Robin Arends is the APRN Program Director at South Dakota State University and a family practice and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at Avel eCare. Dr. Arends strives to increase access to high quality, evidence-based health care through the removal of practice barriers. As an integral leader in legislative and health policy initiatives in her state, she worked with the South Dakota Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Consortium to achieve full practice authority for nurse practitioners and nurse midwives. Strategic alliances developed from this legislation led to the ability for nurse practitioners to be designated as Medicaid Primary Care Providers.

Dr. Arends further reduces health disparities throughout the nation though grant funding to develop and implement educational models focusing on improving telehealth knowledge and practice for healthcare providers. She is a recognized leader in telehealth and health policy and has consulted with state organizations. Dr. Arends has also been appointed to national advisory boards to guide policy development and practice. The impact of her work has been disseminated at the state, national and international level.

Dr. Arends earned her BSN from Briar Cliff University and her MS, DNP, and Post-Graduate Certificate from South Dakota State University.