Rebecca Pifer, NP

Rebecca Pifer, MD

Born and raised outside of Detroit, Michigan, Rebecca is one of 7 children, which include 5 adopted siblings. She new from an early age that she loved taking care of children. She has spent much of her career assisting in the operating room, and is skilled in the placement of chest thoracotomy tubes, central and arterial lines.

Rebecca began her tenure as a Cottage Concussion Clinic’s Nurse Practitioner after caring for trauma patients in Cottage’s Trauma Services Department. Prior to her recruitment to Cottage, Rebecca’s 15-year career included Nurse Practitioner positions in cardiothoracic surgery (Sharp Hospital, California) general surgery (Wake Forest Baptist Health, North Carolina), as well as surgical intensive care and thoracic surgery (William Beaumont Hospital, Michigan).

Credentials

ACNP-BC, MSN, BSN, RN, RN- FA

Education

  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Wayne State University, Detroit, MI July 2011
    Acute & Critical Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) - Wayne State University Detroit, MI, May 2007

Post Graduate Education and Training

  • William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan
  • Wake Forest Baptist Health Hospital, North Carolina
  • Sharp Hospital, California

Professional Affiliations

  • American Academy of Neurology
  • California Association for Nurse Practitioners
  • Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners
  • Golden Key International Honor Society
  • Wayne State University Alumni Association

Clinical areas of interest/expertise

  • Rebecca’s current endeavor has been highly focused on the expansion of the Cottage Concussion Clinic. Rebecca’s expertise has incorporated the latest findings in concussion research and translated them into direct patient care.
  • Rebecca has also contributed to the body of research through lead author in the publication of journals.
  • Leadership

Positions

  • Partner with the Santa Barbara Public School District through the Health Academy, Sports Medicine and Kinesiology classes, as well as Athletic Trainers and Athletic Directors throughout the tri-county area.

Recognition

  • Guardian Angel Award from Sharp hospital

Community service

  • Invited speaker at numerous conferences, training many providers and community leaders including school boards, nurses, athletic trainers, physical and occupational therapists as well as students. Rebecca’s career has involved all aspects of patient care.
  • Parish Nurse
  • California School Nurses Organization
  • California Association for Nurse Practitioners
  • The Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table- WISL committee
  • Baseline testing athletes throughout the tri-county area
  • Participation in community events- safe kids day, parents click, moxi mind event, nursing education, school education, coaching education, Santa Barbara public library events, runs, ice in paradise events, page youth concussion discussion

Research

  • Lead author for Neurotransmitter journal article: Cottage Children’s Medical Center Concussion Clinic An Individualized Approach to Care
  • Currently participating in research regarding pediatric concussion patients
  • Pediatric mental health project through Cottage multi-specialty clinics

Interests

  • Spending time with my husband and 4 children
  • Trail and mountain running with my Australian Shepard
  • Mountain and road biking
  • Rock climbing
  • Yoga
  • Strength and conditioning training
  • Traveling