Dr. McNamara joined the UIC CON as a clinical instructor at the Rockford campus in 2017. She started as Clinical Assistant Professor in 2019. She also maintains a robust clinical practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Dr. McNamara is the consummate nurse educator. She teaches Comprehensive Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice for graduate nursing students and Clinical Practice for Primary Care I and II for FNP students. She is also lead faculty in the College’s post-graduate NP fellowship that is run in partnership with Erie Family Health Centers. Dr. McNamara is approachable and relatable, kind and compassionate, and holds her students to the high standards to which she holds herself. She is a very talented and experienced educator who consistently demonstrates excellence through her clinical expertise and extraordinary compassionate care. She is widely recognized as an outstanding role model for FNP and other graduate students at UIC CON, as well as for the faculty-at-large.