned into her current role as an outpatient nurse practitioner in the Penn Epilepsy Center. Currently, she is a part-time student at Thomas Jefferson University in the Doctorate of Nursing (DNP) program. She has presented posters and given platform presentations locally, regionally and nationally on epilepsy topics. She has served as an adjunct faculty member for BSN and MSN students at Thomas Jefferson University and also lectures at the University of Pennsylvania. She is board certified in neuroscience nursing.

In her current role as an epilepsy nurse practitioner, she manages the care of patients with difficult to treat epilepsy syndromes. In addition to the daily medication management, pre-surgical planning and patient education, she has also established quality improvement programs within the Penn Epilepsy Center. She coordinates the Adolescent Transition Program to improve transition from pediatric to adult care and the Pregnancy Pathway Clinic. She hosts a monthly support group for epilepsy patients and is an active volunteer for the Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania.

Bethany is interested in improving utilization and training of nurse practitioners in epilepsy specialty care. She has established an annual Special Interest Group for Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) at the American Epilepsy Society (AES) annual meeting. She is a member of the AES Inter-professional Education Committee as well as the APP Education Workgroup. This scholarship funding will support her in her final year of doctoral education, where she will focus her research on postgraduate training of Advanced Practice Providers in epilepsy practice.