APP Preceptorship Faculty Directors
Michele Rubin BSN, APRN-CNS, Chair
Michele Rubin is an Advanced Practice Nurse certified as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Gastroenterology Nursing. She has 45 years of experience in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) at the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) ranging from positions in nursing leadership, IBD research, to IBD Clinical Nurse Specialist in Colorectal surgery. She is also the Associate Director of the IBD Center. Michele works closely with the UCM multidisciplinary IBD patient management team with the IBD surgeons and gastroenterologists in managing the care of IBD patients and families.
She works in colorectal surgery with IBD patients and initiated the J-Pouch clinic to ensure patients adapt successfully and get ongoing surveillance. Michele is a known leader and lecturer on IBD across the country for various organizations. She has authored and co-authored numerous articles and participates in research focusing on IBD. She is a professional member of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and is a past honoree of the National Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s Uniting Care & Cure Award.
She participates on the National Crohn’s and Colitis Nurse and Advanced Practice Provider Committee and is Director of the APP Preceptorship program focused on IBD specialty training for new APPs. Michele was also a past Midwest Regional and National GEM (Giving Excellence Meaning) Awardee for “Excellence in Community Care” by Nurse.com.
Amy Donegan, MS, CPNP, Workgroup Member
Amy Donegan is a nurse practitioner at Nationwide Children's Hospital and is the current co-chair of the RN/APP NSAC. Amy has been involved with the Crohn’s and Colitis foundation since 2007, initially at the local level and more recently, on the national level. She has over 38 years of pediatric nursing experience with 25 years focused in pediatric gastroenterology. Amy works exclusively with the pediatric IBD population. Her main areas of interests are in transition and transfer of care, health maintenance and self-management education. Amy leads a comprehensive, multidisciplinary annual IBD clinic that includes psychology, social work and nutrition support.
Outside of work, Amy loves spending time with her three adult children and husband of 32 years. She likes to ride bikes, play with her two dogs, listen to audio books and watch football and women’s volleyball.
Mary Kate Preite, APRN, NP, Workgroup Member
Mary Kate Preite received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and later obtained her masters degree from Georgetown University. She began her career as a nurse practitioner in the gastroenterology department at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She then came to Massachusetts General Hospital and began working in the division of gastroenterology.
Mary Kate’s clinical focus is in the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. She is also interested in caring for patients with microscopic colitis, celiac disease and general gastrointestinal issues. She is involved in trials investigating the effect of diet on inflammatory bowel disease. Mary Kate has served as a preceptor for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation’s Advanced Practice Provider Preceptorship for several years and has spoken on healthcare maintenance in IBD at the Boston IBD Conference.
Whitney Gray, CRNP
Whitney Gray is a board-certified nurse practitioner within the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. She has been specialized as the IBD Nurse Practitioner since 2016. Whitney received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from The George Washington University. She has an Advanced Practice Provider Leadership Certificate from the University of Pittsburgh and a Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Nursing Certificate from the Association of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Nurses (APGNN).
She has been recognized nationally and locally for her expertise in the care of children and adolescents with IBD, having been invited to speak at national conferences through APGNN and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. She has been involved in various leadership roles both locally and on a national level related to pediatric GI and IBD, including on the APGNN Board and on the National Scientific Advisory Committee of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. She has been involved with several research projects related to pediatric IBD and is a member of the ImproveCareNow team in Pittsburgh.
Bridget Howard, NP
Bridget Ann Howard, Nurse Practitioner, is board certified as a Nurse Practitioner from the American College of Nurse Credentialing Center. Currently at Mayo Clinic Arizona, where she has been employed since January 2012, she participates in the inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal neoplasia clinic, as well as past assignments to the pancreas and general gastroenterology and esophageal clinics. Bridget’s interest is in clinical and education aspects of practice. She is an APP member of ACG, faculty member of GHAPP, and serves on the Education Committee of GHAPP. Bridget’s gastroenterology and hepatology career dates back to 1999, where she worked for a community gastroenterology practice. She graduated from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.
Currently, Bridget is a Clinical Instructor for Mayo Clinic, as well as actively mentoring nurse practitioner students from local universities during her career. Bridget has developed and implemented help preventative tracking tools, and currently has initiated and is leader in Mayo Clinic’s patient IBD health maintenance group education class. Bridget has been a member of Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and local Crohn’s and colitis medical boards both in Kansas City and Phoenix areas. She has also participated in the Nursing Research Subcommittee at Mayo Clinic and has an interest in nurse practitioner education, especially in the area of inflammatory bowel disease. She received the Mayo Clinic Department of Medicine NP award in 2022.
Susie Lee, RN, DNP, FNP-C
Susie Lee is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who has worked at Cedars Sinai IBD center since 1998. She is a specialist in IBD with an extensive knowledge base and collaborates with IBD specialists, medical trainees and multidisciplinary team to coordinate well-rounded care for patients with IBD.
Ms. Lee is a strong and passionate patient advocate, and her expertise and experience make her a great resource for patients, nurses, and physicians. She also is a partner, resources and adviser for the MIRIAD Biobank team, regularly providing input on ways to optimize the research experience for the patients who volunteer to participate.
Ms. Lee received her associate degree in nursing from Langara College in Vancouver, Canada. She earned a BSN and MSN at California State University Dominguez Hills, specializing as a family nurse practitioner. She then received a Doctoral degree in Nursing Practice at Chamberlain College of Nursing in 2017. She is married with two grown-up children and in her spare time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing, and trying new recipes.
Rebecca D. Lutheran, DNP, CRNP
Rebecca Lutheran is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. Ms. Lutheran earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from Duquesne University and later obtained her master’s and doctoral degree in nursing practice (DNP) from Robert Morris University.
Rebecca is currently working at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center. Rebecca’s clinical focus is the care and management of IBD patients, with interests in self-management, transitions to adult care, and care coordination.
Ms. Lutheran is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and Gastroenterology & Hepatology Advanced Practice Providers Association (GHAPP). She is involved in Clinical Trials at her institution and has served as a leader on many internal projects.
Sharon Perry, MSN, APRN-CNP
Sharon Perry is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with over 11 years of clinical experience, specializing in Pediatric Gastroenterology at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a dedicated member of the multidisciplinary Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) team, with a clinical focus on newly diagnosed patients, health maintenance, and the transition of care from pediatric to adult IBD care.
Deeply committed to advancing care for patients with IBD, she is heavily involved with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and the Improve Care Now network, contributing to quality improvement initiatives and collaborative efforts aimed at improving outcomes for children and adolescents with IBD. She also volunteers at Camp Oasis Michigan as the lead nurse, where she supports and empowers children living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in a camp setting.