BETH SHAINE, PNP
Having lived in the Pioneer Valley for over twenty years, I was delighted to "come home" to my own backyard and join the NAP team in 2007. Now settled into NAP for over ten years. I am grateful for the privilege of caring for and getting to know so many wonderful families from our community. I feel lucky, as I have throughout my career, to have a job I love, one that gives me the opportunity to meet and care for a fascinating, fun variety of babies, kids and teens. 
While in college as a biology major at Cornell, as I juggled options including med school and research, I discovered nurse practitioners (NPs) while volunteering at a local clinic. While NPs do much of what doctors do, the training is a little different, combining the "caring" focus of nursing with the "curing" focus of medicine. With over 30 years of experience now under my belt, you'll see me managing most routine problems on my own, but always bringing in one of the physicians when another opinion is in order.
After getting my Master's and NP training at Yale, I worked in Boston for a couple of years before moving "out west" to Amherst in 1980, where I started my family and discovered the joys of combining part-time Pediatrics with raising kids. I've worked with children with special needs, in college health at U Mass and also at the Mercy Hospital ER. Pior to joining NAP in 2007, I worked as a PNP at Medical West/Riverbend in Chicopee and later at Sumner Pediatrics in Springfield. I'm Board Certified as a PNP, and have also taught Pediatrics in the U Mass graduate nursing program. I'm particularly interested in developmental and psychological issues, as well as adolescent health and gynecology, but mostly I love the challenges of a variety of ages, systems and people! I have a deep respect for the hard job that parents do every day (and night). I know how stressful it can be to respond to various illnesses, and the ups and downs of growing children and adolescents.
My husband, Bill, and I live in Shutesbury, where we have recently (and joyfully!) joined the ranks of doting grandparents. When not working, Bill and I love spending time with our families, especially our three wonderful grandsons! I also try to fit in lots of travel, skiing, boating and enjoying local live music.
Education
Undergraduate: Cornell University, BA, Biology
Masters: Nursing/NP Training: Yale University School of Nursing, MSN
Memberships and Certifications
ANCC Board--Pediatrics
National Asssociation of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners
Special InterestsMedical: Development and Behavior, Adolescent Medicine and Gynecology
Non-medical: skiing, rafting, reading, jazzercise
