Melissa Olen, MSN, FNP-C, CCRN
Melissa Olen, MSN, FNP-C, CCRN, is a board-certified advanced family nurse practitioner within the Heart Institute who has developed her career at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital over the last 19 years. She has cared for patients with heart disease at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, serving in the electrophysiology (EP) outpatient clinic, EP lab, with cardiac device remote monitoring, leading a team of cardiac advance practice providers, and acting as Director of South Florida Project ADAM.
Olen is a member of the American Nurses Association, the Vice President of allied healthcare professionals for Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society (PACES) and serves on the education committee for Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) both, international organizations. Her work is published in peer-reviewed journals, and she has contributed chapters for medical textbooks and presents at national medical symposiums. Most recently, Olen contributed to the development of South Florida Project ADAM in the Dade County community. This work, in collaboration with local Emergency response teams and the public school district, helps to prevent sudden cardiac death in the young.
She currently serves as a member of the Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialist board and is the first APP member.
Melody M. Hernandez, PhD, MS, BSN, RN
Melody M. Hernandez, PhD, MS, BSN, RN, serves as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Telehealth Registered Nurse at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, FL. She was awarded her associate and bachelor’s degrees in nursing from EDP University in Puerto Rico. Hernandez first became acquainted with Nicklaus Children’s as a hospital volunteer, then joined the staff as a registered nurse in 2015.
She has worked in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for seven years, providing expert nursing care. Since 2021, she has been instrumental in supporting the hospital’s nurse-led Baby Steps Program, which provides telehealth transition of care support for families of infants discharged from the NICU. This program has helped reduce readmissions and provides patient families with anticipatory guidance and expert nursing support during the first two weeks after NICU discharge.
Hernandez obtained her master’s degree and doctorate in biomedical sciences from the University of Science, Arts and Technology in Olveston, Monteserrat in 2018 and 2019 respectively. In 2022, Hernandez received a doctor of medicine degree from Georgetown American University in Georgetown, Guyana.