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Amy Barton
Dr. Amy Barton, Professor, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty & Students, and Daniel and Janet Mordecai Endowed Chair in Rural Health Nursing, earned a BSN from the University of Toledo, an MSN from the Medical College of Ohio, and a PhD from the University of Florida. In her previous role as Associate Dean for Clinical and Community Affairs she led faculty practice, creating an $8M advanced practice enterprise across the Denver metropolitan area. She obtained federal funding to develop Sheridan Health Services serving a low-income, largely Hispanic population southwest of Denver and expanded it to a nurse-led federally qualified health center. She created i-LEAD, an online master’s program in nursing and health systems leadership. She is currently the CU Nursing lead for a collaboration with Fort Lewis College to develop a four-year baccalaureate program with a rural and indigenous focus to meet regional nursing workforce needs.
Her publications focus on faculty practice, interprofessional education, patient outcomes, quality and safety, and informatics. She is Editor of the Journal of Nursing Education. She has successfully competed for over $10 million in grants to support research, practice, and education. Dr. Barton is a member of the 2005 cohort of the Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellows. She received distinguished alumni awards from the University of Toledo and the University of Florida. She is a Distinguished Practitioner in the National Academies of Practice, a Fellow in the Western Academy of Nursing, the Academy of Nursing Education, and the American Academy of Nursing.
Oriana Beaudet
VP of Innovation at ANA EnterpriseOriana Beaudet is the Vice President Innovation for the American Nurses Association Enterprise. The ANA Enterprise includes the American Nurses Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center, and the American Nurses Foundation. Prior to ANA, Dr. Beaudet ran her own business as a strategic partner for organizations, healthcare executives, and startups.
In her last position as the Vice President of Transformation for a national healthcare design firm she focused on strategy and business development for national health systems around operational and business innovations; simulation modeling and technology; design of the built space, and care delivery design. She currently sits on the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy – Expert Advisory Council for Transformation and the Governing Directors Board for the Alliance for Nursing Informatics. Dr. Beaudet completed her doctorate in nursing practice in Health Innovation Leadership with an emphasis in Design from the University of Minnesota School of Nursing.
According to Oriana, "The ANA Enterprise organizations have created a bedrock for nursing practice across the United States. The nursing profession has a rich history of inventing solutions for patient needs and by redefining and reimagining the future role of nurses and nursing – and it all starts with the work we lead today."
Amy Branch-Diamond
Amy Branch-Diamond has been serving the Colorado behavioral health community since 2002 and has been a psychiatric nurse since 2007 and an advanced practice psychiatric nurse since 2022. Amy’s care philosophy centers on non-judgmental, holistic, and scientifically rigorous treatment approaches. In addition to autism, Amy’s clinical interests include gender diversity, ethnomedicine, and animal-assisted and expressive arts therapies.
Ellyn E. Cavanagh
Ellyn E. Cavanagh, PhD, MN, RN has spent the past 50 years providing direct care vulnerable pediatric populations. In the 1970's practicing and teaching neonatal intensive care, the 1980's developing regional education systems as a faculty for Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a NICU and PICU educator at Seattle Children's Medical Center, the 1990's as an advanced practice nurse in pediatrics caring for children with cardiac and neurodevelopmental disorders. In 2000's providing care as a pediatric nurse practitioner caring for children and youth with complex neurodevelopmental disorders in clinics at Georgetown University and Dartmouth- Hitchcock Medical Center. Independent pediatric nurse practitioner for 5 years caring for children and youth with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Seattle, Washington. Relocated to Northern Colorado in 2017 to be closer to daughter and family. Currently managing RN's in a pediatric home health care agency in Fort Collins. Author of chapter, Childhood Autism in a Rural Environment: Reaching Vulnerable Children and Their Families in Caring for the Vulnerable. Perspectives in Nursing Theory, Practice and Research. Held faculty appointments at Georgetown University School of Nursing, Marymount School of Nursing and Health Sciences and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Served on National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice, The Secretary of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC. 2007-2011. International Nursing with appointments in Cali Columbia ( 1978-9) establishing an NICU and Kabul, Afghanistan through HHS, CDC and JHPEIGO teaching maternal child health care/ NICU 2003,2004 and 2008.
Laurel Chiaramonte
Laurel Chiaramonte is a seasoned healthcare professional with 20 years of experience in nursing, leadership, and healthcare administration. As the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nursing Officer of Duality Systems, she leads a small team in developing and implementing IT solutions for healthcare with an eye toward improving nurse satisfaction and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery.
After graduating from the United States Air Force Academy, Laurel obtained her Master of Nursing degree from Vanderbilt University and spent 12 years on Active Duty, serving and leading on bases across the United States and Japan. She has an MBA from Colorado State University and started a business, Duality Systems, LLC in 2020. She has received numerous accolades for her contributions to nursing and healthcare, including being selected as a Jonas Scholar and named a Nightingale Luminary for nursing leadership in Colorado Springs. She recently graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and actively advocates with their Voices program for public policy to support small businesses in the US.
Her extensive experience and dedication to improving healthcare delivery through technology, makes her a highly respected leader in the field. Laurel is committed to leveraging technology to enhance workforce efficiency, reduce burnout, and improve patient care outcomes.
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Molly Hendricks-King
Manager of Nursing Professional Development and Support at Intermountain Health Saint Joseph
Courtney Hickey
RN Pre/Post Special Procedures/Surgery at UCHealthVL
Vanesse Langston
Vanessa Langston, BSN, RN, BA is a registered nurse with bachelor's degrees in Nursing and Psychology. She has experience in perinatal settings, including neonatal intensive care and labor and delivery nursing. Vanessa has worked as a case manager for the Peer Health Assistance Programs, providing direct support to participants with substance use and mental health concerns. Currently, she is an SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) trainer and coordinator, focusing on preventive care and early intervention strategies for health and mental health practitioners.
Mark Longshore
I am Mark Longshore, the new Interim Executive Director for the Colorado Nurses Association and wanted to share a little about myself. I have worked in healthcare for all my adult life and graduated from the University of Cincinnati with my BSN in 1995. I worked on the cardiothoracic surgery unit, then transferred to the emergency department first in Cincinnati then here in Colorado. Realizing education was the best part of my job, I began teaching nursing students at Front Range Community College, eventually going on to be the director of that program. Upon earning my PhD in Nursing Education, I began teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level at the University of Northern Colorado. My graduate education opened my eyes to the many issues in healthcare and the important role all nurses play in pushing for policy change to increase safety, quality, and access to care. That mission is what drives me in my new role with the Colorado Nurses Association and my continued role of teaching current and future nurses.
I am not alone in saying I would not be where I am without the support of Colleen Casper. As she leaves the role of executive director, I look back at all she has taught me about nursing organizations, health policy, and specifically the legislative process. During her ten years with CNA, she has made connections with legislators and policy makers of many consumer focused organizations through which positive change has made health care stronger. She expertly reviewed and made recommendations on what direction CNA should take on proposed legislation. She has supported nurses dealing with problems over staffing, safety with Covid, and workplace violence, the last of which she led a coalition trying to make meaningful change to how nurses are treated. I share the thought spoken by many others – I am sorry to see Colleen leave CNA but am happy for her as she dedicates time to herself and her family. Colleen, thank you for your dedication to CNA and to the nurses of Colorado. You will be missed.
Joy Memmen
Joy Memmen has been a nurse for 21 years, first as an LPN, then RN, then preceptor, then as a nurse educator. She is a strong advocate for students and nurses new to the profession, championing for them to have full involvement and respect as they navigate the complexity of healthcare. She resides in Lafayette, Colorado with her husband, Jeshua and her two cats, Nacho & Bobbies.
Ben Miller
Benjamin Miller is a healthcare leader whose real passion is helping others live from their heart. He began his healthcare career as a firefighter/paramedic and has since worked as a burn center Program Coordinator, a Director of Physician and Provider Relations for HCA Healthcare, and most recently in Patient Experience for Vail Health in Vail, Colorado. He is also a public speaker that strives to bring awareness to the necessity of living a heart-led life.
Jean Schroeder
Owner at Nursing Strategies & Consulting
Miranda Squire
Associate Nurse Manager, Float Pool at UCHealth (University of Colorado Health)
Lindsey Wimmer
Lindsey Wimmer DNP, RN, PHN, CPNP, CPLC, is the Executive Director of the Star Legacy Foundation. In this role, Dr. Wimmer coordinates research initiatives, manages education programs for health professionals and families, and oversees bereavement support programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN, a Master of Science degree in pediatric nursing from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, CO, and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from St. Catherine University. Dr. Wimmer is also certified in Perinatal Loss Care (CPLC) and frequently presents at conferences and workshops around the United States on perinatal loss prevention and bereavement care.