NIH: All of Us Research Program – Join the Nationwide Initiative

As Director of Nursing Education, Dr. Garcia leads several projects and programs to advancing nursing education with AACN, which serves are the voice of academic nursing and represents 825 member schools. Currently, Dr. García is engaged in education policy work in the capacity of director of nursing education with AACN, which serves as the voice of academic nursing and represents over 825-member schools. Dr. Rick García has over 20 years of active clinical nursing practice across a multitude of administrative and clinical settings. His experience includes serving as chair of the education committee and registered nurse member of the District of Columbia Board of Nursing. He has served as the executive director of the Florida Board of Nursing, focusing on regulation, licensure, and discipline of nurses and nursing programs. Most recently, he served on the New York State Board of Nursing as chair of the practice committee and a registered professional nurse member. Dr. García was inducted as fellow to the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses and received an induction to the HOSA Future Health Professionals Hall of Fame.

As Director of Policy for AACN, Dr. Leners leads policy initiatives pertaining to health policy and higher education issues that impact nursing schools. Dr. Leners was selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow in the office of Senator John Thune (R-SD) of the Senate Finance Committee. Colleen serves on the Case Western Reserve Alumni Board and many committees for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). She has maintained an active family nurse practitioner practice for over 26 years and has served our country in the United States Army Nurse Corps. She has many notable achievements both civilian and military and was inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and in American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Dr. Leners was awarded the Bronze Star for her service overseas.

Dr. Leners served as a Traumatic Brian Injury Program manager, created a nurse-managed primary care clinic for Wounded Warriors at Navy Medical Center San Diego (C5). She has also been a registered nurse and nurse practitioner for nearly four decades.

She received her DNP in Leadership from Case Western Reserve University, MSN FNP from University of San Diego and her BSN from California State University Dominguez Hills.