Donors in the Spotlight:
​Cecily Reeves

Professor Ph.D., FNP-C, PA Emeritus
Samuel Merritt University

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Cecily Reeves, Ph.D. is a veteran clinician and nursing educator, and a longtime JOF donor.

“I think I’m pretty selective in where I donate,” she says. “JOF is something that I want to support in any way that I can.”

A professor of nursing at Samuel Merritt University (SMU) in Oakland, California, Dr. Reeves is a board certified FNP and PA, and her clinical experience includes emergency medicine, family practice, aesthetic medicine, and infectious diseases. Over the last 10 years she’s also been working with transgender and gender fluid patients in both the California prisons and the Bay Area community.

Her full and varied professional commitments – combined with the demands of young grandchildren – mean she doesn’t have a lot of time to attend charity events or volunteer her time. So, she makes a difference by donating.

“You know how life gets in the way. With competing priorities these days, one thing I knew I could do to at least make a difference was donating. It’s a great opportunity to stay connected without feeling guilty about not being able to attend meetings and events.”

Dr. Reeves first became involved with JOF as the NP program director for then-SMU students A.J. Benham, DNP and Kathleen A. Geier, DNP – who later developed and now teach JOF’s Orthopedic Primary Care program.

“They wanted to operationalize their ideas about what they noticed as a void in the training and the skills of graduating nurse practitioners in the orthopedic arena.”
“I think their rigor has always impressed me. Their work is amazing and I’m sure it will continue to be for a long time.”

She says she’s turned to Drs. Benham and Geier time and again as expert resources on orthopedics in primary care, especially for topics not normally in the Family Nurse Practitioner curriculum, such as first assisting.

“One of the hallmarks for us as educators is, ‘Is this a practitioner you would seek care from?’ They both are.”

Dr. Reeves says she believes JOF’s approach of improving patient outcomes by training clinicians is particularly relevant nowadays, when many academic nursing applicants continue their shift away from full-time clinical study, and toward more part-time and remote learning.

“We have many students working full-time, who have children and other family challenges. I think it’s an unrealistic expectation that they graduate with the full spectrum of knowledge required when they enter practice. With  COVID as well, they were restricted in terms of the time they could spend in  clinical settings. It creates gaps in their learning.

“And so, things like what JOF offers are critical. I know and trust their work and wouldn’t hesitate to have anyone I know participate in their workshops and programs.”

Additionally, “With an aging population more and more people are having orthopedic problems, and that expertise is required. It’s not just a nice-to-have, it’s essential.”

What would she tell other donors about contributing to JOF? “I would reassure them that it is money well spent, in terms of making a difference.
“Oftentimes we donate when we may be unsure of how that money’s going to be used, but I think, knowing who they are, it’s a viable program that uses the money well and is going to an excellent cause.”
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She said fellow clinicians in particular may find JOF an appealing giving option. “I think as nurses we want to advance our profession and support the role, and this is another way to do that.”

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