Keisha Lockhart, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNM

Dr. Keisha Lockhart, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNM, is an experienced pediatric nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife who has dedicated nearly three decades to the nursing profession, including 26 years in nursing and almost 19 years as a nurse practitioner. She is the founder and owner of AfterBirth, LLC, a direct primary care pediatric practice in Anderson, South Carolina, which she established nearly four years ago after relocating from southeast Pennsylvania . Through her practice, Dr. Lockhart provides comprehensive primary care to children from birth through age 18 years, along with early postpartum care for birthing people and their families. Her innovative membership-based model—just $39 per month—removes insurance barriers and allows families access to well visits and unlimited sick visits, offering both in-office care and in-home visits within an hour of Anderson. Before launching her own practice, Dr. Lockhart spent much of her career at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she served families in a primary care setting and developed a strong reputation for compassionate, family-centered care. Earlier in her career, she worked for 7 years as a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (Philadelphia) caring for critically ill newborns. These experiences shaped her deep commitment to supporting families from the earliest moments of life. Today, her dual certification in pediatrics and midwifery as an advanced practice nurse allows her to offer a unique continuum of care that supports both newborns and mothers during the early postpartum period. Dr. Lockhart is deeply engaged in community outreach and maternal-child health advocacy. She teaches about the newborn in childbirth classes for families and postpartum care for in-training community based doulas. She maintains partnerships with community organizations such as food pantries, Head Start programs, and churches. She serves on multiple advisory groups, including the National Strategy Advisory Committee for the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee and the South Carolina Maternal Health Innovative Collaborative, and has contributed to policy work with the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. As a Black woman and mother, Dr. Lockhart is particularly passionate about advancing Black maternal health and addressing healthcare disparities. She also serves as the legislative chair for the local chapter of her national pediatric nurse practitioner organization, advocating for full practice authority for nurse practitioners in South Carolina.

• Associate of Science, Chemistry concentration
• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Temple University
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Temple University
• Master of Science in Nursing, Temple University
• Postgraduate Midwifery Certification, Frontier Nursing University
• Doctor of Nursing Practice, University of Alabama

• Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
• Certified Nurse Midwife
• Infant Massage Instructor
• Lactation Counselor

• 2024 Pediatric Nursing Certification Board Kelly Reed Advanced Practice Community Impact Award
• 2025 Abbeville County Chamber of Commerce Heart of Service Award
• 2025 Best of South Carolina Regional Award, Pediatric Practice

• National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
• Institute for Advancement of Breastfeeding and Lactation Education
• National Black Midwives Alliance
• American Academy of Pediatrics (Affiliate Member)
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated

• Community health outreach
• Teaching postpartum classes to community doulas
• Teaching newborn portions of childbirth classes for local midwives
• Partnerships with food pantries
• Partnerships with Head Start programs
• Partnerships with local churches

Contributor to the Institute for Policy Solutions at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing convening document, “Strengthening Maternal and Child Health: Redefining and Reimagining Postpartum Care”.

Contributor to the South Carolina Institute of Medicine & Public Health recommendations, “Improving Maternal and Infant Health: Increasing Access to Care in Rural South Carolina”.