Speakers

Virginia Reising, DNP, RN, PHNA-BC
Associate Professor and Associate Chairperson
Rush University, College of Nursing

Dr. Virginia Reising is an Associate Professor and Associate Chairperson at Rush University in the Department of Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing where she teaches at the Masters and Doctoral level. She previously worked in the College of Nursing at University of Illinois Chicago where she served as Interim Associate Dean for Practice and Partnerships, Associate Department Head, and the primary investigator on a HRSA Behavioral Health Integration Collaborative Agreement which supported the implementation of an integrated model of behavioral health care at a nurse-led health federally qualified health center and community correctional setting.

Dr. Reising completed her Master of Nursing degree at Rush University with a concentration in advanced popul ation health nursing and her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at the University of Illinois Chicago. Her clinical experience spans hospital, primary care, and school settings. In 2018, she was named an Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 under 40 Emerging Nurse Leader and in 2022, she was named a Pinnacle Nurse Leader.

Kristin Ashford, PhD, WHNP-BC, FAAN
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Faculty & Interprofessional Education Affairs
Good Samaritan Professor for Community Nursing
University of Kentucky College of Nursing

Dr. Kristin Ashford is a professor at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing where she serves as the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Health Policy. As a fellow of the Center for Interdisciplinary Heath Education, she has led curricular transformation including integration of cognates and microcredentials. Presently, she drives innovative, impactful state-academic and community partnerships to transform healthcar e for perinatal and parenting women as the Good Samaritan Endowed Chair of Community Nursing. She has led the creation of two perinatal substance use treatment (SUD) programs that bridge gaps and advance healthcare in SUD treatment for perinatal women.

As founder and Director of the Perinatal Research and Wellness Center, Ashford leads an interprofessional team to translate research into practice while informing policy makers on maternal and child health issues. She recently completed the Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship in Washington DC, serving as a health policy fellow on the U.S. Committee for Energy and Commerce, Health subcommittee. Dr. Ashford received her BS at Washburn University in Kansas and completed her training as a board-certification Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner at the University of Louisville. She further completed her PhD and NIH postdoctoral fellowship and the Wharton Executive Nursing Leadership program.

Speakers

Brittany Hay, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, FNP-BC
Assistant Professor
University of South Florida

Dr. Brittany Hay is an assistant professor at the University of South Florida, lead director of the nurse practitioner concentrations, and director of the adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner concentration. She has extensive experience in the advanced practice nurse role caring for patients and families prior to becoming faculty. As a DNP, she has engaged in multiple successful systems level initiatives utilizing evidence-based practice and quality improvement approaches. Dr. Hay has advanced education and scholarship in diagnostic reasoning and teaching. She leverages competency-based educational strategies to support student development of the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes for successful contemporary practice.

Speakers

Robin Newhouse, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Dean and Distinguished Professor
School of Nursing
Indiana University

Dr. Robin Newhouse is the dean of the Indiana University (IU) School of Nursing and an IU distinguished professor. Her research focuses on health system interventions to improve care processes and patient outcomes. She has published extensively on health services improvement interventions, acute care quality issues and evidence-based practice.

Rebecca Bartlett Ellis, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
School of Nursing
I ndiana University

Rebecca Bartlett Ellis is an Associate Professor and the Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis. She has more than 14 years of teaching experience in undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral level programs, she synergistically aligns her academic practice with patient care and research. Both nationally and internationally recognized expert in the field of medication management and adherence, her research focuses on developing and testing person-centered interventions to support medication management utilizing digital health technologies. She led a multidisciplinary team to develop a patented, smart pillbox, to digitally track patients’ pillbox interactions while managing medications. She is the first nurse in the 107-year history of her school of nursing to receive a patent. She co-led the development of a digital health checklist and framework to aid researchers’ decision-making about digital health technologies to ensure that they are used ethically, safely, securely, and effectively.

Speakers

Casey Shillam, PhD, RN
Dean & Professor
School of Nursing
University of Portland

Dr. Casey Shillam is a Professor at the University of Portland, School of Nursing. Dr. Shillam completed her PhD and MSN degrees at the Oregon Health and Science University in 2008 and 2004, respectively. She joined the faculty of University of Portland in 2008 after working as a home health nurse at Signature Home Health. Dr. Shillam has taught in both the undergraduate and graduate programs across many courses. Her research interests include the development of peer-mentoring programs and the referral patterns of older primary care patients to specialty pain management centers. Dr. Shillam served as a member of the former Essentials Task Force.

Speakers

Casey R. Shillam, PhD, RN
Dean and Professor
University of Portland School of Nursing

Dr. Casey Shillam is a Professor at the University of Portland, School of Nursing. Dr. Shillam completed her PhD and MSN degrees at the Oregon Health and Science University in 2008 and 2004, respectively. She joined the faculty of University of Portland in 2008 after working as a home health nurse at Signature Home Health. Dr. Shillam has taught in both the undergraduate and graduate programs across many courses. Her research interests include the development of peer-mentoring programs and the referral patterns of older primary care patients to specialty pain management centers. Dr. Shillam served as a member of the former Essentials Task Force.

Marjorie S. Wiggins, DNP, MBA, RN, FAAN, NEA-BC
Chief Nursing Officer
Maine Health System

Marge Wiggins is Chief Nursing Officer of Maine Medical Center. An Adjunct Faculty in USM’s School of Nursing, Marge has published numerous articles and several book chapters on care delivery models. She led MMC’s development of the evidence-based Partnership Care Delivery Model, and consulted in the US and abroad on the topic. She served on several committees for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s efforts to implement the Clinical Nurse Leader role and delivered nearly 40 presentations in 14 states. Marge maintains membership in several professional organizations, including American Organization of Nurse Executives, Organization of Maine Nurse Executives, Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science-Eastern Nurses Research Society, and the Clinical Nurse Leader Association. Dr. Wiggins served as a practice partner member of the former Essentials Task Force.