The 2025 class of the Miller Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence will be inducted at the Annual Excellence in Patient Care Symposium on Thursday, October 9, 2025, 3:30-5 p.m. at the Chevy Chase Conference Center at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Each year, the Miller Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence recognizes nurse practitioners and physician assistants at the symposium for the NP/PA Clinical Excellence Award. Two from the DOM will be recognized.
Julie McArthur, MSN, CRNP, Senior Nurse Practitioner in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins Hospital
Julie has been a leader in HIV care and research since 1986, first as a nurse research coordinator for the landmark Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, and later as a nurse practitioner specializing in HIV, viral hepatitis, and opioid use disorder. Since joining the DOM in 2001, she has maintained a busy clinical practice at the Moore Clinic and now the John G. Bartlett Specialty Practice, providing HIV specialty care, primary care, viral hepatitis management, and acute care services. Her diagnostic acumen, medical knowledge, and ability to navigate complex healthcare systems make her a trusted colleague and a highly sought-after provider.
Julie’s commitment to clinical excellence extends beyond her practice. She has authored numerous publications, served as a research coordinator and sub-investigator on HIV and viral hepatitis protocols, and consistently applies evidence-based medicine to her patient care. She is also a recognized “Epic Superuser,” volunteering her time to support colleagues and improve outpatient workflows—an effort that has enhanced efficiency, clinician satisfaction, and ultimately patient care across the clinic.
Her leadership and compassion are perhaps most evident in her response during times of crisis. From conducting in-person visits for acutely ill patients during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, to volunteering at community vaccine drives, to providing care in the Baltimore City mobile health unit for individuals with unstable housing and substance use disorder, Julie repeatedly steps forward when patients and communities need her most. She has also volunteered with the JH Go Team during regional and national emergencies, consistently demonstrating courage and selflessness in service to others.
Kayla Nyakinye, CRNP, MPH, Nurse Practitioner in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Kayla’s career embodies a unique blend of clinical expertise, compassionate care, and visionary leadership. After completing her Nurse Practitioner training at Vanderbilt University, she spent two years at a rural community hospital in Kenya, where she cared for patients with HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria while also leading quality improvement initiatives and securing international grant support to address health inequities. These formative experiences shaped her enduring commitment to advancing patient care for the most vulnerable populations.
Since joining Johns Hopkins Bayview in 2014, Kayla has distinguished herself as an outstanding clinician. On the Progressive Care Unit Pulmonary Service, she quickly became known as a dependable and compassionate provider who often served as the longitudinal point of care for medically complex patients facing repeated hospitalizations. She consistently tailored her approach to account for socioeconomic barriers, ensuring her patients received coordinated, equitable, and effective care.
In 2020, Kayla became the inaugural Nurse Practitioner in the Johns Hopkins Sarcoidosis Program, one of the nation’s longest-standing centers for this complex disease. She has since transformed the program’s capacity and reach, streamlining access to biologic therapies, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and ensuring that patients receive timely, high-quality, and compassionate care. Her innovations extend beyond clinical practice: she created the Sarcoidosis Patient Advisory Board, launched a monthly Support Group that now engages 50–100 participants, and organized the first Sarcoidosis Patient Education Event, which drew more than 350 attendees. These initiatives have become models for other programs across Hopkins, including the Post-Acute COVID-19 Team and Pulmonary Palliative Care Program.
