April D. Bigelow, Ph.D., ANP-BC, AGPCNP-BC

April Bigelow

Clinical Associate Professor
Primary Care Adult Gerontology and Family Nurse Practitioner Program Lead
Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences
Room 4118 NURS2

University of Michigan School of Nursing
426 North Ingalls Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2003

Telephone: (734) 647-0156
Fax: (734) 763-0681

Interests

  • Palliative Care
  • End of life care
  • Primary care and complex care management
  • Health promotion and physical activity
  • Vulnerable populations
Dr. April Bigelow is an Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner who currently practices through Packard Health, a federally qualified health center. In this practice she provides patients with outpatient palliative care, advance care planning, and complex symptom management as well as primary care.  In addition, Dr. Bigelow teaches in the Health Behavior and Biological Sciences Graduate Nurse Practitioner Programs.  Since 2013, she has led a global clinical immersion experience in rural Thailand.  Dr. Bigelow’s research focus includes the integration of palliative care practices and concepts into primary care and chronic disease management. 

Teaching

Dr. Bigelow has a goal of making learning equally accessible to all students. She strives to help students become critical thinkers at an advanced level, to develop and understand the use of evidence-based clinical problem solving strategies and skills, and to take an active role in their education and learning in both classroom and clinical settings. Always aiming to be an inspiration to her students and graduate nurses, Dr. Bigelow teaches in the primary care nurse practitioner graduate programs of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences Department.  Additionally, Dr. Bigelow supports nurse practitioner students in the adult and family tracks through their clinical practice. 

Affiliations / Service

  • Member, Michigan Medicine Adult Ethics Committee 2019-present
  • American Nurses Credentialing Center, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Content Expert Panel, 2012-2018, 2014-2017 chair
  • Shadow Health Advisory Board and expert content reviewer, 2014-present
  • Member, Sigma Theta Tau, Rho Chapter, University of Michigan, 1998-present
  • Member, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 2003-present
  • Member, Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners, 2010-present
  • Member, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, 2008-present
  • Member, National Alliance for the Homeless, 2008-present

Notable Awards / Honors

  • Sigma Theta Tau Rising Star Award (2011)
  • National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, Outstanding NP Educator nominee (2013, 2014)
  • Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine, Best Program Innovation Award for CaringWithCompassion.org (2014)
  • University of Michigan Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize Award for CaringWithCompassion.org (2014)
  • Council on Global Engagement Award, 2014
  • Daisy Award for Nursing Education, 2015

Education

  • Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, 2019
  • Ph.D., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2008
  • MS, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, M,I 2003
  • BSN, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 1999

Publication Highlights

  • Singha-Dong, N., Bigelow, A., Rajataramya, B., Villarruel, A., & Potempa, K. (accepted for publication). Capacity for noncommunicable disease research in Thailand. Journal for Public Health Management and Practice.

  • Bigelow, A. & Freeland, B. (in press). Type 2 diabetes care in the elderly. Journal for Nurse Practitioners.

  • Pardee, M., Munro-Kramer, M., Bigelow, A., & Dahlem, C. (in press). Human trafficking: A missed opportunity. The Clinical Advisor.

  • Singha-Dong, N., Pardee, M., & Bigelow, A. (2015). Reducing dipartites in hypertension control: A community-based hypertension control project for population in rural Thailand. Annals of Global Health, 81(1), 213. DOI: 10.1016/j.aogh.2015.02.989.

  • Roossien, J. & Bigelow, A. (2015). Global clinical experience provides valuable insight to nursing students and faculty. Advance Healthcare Network for Nurses.

  • Tschannen, D., Anderson, C., Strobbe, S., Bay, E., Bigelow, A., Dahlem, C.H.Y., Gosselin, A.K., Pollard, J., & Seng, J.S. (2014). Scholarly productivity for nursing clinical track faculty. Nursing Outlook, 62(6), 475-81. DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2014.05.006.

  • Chick, D., Bigelow, A., Seagull, J., Rye, H., Davis, P., & Williams, B. (2014). Caring with Compassion, Domain 1: U.S. Public Healthcare Systems. MedEdPORTAL, Association of American Medical Colleges, Available from: www.mededportal.org/publication/9811.

  • Chick, D., Bigelow, A., Seagull, J., Rye, H., Davis, P., & Williams, B. (2014). Caring with Compassion, Domain 2: Bio-psychosocial Care of Uninsured, Homeless, Underserved, and At-Risk Populations. MedEdPORTAL, Association of American Medical Colleges, Available from: www.mededportal.org/publication/9755.

  • Bigelow, A., Villarruel, A.M., & Ronis, D.L. (2014). The relationship of alcohol use and physical activity from an ecologic perspective. Journal of Specialists in Pediatric Nursing. 19 (1), 28-38, DOI: 10.1111/jspn.12044, EPub 2013 Jul30.

  • Villarruel, A.M., Bigelow, A., & Alvarez, C. (2014). Integrating the 3D’s: A Nursing Perspective. Public Health Reports, 129(Suppl 2), 37-44.

  • Viher, D. & Bigelow, A. (2013). Diagnosis and management of three common liver disorders in primary care. NP Professional Practice Compendium, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 1(3), 12-20.

  • Bigelow, A., Dahlem, C.H., & Pardee, M. (2013). Hypertension and substance abuse mask an underlying condition. The Clinical Advisor, September 2013 issue, 64-69 (available online August 15, 2013). (http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/hypertension-and-substance-abuse-mask-an-underlying-condition/article/310001/)

  • Bigelow, A. & Stepka, D. (2012). Smoking cessation in adults who are homeless. Practice Nursing, 23 (8), 406-412.

  • Eakin, B.L., Villarruel, A.M., Jemmott, J.B., Jemmott, L.S., Ronis, D.L. & Bigelow, A. (2005). Physical activity in Latino adolescents: understanding influences on activity intentions. Hispanic Healthcare International, 3 (3), 125-131.