Elizabeth Hopfenspirger, DNP, MSN, APRN, CNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

Dr. Elizabeth Hopfenspirger is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. She is also an accomplished and dual board-certified Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Hopfenspirger is the Specialty Coordinator of the Psychiatric-Mental Health Doctor of Nursing Practice (PMHDNP) program where she leads teams of students and faculty in addressing mental health problems and prepares the nursing workforce to meet the increasing mental health needs of the diverse population. Dr. Hopfenspirger has over 20 years of experience in nursing and advanced practice nursing specialties, including psychiatry, family practice and cardiology, and in a variety of interprofessional settings. She holds a clinical practice at a precision medicine clinic in the Minneapolis area.

Dr. Hopfenspirger's clinical areas of expertise include mental health in the primary care setting, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, trauma-informed care and pharmacogenomics. More recent interests include the interactions between mind, brain and hormonal function during times of transition (psychoneuroendocrinology), and psychedelic treatment options in mental health care.

• Faculty Fellow, University Psychedelic Education Program, 2025

• American Psychiatric Nurses Association
• International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses
• Minnesota APRN Coalition
• Minnesota Nurse Practitioners
• National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
• University of Minnesota Alumni Association

• "Get Psyched! Mental Health Care in Everyday Practice”, Ridgeview Podcast: CME Series, December 2022

Peterson, B., Geiger-Simpson, E., Hopfenspirger, E. Ten Years and Going Strong: Interprofessional Education in Psychiatric Mental Health Graduate Education, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. (March 20, 2025).

Hopfenspirger, E. Trauma-Informed Care, Invited Presentation, Minnesota Nurse Practitioners Annual Conference, Brooklyn Center, MN. (November 30, 2018).

Hopfenspirger, E. Beyond the Blues: What You Need to Know About Perinatal Mental Health, Minnesota Nurse Practitioners Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN. (October 24, 2015). Invited.

Hopfenspirger, E. Workshop: Developing a Sustainable Social Support Network in Your Community, Postpartum Support International Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN. (June 21, 2013). Invited Panelist.

Hopfenspirger, E. Perinatal Mood Disorders: Postpartum Depression and Beyond, American College of Nurse-Midwives Minnesota Affiliate Maternal Outcomes Matter Conference, Minneapolis, MN. (October 12, 2012). Invited.