Maria R. Molina holds 3 national nursing certifications & Penn Certified Research Coordinator. She has authored & co-authored > 100 impactful abstracts, conference papers, and peer-reviewed articles with emphasis on advanced practice nurses (APN) role in advocating early referral for advanced therapies, developing risk stratification strategies for pre & post transplantation, and the national impact of APN translating research to bedside through managed care interventions. Maria stands in a unique position at the nexus of cardiovascular medicine & cardiothoracic surgery, which earned her to serve as the, 2015 co-author of American Nurses Association Cardiovascular Nursing Scope and Standards, 2017 and 2018 International Transplant Nurses Society (ITNS ) program chair and United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)–Region 2 education planning committee. She has been recognized with several honors and awards for her leadership, clinical expertise and innovation.