2023 VISIONARY AWARD
CHERYL THAXTON
Dr. Thaxton received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Hampton University in 1992, her Master of Arts in Nursing at New York University in 1999, and her Family Nurse Practitioner certificate and Doctorate of Nurse Practice degree at George Washington University in 2014 and 2018 respectively. In 2010, she established the pediatric palliative care program at Duke University and Duke Children’s Hospital in Raleigh, NC. Despite immense challenges, including lack of funding, infrastructure, and institutional support, Dr. Thaxton created a thriving program that serves pediatric palliative care patients that continues to grow to this day.
Dr. Thaxton’s contribution as an NP led to the establishment of a national pediatric palliative care committee focused on improving access to quality palliative care resources. Her CV depicts decades of contribution as an NP in pediatric and adult palliative care. She is a national palliative and hospice Fellow and an AANP Fellow.
