By Carlos Medina
On the wall in Michael Maymi’s office hangs a painting of a large red heart created by a young patient who knew they might not live long enough to grow up.
The child passed away from cancer in 2014.
“The mom told me they wanted me to have the painting. I’ve kept it with me ever since,” said Maymi, DNP, APRN, a clinical associate professor at the UF College of Nursing.
He had to pause frequently as he recounted the story. The memory is a reminder of why he chose pediatrics and why he is so dedicated to teaching the next generation of nurse practitioners.
In honor of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Week (March 16-21), Maymi reflected on how pediatrics has shaped his life.
Out of high school, he knew he wanted to be in health care but was unsure of the path to take. Inspired by his father’s military service, Maymi joined the U.S. Navy and trained as a hospital corpsman. His first assignment was at a pediatric clinic at a naval hospital in Philadelphia.
“I really wanted to work in the ER or critical care,” he said. “But I got assigned to pediatrics.”
What began as an assignment quickly became something deeper.
“The kids hit you in a way you don’t expect,” he said. “I really enjoyed working with the children and working with the families.”
It’s something that followed him through his early career. After leaving the Navy and graduating from nursing school, he was working in an emergency room in Miami when a child arrived in cardiac arrest. The team responded, but Maymi left the experience feeling unsettled.
“I didn’t feel confident that I could lead that kind of situation,” he said.
Determined to strengthen his skills, he sought a position in a pediatric intensive care unit. What started as an effort to “brush up” on pediatrics became a passion. He eventually received his Doctor of Nursing Practice in pediatric care and joined the College of Nursing in 2019.
The history of nurse practitioners in the United States is closely tied to pediatrics. The first nurse practitioner program was established in 1965 at the University of Colorado, focusing on pediatric care.
“The very first nurse practitioner was a pediatric nurse practitioner, Dr. Loretta Ford,” Maymi said. “She essentially set the stage for all nurse practitioners who followed.”
Today, Maymi balances teaching with clinical practice at UF Health Shands. He believes his clinical work is essential to preparing future nurse practitioners.
“As long as I’m practicing, I feel like I’m still relevant in the field,” he said. “I’m seeing the same challenges our students will face.”
Those experiences shape how he teaches. His goal isn’t simply to help students pass exams. It’s to ensure they are prepared for the moments when real lives are at stake.
“My job is to make them strong enough to be good clinicians when they graduate,” he said.
To do that, he has embraced simulation as a teaching tool, exploring emerging technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence to create realistic clinical scenarios.
In a simulation lab, students can practice the most difficult situations, including pediatric emergencies, complex diagnoses and high-pressure decision making without the risk of harming a patient.
“In simulation, you’re allowed to practice,” Maymi said. “Nobody gets hurt.”
Maymi sees pediatric nurse practitioners as frontline providers for families who might otherwise have limited access to pediatric specialists. In hospitals, they act as a bridge between physicians, bedside nurses and families.
“We’re kind of the piece in the middle that connects it all together,” Maymi said.
But at the heart of the profession, there are always children. Their trust, enthusiasm and resilience are inspiring.
For Maymi, it’s why he continues to teach, practice and mentor future pediatric nurse practitioners.
“The kids teach you a lot,” he said.
And sometimes, they leave behind a reminder that stays with you forever.