Rick Pessagno is a seasoned Psychiatric-Mental Health Advanced Practice Nurse with over 30 years of experience. He completed his doctoral studies at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA.   His scholarship and clinical focus on thanatology.  He has been recognized for his contributions to nursing education, clinical practice, and organization leadership by the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, the New Jersey Society of Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses, and the American Association Nurse Practitioners.  He is a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.