Bethany Walker began her nursing career in 2010 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Belmont University. She worked as a staff nurse at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville before relocating to Birmingham in 2013 and joining the nursing team at Children's of Alabama.
Walker continued her education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, earning a Master of Science in Nursing in 2016. She has continued serving children and families as a pediatric nurse practitioner at Children's of Alabama. In 2026, Walker completed a Doctor of Nursing Practice and joined Samford University as a full-time faculty member, bringing extensive clinical experience and a passion for nursing to her role as an educator.
Outside of her professional roles, Walker enjoys spending time with her husband, Dow, and their two sons, Leyton and Wells.
Degrees and Certifications
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Belmont University
Awards and Honors
- Mentored Nurse Practitioner Award for Workforce Expansion from the Rheumatology Foundation, 2023
- Mental Health Screening and Promotion for Patients with Juvenile Dermatomyositis Grant Recipient from CURE JM Foundation, 2025-2026
- Children’s of Alabama Clinical Scholars, 2025
Involvement/Professional Societies:
- American College of Rheumatology, Committee on Rheumatologic Care
- Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA)
- National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
- Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers
- Pediatric Rheumatology Care and Outcomes Improvement Network
- Alabama League for Nursing
Expertise
- Pediatrics
- Pediatric Rheumatology
Recent Publications
- Reiff, D. D., Bridges, J. M., Rife, E. C., Gennaro, V. L., McAllister, L., Reed, A., Smith, C., Walker, B., Weiser, P., Smitherman, E. A., Stoll, M. L., Mannion, M. L., & Cron, R. Q. (2023). Majority of new patient referrals to a large pediatric rheumatology center result in non-rheumatic diagnosis. Pediatric Rheumatology Journal, 21(1), 120. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-023-00910-y
Recent Presentations
- Walker, B. (2026, April) Integrating Mental Health Support Across Pediatric Rheumatology Settings [Virtual Presentation & Panel Discussion]. CURE JM Foundation. (National)
- Walker, B. (2025, September) The Skinny on Juvenile Dermatomyositis: Navigating a Difficult Patient Case [Podium Presentation]. Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers (RhAPP) 6th Annual National Conference, Denver, CO, United States. (National
- Walker, B. (2025, October) Mental Health Screening Implementation for Pediatric Rheumatology Patients at a Tertiary Academic Medical Center [Poster Presentation]. American College of Rheumatology Annual Convergence, Chicago, IL, United States. (National)
- Walker, B. (2025, March) Mental Health Screening Implementation [Podium Presentation]. Children’s of Alabama Quality and Safety Day, Birmingham, AL, United States. (Local)
- Walker, B. (2024, November) Patient-Reported Barriers to Care Across Pediatric Rheumatology Patients at a Tertiary Academic Medical Center [Poster Presentation]. American College of Rheumatology Annual Convergence, Washington, D.C., United States. (National)
- Walker, B. (2024, October) Juvenile Dermatomyositis [Virtual Presentation]. National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Virtual Symposium. (National)
Research Areas
- Mental Health
