Caring for children with compassion and clinical excellence is the mission of every pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP). Charlene Lancicot, a 2024 graduate of Cedarville University's Master of Science in Nursing PNP program, pursues that mission with a global perspective.
Rancicot was recently awarded the 2024 Global Healthcare Special Interest Group Nurse Student of the Year Award by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).
The award recognizes one student who has contributed to healthcare in an underserved community. Ms. Rancicot’s notable work is at the Philadelphia FIGHT Pediatric Clinic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she completed her clinical training.
As a first-generation Haitian/Saint Lucian American from Brooklyn, New York, Lancicot has seen firsthand the need for clinicians to advocate for the health needs of all children, with a particular focus on children of color.
The $500 cash prize that Lancicot received with her award will be used to further the work of the Philadelphia FIGHT Children's Center's literacy outreach program. Lancicot plans to purchase children's books that highlight and reflect diverse cultural backgrounds.
“My involvement with FIGHT Philadelphia highlighted the importance of providing culturally competent care to children from diverse backgrounds, especially those from marginalized communities who face significant social challenges,” said Lancicot. “I was involved in comprehensive, customized care that meets the needs of all youth, regardless of race, ethnicity or income level.”
Lancicot is passionate about finding solutions to health disparities, and she sees a particular need in developing ways to help racialized children who have internalized and are affected by racist views of themselves.
Rancicot credits her passion for special interest health work to the training she received in Cedarville University’s Graduate Certificate in Public Health, a certification designed to equip professionals in any field of study to provide population-based solutions to major health problems around the world.
As she pursued her certification at Cedarville, Rancicot gained the knowledge and expertise to provide practical solutions to health issues and challenges, environmental health concerns, and issues related to community development and social fabric.
“One of the classes that had a profound impact on me was one on global health and vulnerable populations, which challenged us to critically evaluate existing programs aimed at helping marginalized people and envision new efforts that could more effectively alleviate their suffering,” Lancicot said. “From a Christian perspective, the program deepened my understanding of the urgent need for a health care system that addresses these disparities.”
The program has enabled Ranshikot to focus on improving the literacy skills of children and their families.
“By promoting literacy, this program contributes to ensuring young people have the tools they need to communicate effectively with health care providers, succeed academically, and ultimately break the cycle of poverty perpetuated by illiteracy,” said Rancicot. “By combining my academic and clinical expertise with my faith-based work, I hope to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the children and communities I serve.”
