Upstate nurse named president of American Pediatric Surgical Nursing Association
Maryellen Sheridan, a pediatric clinical nurse specialist at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, has become president of the 1,000-member American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association, Inc. (APSNA). She will serve through 2027.
Founded in 1992, the APSNA aims to shape pediatric surgical nursing through advocacy, collaboration, mentorship and leadership, and to transform the treatment of pediatric surgical patients through its research and education. By developing guidelines and sharing evidence-based practices, APSNA promotes consistency and quality in pediatric surgical nursing. This contributes to safer, more effective care for children across diverse healthcare settings.
Sheridan’s leadership and service to the organization are significant, having served in a variety of roles over the past 10 years, including as president-elect, treasurer and on various committees.
Sheridan has been a member of the nursing team at Upstate since 1995 having worked in pediatric urology; she currently serves as a clinical nurse specialist in pediatric surgery. In 2017, Sheridan spent time in Uganda on a medical mission providing surgical nursing medical care to pediatric patients in the East African nation.
In her current role, Sheridan brings extensive experience in surgical patient care, serving as a vital liaison between physicians, patients, and families. Her work includes developing and implementing educational materials for surgery, trauma, and postoperative care, and providing guidance to families of pediatric surgical patients. Sheridan has helped enhance patient outcomes through assessment support and service coordination, while also leading initiatives such as resident orientation and hospital discharge follow-up.
Sheridan received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the Upstate College of Nursing.
She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work, including the APSNA Founders Award for excellence in pediatric surgical nursing; the Upstate President’s Team of the Year Award (for pediatric surgery (2008), Upstate Pediatric Nursing Excellence award (2004, 2009) and Upstate Patient Experience award (2019) and nominee (2024).
Sheridan’s research on such topics as pediatric incontinence and kidney disease has been published in various publications, including the Journal of Urology.