Speakers

Andrea Novak, PhD, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, FAEN
Field Experience Coordinator/Adjunct Faculty
Aspen University

Dr. Andrea Novak is currently the Field Experience Coordinator and Adjunct Faculty for Aspen University. Her history in adult education spans over 30 years with most recently serving as an AHEC Nurse for about 23 years. Dr. Novak is a member of the NCNA Council on Gerontology and serves as a peer reviewer for NCNA’s CEAU Task Force as well as a Peer Reviewer for the Emergency Nurses Association Education Committee.

Her nursing background began as many of us did as a med-surg nurse which expanded to working in the emergency nursing arena and later as a nurse educator for a high-volume emergency department. Andrea is one of the North Carolina’s 100 Great Nurses, as well as a Fellow in the Academy of Emergency Nursing. She has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Emergency Nursing, the National AHEC Organization and currently on the Aspen Journal. A published author and national speaker, Dr. Novak also received training as a health literacy consultant through UNC Chapel Hill and developed a strong interest in both helping healthcare providers meet the literacy needs of their patients, especially those most vulnerable; the elderly. Dr. Novak holds a PhD in Public Health; community health and education from Walden University, two Masters Degrees, two bachelor degrees, and an ADN.

Speakers

Chika Anueyiagu, DNP, RN, NE-BC
Director of Surgical Services
Yale New Haven Hospital

Dr. Anueyiagu is the Director of Surgical Services at Yale New Haven Hospital with oversight of Inpatient surgical units including, surgical intensive care, trauma, intermediate care, bariatric, general surgery, vascular, and minimally invasive surgery units. She has leadership experience spanning over 20 years in several roles across specialties and settings. In these roles, she had the responsibility of alignment and executing strategic initiatives while ensuring excellent outcomes in nurse-sensitive indicators. Chika earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree from Fairfield University in Executive Leadership. She obtained her Nurse Executive Board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Patricia Span, PhD, RN, CPHQ, CENP
Strategy & Learning Specialist
Yale New Haven Hospital

Dr. Span is the Strategy & Learning Specialist at Yale New Haven Hospital Patient Services Administration with primary responsibility for development and oversight of the nursing strategic business plan and nursing communications comprised of the annual report and nursing news. She has extensive experience as a nurse leader in Education, Professional Practice, Quality, Nursing Research as well as organizational customer service strategies. Patricia received her Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing and is Board Certified in Executive Nursing Practice from the Association of Nurse Executives and credentialed in health care quality from the National Association of Health Care Quality.

Speakers

Darci McCall, PhD, RNC-OB, C-EFM
Clinical Associate Professor
Boise State University School of Nursing

Dr. McCall has been a nurse for 13 years, working primarily in the maternal-child setting. She earned her BSN from Idaho State University, her MSN from Jacksonville University, and her PhD in Nursing Education from the University of Northern Colorado. She discovered her passion for nursing education when she became a clinical instructor working with students in OB, NICU, and pediatrics. She was hooked and in 2015, she moved into a full-time faculty role at Boise State University. Having taught in a variety of settings at Boise State, she currently teaches in the RN-BS completion track program, where she is the lead faculty for several courses. Dr. McCall is passionate about nursing education and helping students learn and apply new information in every setting.

Dr. McCall’s research interests focus on substance use, specifically marijuana, during pregnancy and the stigma surrounding its use. Her interest in substance use disorder stems from her work in different hospital systems providing care to patients experiencing addiction and substance use disorder during pregnancy and as a faculty member working with students who care for this vulnerable population.

Dr. McCall has earned certifications in Inpatient Obstetric Nursing, Electronic Fetal Monitoring and is a Fetal Heart Monitoring Instructor. She is a member of the NCC’s Inpatient Obstetric Content Team, Inpatient Obstetric Item Writing Team, and the Inpatient Obstetrics Standard Setting Committee. She strongly advocates for SUD recognition, treatment, recovery, and educating nurses to care for this population compassionately and effectively.

Speakers

Marcia B. Proto, MEd, CAS
Executive Director
Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce, Inc.

Marcia Proto enjoys a successful career in state and national association leadership, nursing education and workforce development, healthcare fundraising, and statewide coalition building. She is currently Executive Director for the Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce (CCNW) as well as the owner of Marcia Proto Consulting, LLC.

Her life’s work has involved connecting people through education and targeted skills training toward fulfilling career paths, particularly in the nursing field. In addition to her roles with the CCNW, she has held management positions at the Connecticut Hospital Association, Junior Achievement of South-East Connecticut, Flath & Associates Consulting, and the National League for Nursing.

Marcia has spent the past 25 years ensuring that the nursing workforce will meet the nation’s growing healthcare needs by contributing to and engaging in state and national workforce development activities, including the Center to Champion Nursing in America, a national initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in collaboration with AARP.

Catherine E. Johnson, PhD, RN, CNE, APHN-BC, RA, CPH
Assistant Professor in Nursing
Pacific College of Health and Sciences

Catherine (Kate) E. Johnson has been a registered nurse for 35 years and was the public health nurse in her community for 13 years (2008-2021). Dr. Johnson has taught Community/Population Health for over 8 years in traditional undergraduate and RN to BSN programs. She is certified in Advanced Public Health Nursing by the ANCC and in Public Health by the National Board of Health Examiners in 2022. In 2021, Dr. Johnson was a member of the Education and Professional Development Committee for the Association of Public Health Nurses, which focused on developing the Public Health Policy Cycle content for the New to Public Health (N2PH) Residency Program. She previously served on the Massachusetts Local Public Health Advisory Committee.

Dr. Johnson graduated from Keuka College in New York with a BSN, earned an MBA from Western New England College in Massachusetts, an MSN from American International College in Massachusetts, and a PhD in nursing education from Capella University in Minnesota.

Speakers

Patricia Morton, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, FAAN
Editor of the Journal of Professional Nursing
Dean Emeritus
University of Utah

Patricia G. Morton is Dean Emeritus, University of Utah College of Nursing. Dr. Morton has authored three textbooks, numerous book chapters, and over 60 journal articles. She has served on the editorial board of six nursing journals and for seven years was the editor of a clinical journal sponsored by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Currently, Dr. Morton is the editor of AACN’s Journal of Professional Nursing. She is a certified acute care nurse practitioner. Dr. Morton was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 1999.

Speakers

Rebecca C. Mueller, PhD, RN, CRNP, FNP-BC
Associate Professor
Neumann University

Dr. Rebecca C. Mueller is an associate professor of nursing at Neumann University. Prior to joining Neumann, she was employed as a primary care family nurse practitioner in Philadelphia, PA and Las Vegas, NV. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate nursing students, she works as a nurse practitioner at Swarthmore College’s Student Health and Wellness clinic providing primary care to a college-aged population. Dr. Mueller received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Villanova University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from Villanova University. She is passionate about the care of adolescents, young adults, and vulnerable populations. After earning her BSN, she spent a year of service with the Augustinian Volunteers program working as a nurse in a free clinic in San Diego, CA. Her background also includes medical-surgical nursing, home health, and community-based nursing. Her passion for equitable health care has translated to research at Neumann to develop and implement curricula focused on caring for patients who are LGBTQ. Dr. Mueller serves on the board of the Southeastern Pennsylvania College Health Nurses Association, and is an active member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, earning an AANP and Sigma Theta Tau research grant in 2022.

Speakers

Sofia Aragon, JD, BSN, RN
Executive Director, Washington Center for Nursing
Mayor, City of Burien

Sofia Aragon is the executive director for the Washington Center for Nursing and Mayor for the City of Burien. As Washington State’s nursing workforce center, WCN works to address the nursing shortage. Public policy is her passion. In her previous role as Governmental Affairs Advisor for the Washington State Nurses Association, she represented registered nurses, ARNPs United of Washington, and the School Nurse Organization of Washington. She advocated for legislation on workplace safety, full state adoption of the Affordable Care Act, higher education and public health funding, banning toxins in the environment, racial equity, and other issues. She was elected to the Burien City Council in 2019 and elected Mayor in 2022. As Chair of the Burien Airport Committee, she influences regional, state, and federal legislation to mitigate the health impact of exposure to communities by SeaTac International Airport. Most of Washington state’s communities of color live within a 10-mile radius of SeaTac airport. She partners with other cities, public health and community-based organizations to lessen exposure from the airport and health disparities among communities living and working near the airport. She also voted to pass city ordinances for environmental preservation and addressing climate change, such as requiring the use of compostable products, a tree ordinance, and a city Climate Action Plan. She earned a BA in Economics from UW-Seattle, a BSN in Nursing from Seattle University, and a Juris Doctor from Loyola University- Chicago School of Law.

Speakers

Robin Lockhart, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE
Chair and Assistant Professor
Midwestern State University

Dr. Robin Lockhart professionally focuses on the education, retention, and support of pre-licensure, post-licensure, and graduate nursing students. She has served as a nursing faculty member for the last 29 years. She holds a BSN from Midwestern State University, and an MSN and PhD in Nursing from the University of Texas in Arlington. Her scholarship focuses primarily on pre-licensure student retention. However, she has secured external funding to support nursing student retention, provide new technologies to educate nursing students, increase nurse practitioner enrollment and clinical placement, and improve resiliency of healthcare providers. During her 37 years of nursing, she worked in emergency, critical care, cardiac care, post-surgical, medical, and pediatric units in three acute care hospitals. She served as a relief house supervisor for 16 years. She is a champion of new technologies. Today she is speaking about the use of artificial intelligence in academia, and specifically about the use of ChatGPT. She will share ideas on how to reduce the challenges associated with its use, and how to use it to the advantage of the nurse educator in teaching and scholarship.

Speakers

Kathy Chappell, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN
Senior Vice President
Accreditation, Certification, Measurement, Institute for Credentialing Research and Quality Management, and Advanced Practice Initiatives
American Nurses Credentialing Center

Dr. Chappell is the Senior Vice President of Accreditation, Certification, Measurement for the Institute for Nursing Research and Quality Management, and Advanced Practice Initiatives at the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She is responsible for certification of individual registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs); and development of board certification examinations. She is responsible for the accreditation of organizations that provide continuing nursing education and interprofessional continuing education; and for accreditation of residency and fellowship programs for RNs and APRNs. She directs the Institute for Nursing Research, analyzing outcomes related to credentialing and other important nursing issues, and the quality management department. She also leads the Advanced Practice Initiatives department. She holds a baccalaureate in nursing with distinction from the University of Virginia, a master of science in advanced clinical nursing, and a doctorate in nursing from George Mason University. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and a Distinguished Scholar & Fellow of the National Academies of Practice.

Steve Singer, PhD
Vice President of Education and Outreach
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education

Dr. Singer oversees development of programs and resources to support the ACCME system of accredited CME providers, ACCME-recognized state accreditors, and accreditation volunteers, including the annual ACCME Meeting and ACCME’s online learning portal, ACCME Academy. Dr. Singer also oversees the educational support for Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education, a collaborative initiative founded by ACCME, American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

Dr. Singer’s liaison responsibilities for the ACCME include the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaboratives on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience and Countering the U.S. Opioid Epidemic, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) evidence-based Care Transformation Support (ACTS) initiative, and other partnerships to elevate the role of continuing education as a strategic asset for healthcare change. Dr. Singer received his doctorate in neuropharmacology from the Stritch School of Medicine.

Speakers

Jeanne Bernier, MSN, RN, CNL-BC
MSN-CNL Program Director/Instructor
Mississippi College

Jeanne Bernier is the MSN-CNL program director at Mississippi College in Clinton, MS. She currently in her final semester of coursework in the PhD in Nursing program at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. Jeanne earned her BSN from the University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing in 2006 and her MSN in Nursing Education from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2014. After working as a staff nurse on primarily medical/surgical and gynecological/oncological hospital floors for 8 years, she moved into a full-time role as a nurse educator in 2014 teaching adult health didactic and clinical courses, pharmacology, and research to undergraduate students. Mississippi College began its CNL program in 2019 and, along with program director responsibilities, Jeanne teaches the CNL specific course and oversees students’ clinical projects. The CNL program at Mississippi College is the only one in the state, and Jeanne and the MSN team are busy trying to spread the word and “make the case” for CNLs to area hospital systems.

Speakers

Quyen Phan, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Assistant Clinical Professor
Emory University

Dr. Phan is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, with more than eighteen years of teaching experience, both in acute care and public health and community settings. Her areas of expertise include nursing education, population-based and public health nursing, primary care, and care of disfranchised populations. She is a PI/PD of several grants, including $8 million dollar grants from HRSA, and one from the AACN, with a focus on nursing training. As a former refugee from Vietnam, Dr. Phan earned her Bachelor of Nursing degree from Ottawa University in Canada, Masters in Leadership Public Health and Teaching minor from Emory University, and Doctor of Nursing Practice and Family Nurse Practitioner from Augusta University.

Lisa Roberts, PH, MSN, FNP-BC, CHES, FAANP, FAAN
Professor/Research Director
Loma Linda University

Lisa R. Roberts is a Professor and the Research Director at Loma Linda University School of Nursing, with a secondary appointment as Professor in the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies in the School of Behavioral Health to facilitate collaborative translational research. Her MSN and Family Nurse Practitioner training was obtained at Western University of Health Sciences, and her Dr.PH in health education at the LLU School of Public Health.

Dr. Roberts’ clinical practice is foundational to her teaching and research. Her clinical focus is primary care and prevention, including vaccinations. She enjoys teaching and mentoring as this provides the opportunity to influence the next generation of nurses and scholars to care for communities, vulnerable populations, and reduce health disparities.

Melissa J. Geist, EdD, FNP-BC, PPCNP-BC
Professor of Nursing
Tennessee Tech University

A passionate educator, researcher, and practitioner, Dr. Geist maintains dual certification as a Family and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Her research interest involves interprofessional teamwork, communication, and healthcare mis/disinformation. Dr. Geist serves as the PI for VECTOR (Vaccine Education for Communities to Orchestrate Recovery) and ESTAR Sanos “to be healthy” (Education, Support, Training, Awareness, and Resources), grants from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the TN Department of Health to mitigate the adverse outcomes of COVID-19 in rural and Hispanic populations. The grant team has provided education and resources to over 2000 individuals through robust partnerships with groups such as the TN Association of Hispanic Nurses, local ESL programs, and faith-based organizations. Dr. Geist received national honors from the ANCC (Certified Nurse Award, 2017) and the Vanderbilt University Alumni Association (Award for Healthcare Innovation, 2020).

Stefanie Birk, DNP, MSN, MBA, RN
Assistant Professor
DNP and MS Leadership Area Coordinator
University of Missouri

Dr. Birk is faculty at the University of MO Sinclair School of Nursing and has spent much of her career in public health and nursing education. She holds a DNP in Nursing Leadership from the University of Kansas, a MSN with an emphasis in public health nursing from the University of Missouri – Columbia, and a MBA from William Woods University. She has 15 years academic teaching experience and teaches courses in both the undergraduate and graduate programs in areas of public health and leadership. Dr. Birk also coordinates the DNP and MS Leadership areas of study.

In spring 2022, grant funding allowed the opportunity to work with nursing students on Covid-19 vaccine confidence projects. Undergraduate and Graduate students completed vaccine confidence modules as well as motivational interviewing sessions which have been integrated into the curriculum. The project team also worked with School of Journalism to create social marketing projects.

Speakers

Mary K. Fey, PhD, RN, CHSE-A, ANEF, FAAN
Principal and Managing Partner, Transformative Teaching, LLC
Principal Faculty, Center for Medical Simulation

Dr. Fey has been a nurse educator for over 30 years. She received a PhD & Certificate in Teaching from the University of Maryland. Her initial work as an educator took place in a large academic medical center, where she had oversight of the new nurse transition to practice programs for 10 years. She has held a number of academic appointments in both community colleges and universities. Dr. Fey’s expertise is in faculty development, experiential and reflective learning, and the importance of the teacher-learner relationship. She regularly publishes and presents on these topics. Currently, Dr. Fey is Principal Faculty at the Center for Medical Simulation in Boston, MA, and is a founding partner in the academic consulting firm Transformative Teaching.

Kate J. Morse, PhD, RN, AGACNP- Ret., CHSE, FAAN
Assistant Dean Innovation and Experiential Learning
Drexel University

Dr. Morse obtained her BSN from the University of Calgary, Alberta; her MSN as a clinical nurse specialist in critical care from San Diego State University; her Post- masters certificate as an Adult Nurse Practitioner from California State University, Long Beach and her PhD from Villanova University. She is a retired Adult and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Certified as a Simulation Educator (CHSE). She is a past Jonas Scholar and National League of Nursing Sim Leader. She served as the VP of Membership for INASCL (International Nursing Association in Simulation and Clinical Learning) from 2016 – 2018. Dr. Morse held the positions of Assistant and Associate Director of the Center for Educational Leadership and International Programs Medical Simulation in Boston 2015 – 2019. Dr. Morse is currently the Assistant Dean for Experiential Learning and Innovation in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Associate Clinical Professor and principal faculty for the Center for Medical Simulation.

Speakers

Varsha Singh, DNP, APN, NEA-BC, FAHA, FAANP
Manager Neurosciences/Stroke Program/Telestroke Specialist
St. Joseph’s Health System

Speakers

Calvin Chou, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine
University of California at San Francisco

Calvin Chou is Professor of Medicine at the University of California at San Francisco, and staff physician at the Veterans Affairs Health Care System in San Francisco. As Senior Faculty Advisor for External Education with the Academy of Communication in Healthcare (ACH), he is recognized internationally for leading workshops in relationship-centered communication, feedback, conflict, and remediation in health professions education. He is co-editor of the books Remediation in Medical Education: A Midcourse Correction, and Communication Rx: Transforming Healthcare Through Relationship-Centered Communication.

Kara Myers, CNM
Clinical Professor
University of California San Francisco

Kara Myers has been practicing nurse-midwifery since 2000, when she completed graduate training at UCSF. She is currently Clinical Professor in the UCSF Department of OB, Gyn, and Reproductive Sciences. Her clinical practice sites are Zuckerberg San Francisco General (ZSFG) and Mission Neighborhood Health Center. Additionally, she is a member of the leadership council for the nurse-midwifery faculty practice at ZSFG and serves as a Senior Faculty Advisor for the Academy of Communication in Healthcare (ACH).

Kara co-directs the Relationship Centered Communication program at ZSFG and was a founding co-director of the Relationship Centered Communication Facilitators program for ACH. Within the UCSF community and nationally, as faculty of ACH, she regularly facilitates workshops in relationship centered communication, conflict, and feedback. In collaboration with colleagues, she has designed and implemented workshops focusing on the application of relationship centered communication to the promotion of equity in health care and health professions education.

Speakers

Patricia Morton, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, FAAN
Editor of the Journal of Professional Nursing
Dean Emeritus
University of Utah

Patricia G. Morton is Dean Emeritus, University of Utah College of Nursing. Dr. Morton has authored three textbooks, numerous book chapters, and over 60 journal articles. She has served on the editorial board of six nursing journals and for seven years was the editor of a clinical journal sponsored by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Currently, Dr. Morton is the editor of AACN’s Journal of Professional Nursing. She is a certified acute care nurse practitioner. Dr. Morton was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 1999.

Speakers

Patricia Morton, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, FAAN
Editor of the Journal of Professional Nursing
Dean Emeritus
University of Utah

Patricia G. Morton is Dean Emeritus, University of Utah College of Nursing. Dr. Morton has authored three textbooks, numerous book chapters, and over 60 journal articles. She has served on the editorial board of six nursing journals and for seven years was the editor of a clinical journal sponsored by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Currently, Dr. Morton is the editor of AACN’s Journal of Professional Nursing. She is a certified acute care nurse practitioner. Dr. Morton was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 1999.

Speakers

Patricia Morton, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, FAAN
Editor of the Journal of Professional Nursing
Dean Emeritus
University of Utah

Patricia G. Morton is Dean Emeritus, University of Utah College of Nursing. Dr. Morton has authored three textbooks, numerous book chapters, and over 60 journal articles. She has served on the editorial board of six nursing journals and for seven years was the editor of a clinical journal sponsored by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Currently, Dr. Morton is the editor of AACN’s Journal of Professional Nursing. She is a certified acute care nurse practitioner. Dr. Morton was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 1999.

Speakers

Tammy Cupit, PhD, RN-BC
Director, Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice
University of Texas Medical Branch

Dr. Tammy Cupit has been a registered nurse for over 25 years. She currently serves as an Associate Chief Wellness Officer for UTMB Health, directs a Nursing Science & Innovation division and has faculty appointments with the UTMB SON as well as the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Her background is primarily in Behavioral Health nursing. She received her PhD from the UTMB School of Nursing and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. She is a certified Instructor in Communication and Crisis De-escalation from the Crisis Prevention Institute. Dr. Cupit also holds certifications in Emotional and Social Intelligence Coaching from the Institute for Social and Emotional Intelligence and is a certified specialist in Restorative Practices from the National Educators for Restorative Practices (NEDRP). She has conducted local and multi-site social and behavioral research and has spoken regionally, nationally and internationally on her work. Dr. Cupit works with educators, students, healthcare teams and individuals to optimize well-being and joy and to improve professional relationships.

Speakers

Micki Englert, DNP, FNP-BC, CNE
Professor and Graduate Chair
Rasmussen University

Micki Englert is a Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Educator. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s preparation at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA, and her DNP at the University of North Florida. Micki’s practice focuses on preventive medicine, nutrition, environmental health, and climate change. She is also passionate about nursing education and has completed a certificate in E-Learning Instructional Design and Oregon State University. Micki has been teaching nursing students for 10 years and is currently a professor and graduate program chair at Rasmussen University.

Kathryn P. Jackman-Murphy, EdD, MSN, RN, CHSE
Professor of Nursing
Naugatuck Valley Community College and Charter Oak State University

Kathy Murphy received her nursing degree from St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing, Associate Degree in Science from Mattatuck Community College, her BSN from Southern Connecticut State University, and her MSN and Doctorate in Education from the University of Hartford. The topic of her dissertation was the Confidence of New Nurse Graduates in the Application of Environmental Health in the Nursing Process.

Dr. Murphy has a vast experience in pediatric nursing, working in pediatrics at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Waterbury Hospital, and St. Mary’s Hospital in Ct, as well as a Public Health Nurse for the City of Waterbury. She has considerable experience in OB nursing having worked in the Family Birthing Center of Waterbury Hospital providing care to new families. She has taught OB clinical experiences for NVCC, Gateway Community College, Yale University and the University of Connecticut.

Dr. Murphy is a Professor of Nursing at Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC), an adjunct faculty at Charter Oak State College and the University of Hartford where she teaches courses on Environmental Health and Nursing and Climate Change.

Dr. Murphy has several publications on environmental health and climate change and has presented at many conferences on these topics. She is an active member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, co-chair of the Education Workgroup and a member of the Steering Committee. She is one of the editors of the second edition of ANHE’s free online text: Environmental Health and Nursing and has contributed several sections to this publication.

Jennifer J. Wasco, DNP, RN
Assistant Professor, Acute & Tertiary Care
Director of Professional Development & Continuing Education
University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Jennifer J. Wasco is an Assistant Professor of Nursing and the Director of Professional Development & Continuing Education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. Her scholarly agenda is bifurcated, focusing on environmental health and climate change and nurses' professional development and continuing education at all educational levels.

She has visited Capitol Hill to meet with Congressional leaders to educate them on climate change and human health. She was an invited guest lecturer for the 2019 UCLA Carbon Neutrality Faculty Course Curriculum Workshop and most recently was a panelist for the Oncology Nursing Society Advocacy Webinar discussing implementation science, climate change and the role of the oncology nurse along with congressional members, and leaders from ONS, American Cancer Society (ACS), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Dr. Wasco has published manuscripts on curriculum, pedagogy, online learning, and teaching strategies and has authored a chapter in the 2nd edition of the Environmental Health in Nursing textbook published by the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments. She is currently the primary investigator for a study to identify best practices for incorporating environmental and climate change topics into existing academic coursework while mapping to the newly released ANCC Essentials.

Through advanced quality education initiatives and programming for nurses, Dr. Wasco hopes to improve the health of the world's people.

Jaclyn McPheeters, MSN, APRN, CCRN, FNP-BC
Family Nurse Practitioner
Integrative Health Group

Jaclyn McPheeters is an AACN board certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She graduated with her Master of Science in Nursing from Lewis University. She practiced as a registered nurse for 12 years in intensive care and is an AACN board certified critical care registered nurse. She previously was a full-time tenure track assistant professor of nursing and taught advanced medical-surgical nursing at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights.

She is a member of Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments. For scholarship she works on her passion of climate change and environmental health advocacy works. In her current role, she directly cares for patients impacted by climate change and she both treats their conditions and helps them to achieve their most optimal state of health through preventative care.

Shanda Demorest, DNP, RN, PHN
Associate Director Climate Engagement & Education
Health Care Without Harm

Shanda Demorest, DNP, RN, PHN is the Associate Director for Climate Engagement and Education at Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth, where she supports decarbonization and climate-smart health care delivery throughout the sector. Dr. Demorest earned her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Health Innovation and Leadership from the University of Minnesota, and she holds the LEED Green Associate credential through the U.S. Green Building Council. A cardiovascular nurse with horticultural training by background, Shanda is co-founder of the Nurses Climate Challenge: A national campaign to educate 50,000 health professionals about the health impacts of climate change. Dr. Demorest sits on the Global Climate Change Committee for the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and is a former Executive Board member of Minnesota-based Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate. She is a co-PI in the development of CHANT: The Climate and Health Tool, which measures health professionals’ awareness and engagement with climate change globally. Dr. Demorest serves as an Affiliate Faculty member at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing and has published works on environmental sustainability in health care and the health impacts of climate change in local, state, and national journals.

Speakers

Dawn Mueller-Burke, PhD, CRNP, NNP-BC
Assistant Professor/Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
University of Maryland Baltimore
University of Maryland Medical Center

Dr. Mueller-Burke has a clinical focus in the Neonatal Intensive Care arena where she spent most of her career as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) PhD program with a focus in neonatal neurophysiology. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University in a developmental genetics laboratory with a focus in stem cell biology. Her research sought to better understand neonatal brain injury and to identify potential interventions, including hypothermia and stem cell therapy to improve outcomes after neonatal brain injury. She shifted her focus to leadership and educational-based endeavors once joining the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Nursing in 2004 where she teaches across degree programs, specifically in the NNP program. She is nationally certified as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, with a per diem practice in the NICU at the University of Maryland Medical Center. In 2011 she served as the Faculty Chair of the DNP Transition Task Force incorporating the AACN Essentials, leading all the APN Master’s specialties at UMSON to the doctorate (DNP) beginning Fall 2014. She is currently the Chair of the New Essentials Curricular Revisions Taskforce at UMSON, with a targeted implementation of the graduate programs in the Fall of 2024.

Speakers

Emerson Ea
Clinical Associate Professor
Associate Dean, Clinical & Adjunct Faculty Affairs
New York University

Dr. Emerson Ea is the associate dean and a clinical associate professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. His scholarship interest areas include nursing education and innovation, immigrant health and well-being, and cardiovascular health. He has published on topics related to work and personal outcomes among internationally educated nurses, Filipino immigrant health, gerontologic nursing, and nursing education and practice. Dr. Ea was part of the inaugural cohort of the American Academy of Nursing Jonas Policy Scholars, working with the Cultural Competence and Health Equity Expert Panel (2014–2016).

Dr. Ea is chair of the Kalusugan Coalition, a community organization that aims to promote cardiovascular health among Filipino Americans in the New York metropolitan area, and chair of the Education Committee of the Philippine Nurses Association of America.

Dr. Ea earned a PhD in nursing from Duquesne University, DNP from Case Western Reserve University, MS in adult health from Long Island University, and BSN from the University of St. La Salle, Philippines.

Karyn L. Boyar, DNP, FNP-BC, RN, CNE
Clinical Assistant Professor
New York University

Karyn Boyar is an assistant clinical professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, the director for the Master in Clinical Nursing Research Program as well as a Certified Nurse Educator. As an educator and family nurse practitioner specializing in neurology and long-term care, she teaches both didactic and clinical courses and simulation. She has over 20 years of experience in healthcare and over ten years of experience in the clinical care and management of patients with Parkinson’s disease and Dystonia.

Before joining the faculty at NYU, Boyar was the clinical specialty coordinator at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the designated outreach coordinator for the National Parkinson Center of Excellence at the Robert and John M. Benheim Center for Movement Disorders.

Boyar earned her DNP from Pace University and MS and BS in nursing science from Pace University. Currently, she serves on the board of directors of the IARCN (International Association of Clinical Research Nurses) as a member-at-large.

Her current scholarship focuses on bringing Design Thinking Models to life for undergraduate students in the large classroom. She has presented her work on Design Thinking on the local, national and international levels and has contributed several book chapters disseminating this innovation in teaching.

Mary Jo Vetter, DNP, RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAANP
Clinical Associate Professor
Director of the DNP Program
New York University

Mary Jo Vetter is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the DNP Program at NYU Meyers College of Nursing. She engages in clinical practice as the founder of VetterAPN Consulting promoting clinical and care management strategies to support successful aging in place. Dr. Vetter has expertise in evidence-based quality improvement, establishing cutting-edge NP led, primary care services in the community, and virtual care delivery. She has a proven track record of innovation in practice and education that focuses on promoting the nurse practitioner as leader. She has received awards and accolades for her contributions to clinical academic partnerships, advancing and leading the profession, and transforming advanced practice nursing.

Stacen Keating, PhD, RN
Clinical Associate Professor
New York University

Stacen A. Keating is a Clinical Associate Professor at NYU's Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Dr. Keating teaches across programs in both the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral departments (DNP). She has established competencies in Instructional Design as well as Design Thinking (DT). Design Thinking is a means of teaching nurses a framework of creative thinking and innovation and has established a process for utilizing this framework within her public health classes. Her areas of scholarship interest are further focused on global public health. She has written numerous publications related to both educator and student needs. A key focus has been to assist nurse educators and students attain access to the most evidenced based resources to achieve excellence within professional nursing practice. Dr. Keating is on the Nursing Advisory Board for Nurses International, a 501c3 organization devoted to providing excellence in global nursing education, especially in countries with limited resources. Dr. Keating has developed educational products in collaboration with colleagues at Nurses International which are open access resources and are readily available at Nurses international's main website. Key courses relate to: oncology nursing, fundamentals of nursing and medical surgical nursing. Additional courses taught at NYU include: Community/Public Health Nursing (UG), Applied Epidemiology (DNP), Environment and the Health of Populations (G) and Psych Nursing (UG, simulation).

Speakers

Kathleen Amos, MLIS
Director, Academic/Practice Linkages
Public Health Foundation

Kathleen Amos, MLIS, serves as the Director, Academic/Practice Linkages for the Public Health Foundation. In this role, she supports collaborative public health workforce development initiatives designed to strengthen connections between academia, public health practice, and healthcare. She coordinates the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice and its initiatives, including the Academic Health Department Learning Community and Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals, as well as other performance improvement efforts related to workforce development. Kathleen holds a Master’s degree in library and information studies, with post-graduate training in health sciences information services.

Nola Martz, EdD, MSN, RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Truman State University

Nola earned her BSN and MSN (with clinical specialty in Public Health) from the University of Missouri - Columbia (MU). Nola completed her Doctorate of Education with William Woods University where her dissertation research was on the impact of accreditation to public health funding in Missouri. Following her early nursing practice in NICU, rural community hospital and physician practice settings, she has spent the majority of her career in public health nursing in rural and suburban local public health agencies, and with the State health department in Missouri at programmatic and administrative levels. Nola joined the Truman State University (TSU) Nursing Department in Fall of 2021 as an Assistant Professor of Nursing. She currently teaches the NU485 – Rural and Public Health Nursing course and the NU250 Life Span Development course. She has also taught Pharmacology I and II for TSU. Prior to joining the TSU Nursing faculty, Nola taught for 6 years as adjunct instructor and full time as Visiting Assistant Professor for the graduate Master in Public Health (MPH) online program at MU where she instructed Applied Epidemiology in Community Assessment, and Introduction to Research Methods courses. At MU, she additionally served as a Public Health Consultant for the MU Extension Community Health Team. Nola currently serves on the Missouri Public Health Association Board.

Joann Hoganson, MSN, RN
Director of Community Wellness
Kent County Health Department

Joann Hoganson is the Director of Community Wellness at the Kent County Health Department in Grand Rapids, MI. Prior to this, Joann, along with her husband and four kids, served in Brazil, South America as a missionary nurse for sixteen years. A primary focus of her efforts in Brazil was providing holistic and redemptive care to children and families living on the streets of Salvador, Bahia. Through this experience, she honed her administrative skills, learned the importance of community collaboration, and deepened her passion and commitment to bringing quality, holistic care to those who most need it. Additionally, she has worked as a Nursing Instructor at Grand Valley State University and Davenport University.

Joann is originally from Danbury, Connecticut, and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Cedarville University in Ohio, majoring in Biology and Chemistry. She then received a Master’s Degree in Nursing from Pace University in Pleasantville, NY, just outside of New York City. Joann has a deep commitment to the future generations of nurses and finds joy in passing her acquired knowledge on to future nurses who are diverse, well-prepared, innovative, and culturally competent. These are the people she hopes will carry the nursing torch after her retirement.

Moderator:

Susan M. Swinder, PhD, PHNA-BC, FAAN
Professor
Community, Systems and Mental Health Nursing
Rush University

Susan Swider is a Professor in the Department of Community, Systems and Mental Health Nursing at Rush University in Chicago. Dr. Swider has practiced in acute care, home health care and public health settings over the past thirty years. Her research has focused on program development and evaluation of community health workers, engaging urban communities in health promotion, and health policy to support health promotion efforts. She has taught public health nursing at the pre-licensure and graduate/specialty level at several universities, and co-directed 10 years of HRSA supported work to develop an online doctoral program in Advanced Public Health Nursing, ensuring that it met the Quad Council competencies for Public Health Nursing practice. She is a member of a number of public health and public health nursing organizations, and is a past president of the Association of Community Health Nursing Educators (ACHNE). In her role with ACHNE, she served on the Quad Council for Public Health Nursing organizations, and was a member of the Task Force that revised the Competencies for Public Health Nursing (2010-2012). In 2011, Dr. Swider was appointed by President Obama to the Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion and Integrative and Public Health, a group designed to advise on the development and implementation of the National Prevention Strategy. She is also a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and of the Institute of Medicine of Chicago. In 2016, she was appointed to serve on the Community Preventive Services Task Force of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Speakers

Cecilia Sorensen, MD
Director, Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education
Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health
Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
Columbia University

Cecilia Sorensen, MD is the Director of the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education at Columbia University, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Columbia Irving Medical Center and Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. Dr. Sorensen received her Doctor of Medicine from Drexel University College of Medicine and completed a four-year emergency medicine residency at Denver Health. Following residency training, she completed a 2-year fellowship in climate change and human health policy with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Her work focuses on the intersection of climate change and health and how policy solutions, clinical action and education can build resilience in vulnerable communities. She currently serves on the working group for the National Academy of Medicine’s Climate and Human Health Initiative. She was an author for the U.S. Fourth National Climate Assessment and serves as a technical advisor for the Lancet Climate and Health U.S. Policy Brief. She is the co-editor of the textbook Climate Change and Human Health: From Science to Practice.

Teddie M. Potter, PhD, RN, FAAN, FNAP
Clinical Professor/Coordinator, Doctor of Nursing Practice in Health Innovation and Leadership
Director of Planetary Health; Pauline A. Vincent Chair of Public Health
Directorate, Katharine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership
School of Nursing
University of Minnesota

Dr. Potter is deeply committed to climate change education including co-founding Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate, membership in the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, and membership on the American Academy of Nursing Environment and Public Health Expert Panel. She is a member of the Coordinating Committee of Columbia University’s Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education and a Fellow in the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota. She chairs Clinicians for Planetary Health (C4PH) and is a member of the Steering Committee of the Planetary Health Alliance at Harvard.

At the University of Minnesota, Dr. Potter designed and co-teaches an interdisciplinary course titled “The Global Climate Challenge: Creating an Empowered Movement for Change”. In addition, she co-leads a Health Sciences initiative titled, “Climate Change and Health: An Interprofessional Response”. In 2019, Dr. Potter was appointed the first Director of Planetary Health for the School of Nursing.

In addition, Dr. Potter is Executive Editor for the Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies; a peer-reviewed, open-access, online journal promoting interdisciplinary collaboration as a solution for solving society’s grand challenges.

Dorothy Biberman, MPH, CPH
Director of Global Engagement and Executive Initiatives
Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health

Speakers

Anita Catlin, PhD, FNP, CNL, FAAN
Manager of Nursing Research
Kaiser Permanente

Anita Catlin is Manager of Nursing Research at Kaiser Permanente, Vallejo, California. Anita taught in the CNL programs at both Touro University and University of San Francisco, becoming a CNL by challenge exam. Anita uses her CNL skills daily as mentor to nurses at all levels, and in several countries, in advancing their academic and clinical careers. Anita’s role includes writing grants to obtain funding for projects and she has multiple publications in research, ethics and in clinical care. She is currently the Editor of the Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing. She is an active member of Sigma Theta Tau in both California and Portugal. Dr. Catlin is a 2022 CNC CNL Innovation in Practice Award Winner for her project entitled, International Study of Pediatric Nurses Caring for Adult Patients During COVID-19 Pandemic.

Sorayah Bourenane, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL
Clinical Nurse Leader
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

At the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Sorayah Bourenane has developed educational content and served as a subject-matter expert on Oncologic Emergency Nursing for the Board of Certified Emergency Nurses. She co-authored a chapter in a medical textbook for Oncologic Emergencies and assisted in the development of the institutional sepsis program at MD Anderson, which has resulted in decreased mortality. She also serves as Speaker of the Nursing Platform for the Global Sepsis Alliance and has presented nationally and internationally on oncologic emergencies, end-of-life care in the emergency department and in-flight medical emergencies. Sorayah is a 2022 AACN and CNC CNL Vanguard Award Winner.

Lauren Salinas, MSN, RN, CNL, CCRN
Clinical Specialist
Texas Children’s Hospital

Lauren Salinas is a Clinical Specialist certified as a CNL at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU). Since graduating as a CNL, she has worked to improve patient outcomes and the patient-family experience while in the CICU through her coordination of care, quality initiatives, and innovation at the bedside. Lauren incorporated her knowledge as a CNL to decrease central line associated bloodstream infections through her innovative quality improvement projects surrounding central line care and quality rounding. Lauren has presented her quality projects at local and national conferences. She is passionate about incorporating the CNL focus of care coordination and transitions of care into her complex patient population. Lauren is a 2022 AACN and CNC CNL Vanguard Award Winner.

Speakers

Barbara A. Fowler, EdD, PhD, RN
Professor of Nursing
Wright State University

Barbara A. Fowler holds an EdD in Curriculum Instruction & Design from Teacher’s College at the University of Cincinnati, OH in 1988 and later earned a PhD from Rush University – College of Nursing in Chicago, IL (2003). She has more than 30 years of experience in teaching and mentoring the next generation of nurses across programs (non-licensure BSN, RN-BSN, accelerated BSN, MS and DNP) on providing equitable and evidence-based nursing care to racial/ethnic minorities and marginalized groups (i.e., immigrants and homeless) in underserved urban communities. She has received the Graduate Teaching Excellence Award in the College of Nursing and Health at Wright State University on several occasions. Dr. Fowler’s program of research is funded by the American Nursing Foundation (ANF), Oncology Nursing Society and Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Research Grant, Sigma Theta Tau – Honor Society of Nursing/Beta Iota Chapter (Cincinnati, OH) and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (Population-Health Grant) on health disparities faced by racial/ethnic minority females in accessing preventive breast health screenings in underserved urban communities. Recent research on systemic or structural barriers to leadership development and career advancement for minority nurses in public health nursing departments was published in Public Health Nursing in 2020; the findings were presented (virtual) via poster at the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) Annual Conference in April 2021 and oral/podium (virtual) presentation at the Association of Public Health Nursing (APHN) Annual Conference in May 2021. Dr. Fowler was an inaugural member of the AACN subcommittee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in 2019, and later played a leadership role on the Campus Climate & Intergroup Relations portion of the Diversity Tool Kit by compiling available data and co-authoring a scoping review of the literature on systemic, structural barriers and implicit biases affecting racial/ethnic minority nurses across practice settings. In 2020, Dr. Fowler was appointed by the Interim Dean in the College of Nursing and Health to serve on the President's Advisory Council on Inclusive Excellence at Wright State University.

Patricia G. Francis-Johnson, DNP, RN
Director of Diversity and Inclusion
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Patricia Francis-Johnson is an Assistant Professor and Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the School of Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC). She received her DNP with a concentration in Executive Leadership from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, Texas. She has over twenty years of experience in traditional and online education, clinical teaching, quality improvement, patient safety, and interprofessional teamwork. Dr. Francis-Johnson is also a TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer who conducts training classes for students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Francis-Johnson led a diverse group of faculty and staff to design and implement Shared Governance at the School of Nursing, which resulted in the development of an Academic Shared Governance Model for Nursing Education. She serves as the inaugural Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the School of Nursing to increase diversity and inclusion among faculty, staff and students. She represents the School of Nursing (SON) on the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Institutional Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Dr. Francis-Johnson is a member of the search committee for the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion (VPDEI) position at TTUHSC. She is a member of the AACN Diversity Equity, Inclusion Leadership Network (DEILN) and participated in developing the AACN Diversity Toolkit. She represents TTUHSC as an Executive Board member of the Texas Tech University/ Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTU/TTUHSC) Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA), which includes faculty and staff from the Texas Tech System. She also chairs the Texas Nurses Association Leadership Succession Committee. Dr. Francis-Johnson has participated in Unconscious Bias training and attended a webinar on National Inclusive Excellence. She serves as a member of various admissions and progressions committees, bringing the perspective of diversity, inclusion, and unconscious bias into the process. Dr. Francis-Johnson has led the dissemination of educational innovation through invited presentations to various groups.

Antonea’ Jackson, PhD, RN, CNE
Director of Undergraduate Programs
Prairie View A&M University

Antonea’ Jackson is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Programs at Prairie View A&M University College of Nursing, where she has served as faculty since 2009. She is a Certified Nurse Educator, and has been recognized a nominee for the President’s Teaching Award Service Learning Award from Prairie View A&M University. In 2020, Dr. Jackson received her PhD from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and completed both her undergraduate and graduate studies at Prairie View A&M University. Her research interests include nursing education, cultural competence of nurse educators, and health disparities and health equity. She is currently the PI of the Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach and Education Grant designed to reduce vaccine hesitancy in communities of color, and the Co-PI of the Nursing Innovation Grant Program funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board designed to improve interprofessional communication via telehealth in nursing students. Dr. Jackson has presented at professional conferences on the national level and is an active member of several professional nursing organizations including Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, Eta Delta Chapter. Dr. Jackson has a passion for nursing and nursing education, and believes in educating students by providing opportunities that foster student success academically and professionally. She values education and the opportunities it creates, specifically for students of disadvantaged backgrounds.

Janelle R. Sokolowich, PhD, MSN Ed, RN
Academic Vice President, Dean
College of Health Professions
Western Governors University

Dr. Sokolowich is an accomplished visionary academic leader. She has been an academic leader for over a decade, having held various roles, including dean of academic operations, interim dean, and faculty. In her current role as the Academic Vice President/Dean for the College of Health Professions at Western Governors University (WGU), her goal is to close the equity and access gap in the health professions by providing degree programs and certifications to student who seek to advance their education. Her passion for student success, specifically the underserved, is marked by her drive for innovation to reach all who desire a degree. Her research includes the successful orientation of nursing faculty and intentional, focused academic support of culturally and linguistically diverse students. Dr. Sokolowich has presented nationally and internationally, highlighting the use of technology in the classroom, non-academic support strategies for high-risk students, and cultural inclusivity in the classroom. She is a member of the inaugural American Association of College of Nursing, Diversity Equity and Inclusion leadership network, National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, and numerous other academic societies. She serves as an American Nurses Association Mentor and is a National League for Nursing Writing Scholar. Dr. Sokolowich earned her bachelor's and master's in the science of nursing degrees from the University of Phoenix and Ph.D. in Education, with Distinction from Capella University.