Have you been thinking about earning a doctorate but wondering if now is the right time, or which path is right for you? In this episode, Drs. Sharlene Maynor and Tiffany Montgomery break down the DNP and PhD pathways, why doctoral education matters, and how it can help you uncover root causes, solve practice gaps, and broaden your impact as a nurse. Whether you’re seriously considering a terminal degree or just starting to explore the idea, this conversation offers a practical roadmap to help you take the next step with confidence.

Meet our guests:


Sharlene Alisa Maynor DNP, MSN, WHNP-BC

Dr. Sharlene Maynor is the Assistant Specialty Director of the Women's Health and Gender Related Nurse Practitioner program at Emory University. As a board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner with extensive expertise in maternal care including Gynecology, Antepartum, High-Risk Obstetrics, Labor and Delivery, and Postpartum services she is driven to empower women through meaningful connection, education, and compassionate, evidence-based care. She’s a passionate advocate and has advanced nursing education by establishing Dedicated Education Units and championing student success. Her academic journey spans from an Associate's degree in Nursing to a Doctor of Nursing Practice, reflecting resilience, cultural diversity, and excellence. Dr. Maynor’s leadership inspires growth, advances health equity, and shapes the future of women’s health nursing.


Tiffany M. Montgomery, PhD, RNC-OB, C-ONQS, FADLN

Dr. Tiffany Montgomery a 2026 AWHONN Fellow and the inaugural Maternal Program Manager at Parkland Health, overseeing the state-mandated Maternal Levels of Care quality improvement program, and maintains a career-long commitment to advancing patient safety, evidence-based practice, and equitable maternal health outcomes. She earned her PhD in Nursing in 2016 from the University of California, Los Angeles. During her studies, she served on the Nursing for Women’s Health Editorial Advisory Board, chaired the 2015 AWHONN Convention Host Committee, and represented AWHONN and Save the Children while advocating for frontline health workers in Jakarta, Indonesia.

I-tunes
Spotify
Spotify