Overview
Desi Newberry is an associate professor and director of the neonatal nurse practitioner program at the Duke University School of Nursing. Dr. Newberry is a board-certified NNP with over 20 years of experience. She currently practices at the Duke Intensive Care Nursery and the University of North Carolina Newborn Critical Care Center.
Dr. Newberry graduated from Duke University with her DNP in 2012, having previously earned her MSN from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her BSN from Michigan State University. She is also a Certified Health Simulation Educator (CHSE) and a certified nurse educator (CNE).
Dr. Newberry is proud to have been selected for the 2023 NANN Leadership Award. She served on the NANN Committee for the 2023 Revision of Curriculum Guidelines and Education Competencies for Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Programs to revise the Curriculum Guidelines and Education Competencies for Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Programs and currently serves on the National Association of Neonatal Nurses- Advanced Practice (NANN-AP) Council. She also serves as a section editor for the neonatal nursing journal Advances in Neonatal Care.
Dr. Newberry contributes to both nursing publications and nursing associations. She has authored and co-authored three book chapters and over 30 articles in peer-reviewed, national neonatal nursing journals. Her research currently focuses on improving health equity for all neonates through the examination of diversity in NNP students and faculty, the use of simulation for implicit bias training, and working toward the elimination of inappropriate labeling in the NICU.
Dr. Newberry graduated from Duke University with her DNP in 2012, having previously earned her MSN from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her BSN from Michigan State University. She is also a Certified Health Simulation Educator (CHSE) and a certified nurse educator (CNE).
Dr. Newberry is proud to have been selected for the 2023 NANN Leadership Award. She served on the NANN Committee for the 2023 Revision of Curriculum Guidelines and Education Competencies for Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Programs to revise the Curriculum Guidelines and Education Competencies for Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Programs and currently serves on the National Association of Neonatal Nurses- Advanced Practice (NANN-AP) Council. She also serves as a section editor for the neonatal nursing journal Advances in Neonatal Care.
Dr. Newberry contributes to both nursing publications and nursing associations. She has authored and co-authored three book chapters and over 30 articles in peer-reviewed, national neonatal nursing journals. Her research currently focuses on improving health equity for all neonates through the examination of diversity in NNP students and faculty, the use of simulation for implicit bias training, and working toward the elimination of inappropriate labeling in the NICU.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Associate Clinical Professor in the School of Nursing
·
2022 - Present
School of Nursing
Director of the Neonatal NP Major in the School of Nursing
·
2025 - Present
School of Nursing
Recent Publications
Early Screening for Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review.
Journal Article Adv Neonatal Care · December 30, 2025 BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood. Preterm infants, particularly those born before 28 weeks' gestation or extremely low birth weight, are at an increased risk due to the vulnerability of the developing brain. ... Full text Link to item CiteComparison of Pulmonary Maturation Differences Among Black and White Infants: A Scoping Review.
Journal Article Advances in neonatal care : official journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses · August 2025 BackgroundBias exists that infants of color have better outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit compared to White infants. These presumptions stem from perceived differences in pulmonary maturation between Black and White infants.Purpose< ... Full text CiteCharacterizing Periprocedural Care for Pediatric Patients With Williams Syndrome Undergoing General Anesthesia at a Tertiary Pediatric Hospital.
Journal Article AANA J · August 1, 2025 Williams syndrome is a rare congenital disorder affecting connective tissue and the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Pediatric patients diagnosed with Williams syndrome face significant risk for cardiac collapse and death when undergoing anesthe ... Full text Link to item CiteEducation, Training & Certifications
Duke University ·
2012
D.N.P.