Leanne Gonzalez, DNP, APRN, CCNS-Neonatal, NNP-BC, is an accomplished neonatal advanced practice nurse and clinical leader with over two decades of experience dedicated to improving outcomes for critically ill newborns and their families. She currently serves as a Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist at Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando, Florida, where she integrates evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and interdisciplinary collaboration to advance neonatal care.

Dr. Gonzalez earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice with a Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was honored as a Brummett-Kemble Scholarship recipient. She also completed both her Neonatal Nurse Practitioner post-master’s certificate and Master of Science in Nursing as a Neonatal Clinical Nurse Specialist at Duke University, building a strong foundation in clinical expertise and leadership.

Throughout her career, Dr. Gonzalez has demonstrated a sustained commitment to clinical excellence, education, and innovation. Her work spans direct patient care, organizational leadership, and academic instruction, including multiple adjunct faculty roles where she has mentored and prepared future nurses. She is recognized for leading impactful quality improvement initiatives in the NICU, including advancements in vascular access practices, infant-driven feeding, infection prevention, and parental engagement.

As an active contributor to neonatal scholarship, Dr. Gonzalez has published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at national and regional conferences, and supported numerous doctoral and master’s-level student projects. Her professional interests include evidence-based practice implementation, neonatal vascular access, and strategies to reduce parental stress and improve developmental outcomes in the NICU setting.

Dr. Gonzalez remains deeply committed to advancing neonatal care through leadership, education, and quality improvement.