April D. Keys

Dr. April D. Keys (also referred to as Dr. April Bigelow in professional contexts) is a Clinical Professor and Program Lead for the Primary Care Adult Gerontology and Family Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (2008), with prior degrees in Nursing (BSN, MS) from the same institution. Her roles include teaching in the Health Behavior and Biological Sciences Graduate Nurse Practitioner Programs and leading global clinical immersion experiences in rural Thailand since 2013.

Dr. Keys’ research focuses on integrating palliative care into primary care and chronic disease management. She practices at Packard Health, a federally qualified health center, providing outpatient palliative care, advance care planning, and complex symptom management. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes equitable access to education, evidence-based problem-solving, and student-driven learning.

Key Affiliations:

• Member, Michigan Medicine Adult Ethics Committee (2019–present)
• Content Expert Panel, American Nurses Credentialing Center (2012–2018)
• Advisory Board Member, Shadow Health (2014–present)
• Member, Sigma Theta Tau Rho Chapter (1998–present)

Awards:

• Sigma Theta Tau Rising Star Award (2011)
• University of Michigan Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize (2014)
• Council on Global Engagement Award (2014)
• Daisy Award for Nursing Education (2015)

Her publications span global health, palliative care integration, hypertension management, and vulnerable population advocacy. She co-developed the CaringWithCompassion.org initiative, recognized for its innovative approach to teaching compassionate care for underserved groups.