Dr. Sharron Close exemplifies a distinguished career devoted to pediatric healthcare, research innovation, and academic leadership. With almost 20 years of experience as a pediatric nurse practitioner specializing in endocrinology and genetics, her work spans multiple domains including scholarship, clinical practice, and service.

Her research, informed by extensive clinical experience, focuses on patient-centered approaches to chronic diseases and genetic conditions affecting children. Dr. Close has authored multiple articles published in peer-reviewed journals, bool chapters and has secured funding from prestigious institutions like the Patient-Centered Outcome Research Institute, NIH and several private foundations. Her most recent project involves an implementation trial of enhanced surgical recovery protocols for children undergoing gastrointestinal surgeries across 18 US children's hospitals.

Beyond research, Dr. Close is a trailblazer in incorporating patient and caregiver perspectives into her studies, notably enhancing surgical recovery protocols through patient advocate liaisons. Her impactful contributions extend to innovation, where she has developed novel biomedical devices like CuddleCare, aimed at alleviating anxiety and pain in pediatric patients.

In addition to her scholarly pursuits, Dr. Close's leadership roles include chairing the Professional Advisory Board for the Association of X & Y Chromosome Variations and directing grants in pediatric endocrinology. She is a strong advocate for protection from gun violence and promotes gun safety and responsibility using a public health approach. She is recognized for her teaching excellence, receiving awards and consistently high evaluations for her innovative educational approaches at Emory University.

Dr. Close's commitment to advancing healthcare extends to advocacy and policy, notably establishing support groups and influencing legislative awareness for X & Y chromosome variations. Her future endeavors include expanding research in patient-centered healthcare delivery and pursuing new NIH grants to increase knowledge and forge progress to benefit children with rare or orphan diseases.

For further details on Dr. Close's extensive contributions and achievements, refer to her comprehensive CV.