Mrs. Shinnar has been a neuroscience clinical nurse specialist at the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York for over twenty years. She received her nursing diploma from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital School of Nursing in Utica, New York in 1974 and Bachelor of Science in nursing from the State University of New York at Utica/Rome in 1982. In 1984, Mrs. Shinnar received her master of science in nursing, specializing in medical/surgical neuroscience, from Yale University School of Nursing. Mrs. Shinnar is a certified medical/surgical clinical specialist, as well as a certified neuroscience registered nurse.
Ms. Shinnar was the first nurse to chair the practice committee of the American Epilepsy Society, is currently the immediate Past-President of the Association of Child Neurology Nurses, serves on the professional advisory board for the Epilepsy Foundation of Metropolitan New York, and as secretary of the board for the Greater New York Chapter of American Association of Neuroscience Nurses. She has served as past president of the Epilepsy Foundation of Southern New York and the professional advisory board of the Epilepsy Foundation of New York City.
Ms. Shinnar was presented the Claire Chee Award for Excellence by the Association of Child Neurology Nurses in 2009.
Having worked in the hospital setting as staff, head, and supervising nurse as well as an independent advanced practice nurse the majority of her time is now spent in research, with primary areas of interest: coping and adaptation to illness, especially in regard to the family’s response to epilepsy. Other interests include the relationship among patient advocacy, health education, and quality of life, as well as the effects of epilepsy medical treatments on the daily activities of patients and their families. Mrs. Shinnar has written many articles and book chapters and lectured extensively regarding these issues.