Speaker

Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, PhD, MSN, MPH, MS, MSW, BS, RN, ANP-BC, LCSW, PMHNP-BC, FAAN
Executive Director
Institute for Policy Solutions
Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health Professor
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos is the Executive Director of the Institute for Policy Solutions and the Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. He is also the founding director of the Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health (CLAFH). Dr. Guilamo-Ramos is a nurse practitioner, dually licensed in adult health and psychiatric-mental health nursing.

Widely regarded as a scholar and leader in SDOH and in developing, evaluating, and translating nurse-driven, community-based interventions, his research has been funded for two decades by NIH, CDC, and various federal agencies. His work has been published in leading scientific journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, The British Medical Journal, Nature Medicine, Clinical Infectious Diseases, and the American Journal of Public Health.

Dr. Guilamo-Ramos has served as a member of the ad hoc NASEM Committee on Unequal Treatment Revisited: The Current State of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare; the NASEM Standing Committee on Reproductive Health, Equity, and Society; and the board of UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino-focused civil rights organization. He also serves on the Latino Commission on AIDS Board of Directors as vice chair and as the chair of the board of directors for Power to Decide. 
 

Speaker

Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, PhD, MSN, MPH, MS, MSW, BS, RN, ANP-BC, LCSW, PMHNP-BC, FAAN
Executive Director
Institute for Policy Solutions
Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health Professor
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos is the Executive Director of the Institute for Policy Solutions and the Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. He is also the founding director of the Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health (CLAFH). Dr. Guilamo-Ramos is a nurse practitioner, dually licensed in adult health and psychiatric-mental health nursing.

Widely regarded as a scholar and leader in SDOH and in developing, evaluating, and translating nurse-driven, community-based interventions, his research has been funded for two decades by NIH, CDC, and various federal agencies. His work has been published in leading scientific journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, The British Medical Journal, Nature Medicine, Clinical Infectious Diseases, and the American Journal of Public Health.

Dr. Guilamo-Ramos has served as a member of the ad hoc NASEM Committee on Unequal Treatment Revisited: The Current State of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare; the NASEM Standing Committee on Reproductive Health, Equity, and Society; and the board of UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino-focused civil rights organization. He also serves on the Latino Commission on AIDS Board of Directors as vice chair and as the chair of the board of directors for Power to Decide. 
 

Speaker

Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, PhD, MSN, MPH, MS, MSW, BS, RN, ANP-BC, LCSW, PMHNP-BC, FAAN
Executive Director
Institute for Policy Solutions
Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health Professor
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos is the Executive Director of the Institute for Policy Solutions and the Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. He is also the founding director of the Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health (CLAFH). Dr. Guilamo-Ramos is a nurse practitioner, dually licensed in adult health and psychiatric-mental health nursing.

Widely regarded as a scholar and leader in SDOH and in developing, evaluating, and translating nurse-driven, community-based interventions, his research has been funded for two decades by NIH, CDC, and various federal agencies. His work has been published in leading scientific journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, The British Medical Journal, Nature Medicine, Clinical Infectious Diseases, and the American Journal of Public Health.

Dr. Guilamo-Ramos has served as a member of the ad hoc NASEM Committee on Unequal Treatment Revisited: The Current State of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare; the NASEM Standing Committee on Reproductive Health, Equity, and Society; and the board of UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino-focused civil rights organization. He also serves on the Latino Commission on AIDS Board of Directors as vice chair and as the chair of the board of directors for Power to Decide. 
 

Speakers

Jean Watson, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN, LL
Founder –Director
Watson Caring Science Institute

Dr. Jean Watson is known around the world for her Theory of Human Caring and advancement of Caring Science as disciplinary context for Nursing’s future. She is the Founder of the Non-profit, Watson Caring Science Institute and Distinguished Professor  Dean Emerita University of Colorado Denver. She is the author, co-author, or editor of over 30 books on Caring Science and Unitary Caring. Her latest book is titled Metaphysics of Unitary Caring Science. A Cosmology of Love, (2025 pub. by Springer).  Her work is used globally, promoting academic and clinical partnerships toward theory-guided caring science curriculum and professional Caritas Practice, Research, and Leadership. Watson is the recipient of numerous national and international awards and honors including 15 Honorary Doctorates; she is designated as a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing, its highest honor.  View full bio.

Sara Horton-Deutsch, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF, SGAHN
University of San Francisco
Director of USF/Kaiser Permanente Partnership and Faculty Associate
Watson Caring Science Institute

Dr. Sarah Horton-Deutsch has led in academic and practice settings for over 30 years as an advanced practice psychiatric/mental health nurse, teacher/practitioner, consultant, program director, caring science endowed chair, coach, and academic/practice partnership director. In 2022, she was inducted into the Global American Holistic Nursing. She has contributed to evidence-informed knowledge development throughout her academic and practice career to ensure compassionate, safe, and quality care. As a reflective leader, she focuses on inward development to positively influence change. She has co-authored several books on Reflective Practice, Caring Science, and Caritas Coaching. She i s a Caritas Coach & Leader, Reiki Practitioner, and Healing Circle Facilitator. Through her journey, she has learned the necessity of connecting to one’s inner sources of wisdom, power, and healing, as well as the arts and humanities that once defined the discipline of nursing. She is passionate about facilitating critical, deep, and authentic connections that support regeneration, renewal, and the profession’s evolution. Her latest books, Visionary Leadership in Healthcare (2022) and Reflective Practice: Reimagining Ourselves, Reimagining Nursing (2024), were published through SIGMA, the former winning an AJN 1st place book of the year award in Leadership. She is currently a champion for the ANCC Essentials within the USF School of Nursing and Health Professions. She is co-director of the Caritas Leadership Program for the Watson Caring Science Institute.

Danny G. Willis, DNS, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN
Dean and Professor
University of Rhode Island College of Nursing

Dr. Danny G. Willis serves as Dean of the University of Rhode Island College of Nursing. He Caritas® Leader Faculty. In his 20-year academic career, he has served as Dean at Saint Louis University Valentine School of Nursing, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing, and Department Chair at Boston College, Connell School of Nursing. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and has chaired the Expert Panel on Theory-Guided Practice and is a member of the Expert Panel on Violence. His program of research and scholarship primarily focuses on wellbeing and healing in the aftermath of traumatic experiences. His work has been recognized with many awards, including the Eastern Nursing Research Society "Rising Star" Award, American Psychiatric Nurses Association Nancy Valentine "Leadership" Award, and R-level research funding as Principal Investigator from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has mentored undergraduate, masters, and PhD students from nursing, social work, child and human development, and counseling psychology. Dr. Willis has published widely in nursing and other health- related journals on qualitative research methods, foundations of the discipline, child maltreatment, the aftermath of hate crime, school children being bullied, child witness to violence, mental health, sleep, and healing. He has served as chair of the American Psychiatric Nursing Association (APNA) Research Council and currently co-chairs the Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS) Qualitative Research Interest Group. His publication explicating a central unifying focus for the discipline of nursing ‘facilitating humanization, meaning, choice, quality of life, and healing in living and dying,” published in Advances in Nursing Science, garnered national and international recognition for its relevance to nursing. Dr. Willis enthusiastically shares his work nationally and internationally with invited papers and presentations in the United States, Chile, Colombia, Ireland, England, Portugal, and Japan. 

Speakers

Noah Brown, MPA
Jonas Grant Manager
American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Marta Okoniewski, MPA
Director of Student Engagement
American Association of Colleges of Nursing

Speakers

Christy Haas-Howard, MPH, BSN, BA, RN, AE-C, NCSN
Program Director, Health
National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)

Christy Haas-Howard oversees the development, execution, and evaluation of health initiatives related to the environment. She collaborates with the conservation and K-12 education teams to identify priority areas of common interest to maximize resources and impact. As an experienced health care provider, she tracks emerging trends in the health and environment space, recognizing and amplifying the opportunities to create greater health equity and environmental justice. Christy comes to NEEF with over 17 years as a registered nurse in the school setting. She has been asthma educator-certified since 2009 and has led various school-based asthma programs at the local and state level. She has also worked at the national level to cultivate an increase in school nurse’s knowledge and skills related to asthma care. Christy has presented and published on asthma and the upstream benefits of addressing environmental exposures and climate change. Her other previous projects include supporting a pilot air quality sensor network and health literacy project in Denver, CO, and implementing an air quality and asthma literacy Environmental Health Nurse Fellowship. Christy holds a BA in Economics from Claremont McKenna College, a BS in Nursing from Metropolitan State University, Denver, and a MPH from the Colorado School of Public Health. She enjoys gardening, playing games with her family, walking her dogs, and hiking in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

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. Chika 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. Patricia 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. Darci 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. Kathy 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. Steve 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 initi ative 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. Quyen 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.

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

A passionate educator, researcher, and practitioner, Dr. Melissa 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. Stefanie 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. Mary 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. Kate 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

Dr. Varsha Singh, DNP, APN, CT-CP, NEA-BC, FAHA, FAANP is a JONAS Scholar who has served as a nursing leader for more than 15 years in variety of roles. At present, she is System Neuroscience/Stroke Program manager at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center and part-time faculty of the FNP program at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Dr. Singh has served in many nurse leadership roles, such as President for the American Association of Indian Nurses NJ2, National Indian Nurse Practitioner’s Association (NINPAA), New Jersey state Nurses Association Region 3, NJ Stroke Coordinator’s Consortium and Forum of Nurses in Advance Practice. Dr. Singh has also served nationally as the Director at Large (2018-2020) for ANA(American Nurses Association). At present, she has been elected to serve as the AANP (American Association of Nurse Practitioners) State Liaison for New Jersey. Dr. Singh has received numerous awards, which include the most prestigious Institute for Nursing New Jersey/NJ State Nurses Association DIVA award and Fellow of AANP. She was a Kellogg’s scholar (2003-2005), Jonas Scholar (2014-2016), winner of Elizabeth Seton Young Alumni award (SHU) by March of the Dimes, Nurse of the Year Award (2015), State Clinical Excellence Award –AANP (2018) and then Sarah Erickson Award at DNP graduation (2018). GOPIO Community Service Award (2020). She also holds Fellowship status at American Heart Association as well as New York Academy of Medicine. She continues to serve within the state, nationally as well as internationally—mentoring, guiding and advocating for advancement of nurses in all areas of practice. She always encourages nurses to follow their dreams and advises that the “sky is not the limit.”

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 fac ulty 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 an d 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 Heal thy 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.