From the bedside to virtual care, from classroom learning to clinical leadership, Michelle Flanagan continues to find ways to expand her impact on the lives of patients — especially in women’s health.
“My passion for continuing education is never-ending,” says Flanagan, who earned a Family Health Nurse Practitioner master’s degree and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at UMass Lowell. “Every step in my career has brought me closer to understanding how I can better support patients, and it’s my UMass Lowell education that opened those doors.”
Flanagan works at Mass General Brigham on the virtual clinical support team, which includes practice providers who support clinical operations in primary care. A Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, Flanagan owns a telemedicine midlife women’s health clinic, Menopositive LLC, that helps women going through perimenopause and menopause.
Early in her career, she worked for six years as a registered nurse before deciding to become a nurse practitioner.
“I wanted more authority and independence to care for patients, and UMass Lowell’s Family Health Nurse Practitioner master’s degree was exactly the program I was looking for,” says Flanagan, who grew up in Peabody, Massachusetts, lived in Middleton and most recently moved to Ossipee, New Hampshire.
Flanagan found that the curriculum combined rigorous academic work with real-world clinical application. The program gave her the foundation to grow into an advanced practice role while encouraging her to explore areas of care she was passionate about.
After completing her master’s degree, she took time to find balance between work, the demands of clinical practice and family, which included celebrating the birth of her child during the pandemic.
The call to continue her education did not fade.
“I wanted to return to school with a systems-thinking perspective,” Flanagan says. “I chose the Doctor of Nursing Practice route because it aligned with my clinical work and I wanted to make an impact — not just at the patient level, but within the health care system.”
Although her DNP project focused on improving cervical cancer screening rates through a team-based model, her dedication to midlife women’s health remained front and center. She co-authored a published manuscript with Solomont School of Nursing Chair Heidi Fantasia on evidence-based guidance for menopausal symptoms.
“There is nothing more rewarding than knowing you’ve made a real impact in someone’s life,” says Flanagan. “No one should be suffering needlessly during the menopause transition.”
As she prepares to graduate, Flanagan reflects on her journey with deep appreciation for the mentors and faculty who shaped her path.
“I owe so much of my learning experience to the amazing nursing professors, some whom I have worked with for both degrees,” says Flanagan, who won the Doctoral Dean’s Award for Doctorate of Nursing Practice program at commencement. “The professors excelled in their role and made our learning experiences practical and applicable to real-life situations.”