Maureen Licursi, NP: More Than a Nurse Practitioner

More than 17 years ago, Maureen Licursi, NP joined the hematology team of the Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology & Stem Cell Transplantation at Columbia as a pediatric nurse practitioner. Ms. Licursi today cares for children with lifelong genetic diseases and long-term chronic illnesses, such as sickle cell disease, helping patients throughout all stages of their treatment. 

Ms. Licursi is adamant about providing every child and family she sees with comprehensive care, attention to detail, and compassion. This means that she doesn’t just offer medical treatment to her patients; she seeks to understand all aspects of their family life. To Ms. Licursi, her role means caring for both the individual child and their support system—helping family members understand the illness, identify a treatment plan, and enable the child to manage and live well with their condition.

In every visit, Ms. Licursi checks in with patients about their growth, development, and aspirations. “It’s about weaving goals into every visit. I ask questions like, “How many times a day do you read? Have you been to the zoo? So you’re in tenth grade, let’s talk about college,” Ms. Licursi explained. “Some of my favorite moments are when a patient shows me their high school diploma or tells me what college they are attending.” When a patient fears that their dream is unattainable due to their illness, Ms. Licursi encourages them to think beyond their diagnosis and treatment plan, instilling growth, hope, and normalcy in their lives.