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Faculty Directory

Jessica E. Cotton, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, CNM, CNE

Jessica E. Cotton, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, CNM, CNE

Clinical Assistant Professor


4502 East 41st St. 

Tulsa, OK 74135

Office, 1A43

918-660-3970

Jessica-Cotton@ouhsc.edu


Dr. Jessica Cotton is a certified nurse-midwife (CNM), women's health nurse practitioner (WHNP-BC), and clinical assistant professor dedicated to advancing maternal health. She began with a criminology degree from the University of Oklahoma before transitioning to nursing in 2007. After earning her Master of Science in Nursing from Georgetown University, she became a CNM/WHNP-BC in 2014.

Dr. Cotton provided compassionate, evidence-based care in hospital-based midwifery settings, supporting women through pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond. Throughout her career, she has been committed to improving outcomes and reducing maternal mortality rates in Oklahoma.

In 2022, she transitioned into academia, joining the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences College of Nursing as a clinical assistant professor. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in 2023. Her DNP work centered on improving women's primary care for those with chronic health conditions by developing risk-based same-day family planning services with a preeclampsia prevention focus.

As a passionate educator, Dr. Cotton mentors the next generation of nurses and nurse-midwives. Her goal is to expand access to high-quality maternity care in Oklahoma, advocate for women's health, and address systemic issues contributing to maternal mortality while empowering women to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.


Education:

  • University of Oklahoma - Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Criminology
  • University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center - Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Georgetown University - Master of Science in Nursing - Midwifery & Women's Health
  • Arkansas State University - Doctor of Nursing Practice - Education


Board Certification(s):

  • American Midwifery Certification Board - Certified Nurse Midwife
  • National Certification Corporation - Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
  • National League for Nursing - Certified Nurse Educator


Clinical/Research Interests:

  • Maternal Mortality Prevention
  • Preeclampsia Prevention
  • Nurse-Midwifery & Women's Health
  • Interprofessional Education


Select Honors and Accomplishments:

  • Vice President of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, Oklahoma Affiliate: 2024-present
  • Committee Member, Oklahoma Board of Nursing Advanced Practice Formulary Advisory Council: 2021-2024
  • Achievement Award in Student Education, OU-Tulsa Department of Obsetetrics and Gynecology: 2018