Krystal Geist is the Continuing Education Facilitator at Prairie Education and Research Cooperative. Krystal earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Illinois Springfield. Krystal’s experience most recently includes experience in the coordination and implementation of Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) activities, the coordination and implementation of American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC) activities and coordination of the Prairie Advanced Heart and Vascular Fellowship.

Contact Information:

Phone: (217)492-9107

Email: [email protected]

Paula K. Hubbard, RN, FNP-BC is the Department of Education, Lead Nurse Planner at Prairie Education and Research Cooperative. Paula earned her diploma in nursing from St. John’s School of Nursing in 1985 and her BSN from University of Illinois in Springfield in 1999. Paula’s post graduate Master’s in Family Practice Nursing was earned in 2017 from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.

Paula’s most recent experience is in Urgent Care and Family Practice Medicine for HSHS Medical Group for the last 4 years. She also is a Sub-Investigator in many diabetes and cardiovascular trials with PERC.

Prior to her transition to a Nurse Practitioner role, she worked as a Research Coordinator for cardiovascular device trials, multicenter monitoring manager and continuing education manager at PERC. Paula has been employed in the HSHS system for over 38 years in various departments including ICU, Emergency and Cath Lab.  

Cindy Ford is the CME/Finance Associate at Prairie Education and Research Cooperative.  Cindy earned an Associate’s Degree in Science from Lincoln Land Community College.  Cindy is experienced with the coordination and implementation of Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) activities and the coordination and implementation of American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC) activities in addition to patient billing and reconciliation.  Cindy also assists with daily tasks with PERC’s Investigational Site Division.