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Rear Admiral Aisha K. Mix, DNP, MPH, RN, FAAN
12th Chief Nurse Officer at U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned CorpsDr. Aisha K. Mix served as an Assistant Surgeon General and the 12th Chief Nurse Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps from October 2019 to September 2023. In this capacity, Dr. Mix provided guidance and advice to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Surgeon General, PHS nurses, and the nation’s nursing community on prevention, public health, health systems development, and the role of the nursing workforce in achieving health and wellness in the country. Internationally, Dr. Mix represented the nation to the World Health Assembly where she advised on nursing practice, education, and leadership as part of the International Council of Nurses Government Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officers.
With over 28 years in nursing, Dr. Mix has served in various roles, including clinician, public health practitioner, educator, and emergency manager. She commissioned into the PHS in 2006 as a public health analyst for the Health Resources and Services Administration where she mobilized the nursing community to increase awareness of nursing workforce diversity, designed strategies to increase retention and graduation rates for nursing students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and developed policies and programs to enhance access to care for underserved communities.
As a senior policy analyst within the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, Dr. Mix translated disaster policy into practice and ensured that the federal responses to disasters and public health emergencies integrated behavioral health and addressed the needs of at-risk individuals and families. Dr. Mix also leveraged her knowledge and expertise in nursing workforce development to design expanded nurse deployment roles during disasters, including case management, discharge planning, patient movement, human services, and disaster recovery operations.
Dr. Mix currently serves as the senior health policy administrator for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC). IHSC administers and manages the health care system that provides medical, dental, and mental health care, as well as public health and disease prevention programs, for more than 118,000 noncitizens housed at 19 IHSC-staffed facilities across the nation.
Dr. Mix graduated with her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Nursing from Hampton University. She completed her Master of Public Health degree at Johns Hopkins University and received her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, with a focus on educational leadership, from Case Western Reserve University.
Dr. Mix is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and a consummate advocate for nurses, the nursing profession, and public health.
Virginia Allen
Black AngelsBorn in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1931 and raised in Detroit Michigan until the age
of 16, Virginia convinced her parents to allow her to live on Staten Island with her
Aunt Edna who was a Registered Nurse. This pivotal decision paved the way to
Virginia’s nursing career and passion for helping, including the most vulnerable
patients in a Tuberculosis Sanitarium at Sea View Hospital in Staten Island. These
efforts resulted in Virginia being recognized as one of the Black Angels.
In the 1960s Virginia was involved with the Women’s Crisis Center in Port
Richmond, Staten Island. She then took a break from her nursing career and went back
to school to pursue a career in Labor Relations, to better serve the membership of the
unions for Local 144, the Nursing Homes, and 1199, the Healthcare workers of the
Service Employees International Union. She attended numerous schools,
including Cornell University, New York University, and the College of Staten Island.
Virginia eventually went back to nursing and still holds a current license. She retired
from Staten Island University Hospital's Operating Room.
Virginia is a lifelong community activist who has volunteered for organizations
focused on healthcare, women’s and senior citizen’s issues, education reform, culture
and youth involvement. Virginia has served on numerous boards, for example: Cultural
Crossroads in Fort Greene, Art Lab at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Staten Island
OutLOUD and the College of Staten Island Auxiliary Board providing Grants for
Education and Vocation. She is a member of the Unitarian Church of Staten Island and
has served on the Board of Trustees and on many church committees for over 40 years.
She serves on the Board of the Staten Island Ballet and on the Board of Directors of the
Frederick Douglass Memorial Park, Inc. Virginia is also a member of the NAACP, the
New York Urban League, Sandy Ground Historical Society, Lambda Kappa Mu
Sorority, Inc., Lambda Chapter, the Weeksville Society, the North Star Lions Club,
New York State Women as Historian, and the Schomburg Center for Research in
Black Culture.Virginia is one of the original members of The National Council of Negro Women
Staten Island Section. In 2001,Virginia was recognized as a Legacy Life member.
Over the last 52 years, Virginia has held nearly every position on the NCNW-SI
Executive Board and chaired nearly every committee. Her intuitiveness and leadership
skills led to the establishment of a Youth Scholarship Fund and the annual Harambee
Celebration in which leaders who selflessly give back to the community are honored.
Virginia helped to shape many of the practices the Section continues to follow today.
Virginia has received accolades from a diverse body of stakeholders including
Councilwoman Debbie Rose, the New York State Senate and Assembly, the Borough
President, the Stapleton UAME and St. Philips Baptist Church. She has been honored
with the Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority Inc. Distinguished Service Key and the Staten
Island Advances Woman of Achievement Award, Class of 2005.
In 2021 she received the New York State Nurses Association Recognition for Black
History Month, Health equity and inclusion recognition from Staten Island Women
Who March, and Recognition as a Black Angel at the unveiling of the Sea View
Murals. Virginia enjoys music, art, the theater, and traveling. She is an avid reader.
Virginia has two amazing grandsons, a beautiful great-granddaughter and 2
phenomenal great-grandsons.
Evelyn Addo-Wallace, DNP, MPH, WHNP-BC
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner/Director of Advanced Practice Nursing at Community Healthcare NetworkWomen’s Health Nurse Practitioner with a passion for interventions responsive to the needs of diverse communities. She is the Director of Advanced Practice Nursing and Medical Director at Community Healthcare Network (CHN) in Harlem, New York. In this role, she oversees CHN’s Nurse Practitioners, developing a diverse, collaborative network of providers prepared to provide community-centered, anti-racist, multi-level solutions for advancing health equity. She is also the Program Director of CHN’s Nurse Practitioner Fellowship, obtaining $10 million in HRSA grant funding, an academic partnership with Columbia University School of Nursing, and national accreditation for the fellowship program. In addition, she maintains an active women’s health practice, including adolescent and adult gynecology prenatal and postpartum care. Because of her commitment to promoting health equity in marginalized communities, Dr. Addo-Wallace received the AANP State Award for Excellence and the Rosemarie Forstner Award from the Community Health Care Association of New York State.
Dr. Addo-Wallace graduated with Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees and completed a Master of Public Health at Columbia University. She received a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Georgetown University. Her DNP project was Impact of Education for Evidence-Based Screening Mammography in Black Women Aged 40-49. As an experienced clinician, public health practitioner, and nurse leader, Dr. Addo-Wallace is passionate about training NPs and other clinicians to practice through a lens focused on health equity, structural racism, cultural humility, diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice.
Ravenne Aponte, BSN, RN
Nurses You Should KnowRavenne Aponte is a historian, educator, and pediatric critical care registered nurse. She is a PhD
student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in the Barbara Bates Center for the
Study of the History of Nursing. Her research focuses on the history of nursing and Black
women’s health promotion efforts. Her dissertation project examines the relationship between
Black nurses and Black clubwomen in the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs and
their efforts to address Black community members' health and social needs in the 20 th century.
She is also the co-creator of Nurses You Should Know, a digital micro-blog about past and
present-day nurses’ contributions to healthcare. Ravenne’s broader interests include the history
of nursing and medicine, Black women’s labor history, nursing education, and health services
research.
Ravenne specializes in pediatric critical care and community health as a registered nurse. She
received her Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies and Health Disparities from the
University of Florida in 2016 and then received an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing
from Duke University in 2017.
Elmira Asongwed, DNP, MS, RN, CNE
Associate Professor at University of the District of ColumbiaD. Elmira Asongwed, RN, MS, DNP, CNE is the BSN Program Director and an Associate Professor at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) in the Department of Health, Nursing and Nutrition in the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Tuskegee (Institute) University, Master of Science in Community Health Nursing from the University of Maryland, and Doctor of Nursing Practice in Educational Leadership from Post University-American Sentinel College of Nursing. Dr. Asongwed is a Community Health Nursing specialist and has taught courses at the undergraduate associate and baccalaureate levels for generic and licensed nurses. She is credentialed as a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) from the National League for Nursing Academic Nurse Educator Program. Her research interests include evidence-based interventions to promote the health of students, interdisciplinary team members, and community residents.
Anyinke Atabong, DNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, PMHS(c)
Psychiatric and Family Nurse PractitionerShe is a board certified, doctorally prepared Psychiatric and Family Nurse Practitioner, licensed in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Her scope of practice encompasses health promotion, disease prevention, and the diagnosis and management of common and complex mental health care problems along with those acutely ill across the lifespan. She has been in healthcare for approximately 15 years which includes supervising and treating patients in the emergency room, long term care, home health, retail health, substance abuse clinics, HIV clinics and outpatient mental health. Having worked in all these areas has only increased her passion to work with minorities, the underserved, and individuals who suffer from mental health disorders alongside trying to beat the stigma of psychiatric diseases. She currently works full time in outpatient private practice and is adjunct faculty at Coppin State University Nursing program. In her spare time she loves to travel and spend time with family and friends.
LaDana Badger, PhD, RN
Western Governors UniversityDr. Badger is currently the State Director of Nursing for Western Governors University’s prelicensure program in Texas and New Mexico. She has 12 years of experience in teaching in the classroom, skills lab, and simulation settings for prelicensure students and 9 years of experience in nursing leadership. Within nursing education, Dr. Badger’s passion is geared toward using experiential learning to better prepare students in the clinical setting. Her clinical background is Labor and Delivery and High-Risk OB, in which she is also a Certified Childbirth Educator. In addition, Dr. Badger has emergency department, clinical education, home health, and telehealth nursing experience. In 2007, she obtained a Master of Science in Nursing Education from the same institution in which she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Texas Woman’s University. She furthered her educational endeavors and completed a Ph.D. in Nursing Education and Administration from William Carey University in 2021. In 2022, she was honored with the Nursing Innovator Award by the National League for Nursing in recognition of being an early adopter of the Resuscitative Quality Improvement (RQI) Program. Dr. Badger’s scholarly work focuses on diversity and equity within various sectors of nursing, such as minority obstetrical patients and minority nurses within the women’s health sector. Dr. Badger is affiliated with the Texas Nurses Association, Texas Workforce Commission, Sigma Theta Tau, National League for Nursing, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Meedie Bardonille, MSN, RN, FCN, PCCN-K
President at Black Nurse CollaborativeMeedie L. Bardonille is a dynamic nursing leader, innovator, and results-oriented professional with a deep commitment to patient care, addressing health inequity and disparities, and the advancement of nursing. Meedie understands that nursing goes beyond mastering patient care and that it is about connecting with patients during their most vulnerable times, employing empathy, and combining intelligence with clinical expertise and heartfelt compassion. Her focus on the patient experience has made her a trusted and respected figure in healthcare. Meedie serves as the Chair of the Washington, D.C. Board of Nursing, where she provides regulatory oversight for over 46,000 nursing professionals in the District. Her involvement with esteemed organizations such as the American Nurses Association (ANA), National Black Nurses Association, Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, Inc., and the National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN), and the Howard University Division of Nursing Advisory Board demonstrates her dedication to advancing the nursing profession. In 2022, she founded The Black Nurse Collective Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization that empowers expert Black nurses to promote scholarship, mentorship, coaching, and drive sustainable change. Overall, Meedie L. Bardonille's exceptional leadership, commitment to patient care, and contributions to the nursing profession and her community make her an influential figure and a catalyst for positive change in healthcare.
Jasmine Berry, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
asmine Berry, DNP, APRN, FNP-C is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner and VA Quality Scholar (VA), a postdoctoral fellowship for clinicians interested in quality improvement. She received her BSN from Samford University in Birmingham (2010) and spent
five years at the bedside in critical care and step-down units in the metro Atlanta area. She then obtained her MS-Nursing (2016) and DNP (2021) from Georgia
State University in Atlanta. She has specialized in infectious diseases since 2017, primarily caring for adults with various infectious diseases in the inpatient and outpatient settings. She is especially passionate about improving health outcomes and destigmatizing care by exploring social determinants of health, social needs, and health promotion counseling/education in persons living with HIV. In addition to her clinical work, she serves as part-time faculty at Georgia State
University, teaching Master’s level nursing students. After her fellowship, she plans to teach full-time and continue practicing in infectious diseases/HIV care in
the metro Atlanta area. You can catch her reading a book, talking on the phone with family, or sitting in
front of the TV during the Fall, cheering on the Alabama Crimson Tide…ROLL TIDE!
Asa Briggs, DNP, MA PMHNP-BC
YaleAsa T. Briggs is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) in SC. Asa received his Bachelors of Arts degree in from Clemson University, Master of Arts in Human Development and Psychology from Trevecca Nazarene University, Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Yale University.
As a PMHNP, Asa focuses on individuals and populations across the lifespan at risk for developing and/or having a diagnosis of psychiatric disorders or mental health challenges. Asa
provides primary mental health care to patients seeking mental health services in a wide range of settings—primarily outpatient. Asa provides collaborative, continuous and comprehensive
services, necessary for the promotion of optimal mental health, prevention, and treatment of psychiatric disorders and health maintenance.
Asa’s expertise and areas of research include but are not limited to:
Health and Healthcare disparities across vulnerable populations
Health Policy, Politics and Processes
Health Equity and Population Health
Severe and Persistent Mental Illness Across the Lifespan
Transformational Leadership
Contextualized Models of Mental Health Care for Vulnerable populations
Director level leadership within a large health care system
Camille Brockett-Walker, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, AGACNP-BC
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing | Emory UniversityDr. Camille Brockett-Walker is an Assistant Professor and InterimDirector of the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program at Emory University. She also maintains a clinical practice as a critical care nurse practitioner. Her research interests include diversity, equity, and inclusion of faculty and students of color in nursing.
Kendra Broussard, DNP, APRN, NNP-BC, C-ELBW
Kendra Broussard, DNP, APRN, NNP-BC is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. She has over a decade of
experience in level III NICUs throughout multiple states and is certified in the Care of the Extremely Low Birth Weight Neonate (C-ELBW). She currently works in a level II NICU in Georgia. Dr. Broussard started her nursing journey at Georgia Southern University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She furthered her education at Kennesaw State University and University of South Alabama by earning her Master of Science in Nursing (Education) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (Neonatology), respectively.
Dr. Broussard is passionate about equitable care and improving patient outcomes. This is crucial in
Georgia, as Georgia continues to receive poor rating for preterm births and an overwhelming disparity ratio for Black women preterm birth rates compared to others. Dr. Broussard is an advocate for patients and staff. She facilitates diversity conversations within her workplace to help identify and address biases while creating a more inclusive workplace.
Additionally, Dr. Broussard is the Founder and President of “Leaders and Adolescents Uniting to
Navigate Careers in Healthcare” (LAUNCH). LAUNCH is the only early-exposure healthcare pipeline
program in her metropolitan area. The mission of LAUNCH is to close the educational gap and combat barriers to entry into healthcare careers by providing free healthcare career exploration resources and health science education to K-12 th grade students from predominately underrepresented minority groups and/or disadvantaged economic backgrounds. The vision of LAUNCH is to increase diversity in healthcare professions by serving as a pipeline for underserved and underrepresented students.
In her free time, Dr. Broussard enjoys experiencing other cultures through travel and creating memories with family.
Kali Brown, DNP, MSN, RN, CCNR, CIC
Kali A. Brown, DNP, MSN, RN, CCNR, CIC has over twenty years of experience as a nurse. He holds an MSN in infection Prevention and Control. He recently earned his Doctor of Nursing Practice from Liberty University. Kali Brown's full-time position is with the Philadelphia Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, where he is an Infection Preventionist with the mission of reducing hospital-acquired infections within inpatient and outpatient units by educating staff and patients on protecting themselves from infectious diseases. He also works in the private sector in medical-surgical, ICU, and emergency rooms. He is a Nursing Supervisor at a behavioral health hospital in Philadelphia, PA. As an Adjunct Professor at Neumann University, Kali Brown gives back to the nursing profession. He is a Clinical Instructor for senior-level nursing students in Medical-Surgical nursing, training for the next generation of nurses. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, outdoor sports, and spending time with his family and grandchildren.
Shelitha Campbell, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PHN
For over 27 years, Dr. Campbell has been contributing to the advancement of the discipline of nursing through personal and communal edification. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of San Francisco, a Master in Nursing from San Francisco State University with a certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice with an emphasis in Executive Leadership from Loyola University, New Orleans. Dr. Campbell serves in many leadership roles, she is the Co-Founder and CEO of a 501c3 non profit organization in Oakland, CA, called A Sister’s Touch, serves as the interim Board Chair for Bay Area Women Against Rape, serves as a Board member for MISSSEY, the Principle Investigator for a multimillion nursing workforce diversity grant through HRSA, and is the former Co-Director of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Samuel Merritt University. Above these leadership roles, Dr. Campbell is an FNP focusing on pediatrics and adolescent health, an advocate for social justice and health equity and a champion for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Beyond these professional roles, the ultimate goal is building a legacy that her husband, children, and mother can be proud of
Lucinda Canty, PhD, CNM, FACNM
UMASS AmherstLucinda is a mother, nurse, midwife, researcher, nurse educator, historian, a reproductive health justice activist, artist, and poet.
Lucinda is deeply committed to improving the maternal health of Black women and other women of color. She has 27 years of experience in providing midwifery care. She exists in many lanes of nursing to address to improve health outcomes for women of color.
Her experience as a clinician, researcher, and educator fuels her desire to address racism in nursing, midwifery, and the healthcare system. The goal of Lucinda's antiracism activism is to create change in practice, education, research, and policy.
She advocates for women of color to have the resources and support they need to maintain their health and wellness.
She has presented her research at various conferences and organizations.
Becky Carson, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC/AC
Catholic University of America School of NursingBecky Carson, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC/AC is a dual primary and acute care pediatric nurse practitioner, assistant professor at The Catholic University of America, and the acclaimed host of a nationally recognized podcast called “The Peds NP”. She was the recipient of the 2022 Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Dean’s Award for Outstanding Nurse Educator. The podcast is dedicated to the practical application of evidence-based practice for pediatric providers using a microlearning approach. When published in September 2020, The Peds NP was the only podcast directed at topical pediatric education for advanced practice nurses and was considered novel in its use of a podcasting curriculum for asynchronous nurse practitioner students. Dr. Carson’s current project on health equity in pediatrics was funded by the North Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Dr. Rasheeda Monroe Health Equity Grant. It seeks to create allies in PNPs who care for our nation’s diverse children
Yvette Conyers, DNP, MS, RN, FNP-C, CTN-B, CFCN, CFCS
Dr. Yvette Conyers, is a Clinical Associate Professor at the George Washington University, School of Nursing, and certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She is previously Assistant Professor at St. John Fisher College and Co-Director of the accelerated bachelor's nursing program at the University of Rochester School of Nursing and helped shape academic programs that attracted underrepresented students. Conyers research, focuses on developing cultural competency in health care providers to ensure the equitable treatment of all patients. A well-respected educator who is an active and committed leader on race, diversity, and inclusion issues, Conyers is dedicated to creating and expanding access and opportunities for members of underrepresented groups. She is instrumental in launching the Rochester chapter of the National Black Nurses Association. Professionally, she has worked as a nurse and nurse practitioner for several community organizations, including Jordan Health Center, Hillside Family of Agencies, and Highland Hospital. She previously served as Nursing Director for Home Care of Rochester (HCR) African American Initiative, where she became a certified transcultural nurse. In recognition of her leadership and community work, Dr. Conyers was a 2021 and 2020 Rochester Business Journal Power 100 Honoree, 2020 Greater NYC Black Nurse Association Educator of the Year Honoree, 2020 Forty Under 40 Rochester Business Journal Honoree, 2020 National Black Nurses Association 2020 Under 40 Award Honoree and a 2019 Health Care Achievement Award from the Rochester Business Journal. Conyers is a member of local and national organizations, including the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Sigma Theta Tau, DNPs of Color, National Black Nurses Association, Common Ground Health, and the Transcultural Nursing Society. She has a Doctorate of Nursing Practice, Post Master’s Degree in Family Nurse Practitioner from St. John Fisher College and a Master’s of Science in Nursing Education from Roberts Wesleyan College.
Clydie Coward-Murrell, DNP, MSN-Ed, BSN, RN
Professor at Universit North Carolina WilmingtonClydie Coward-Murrell DNP, MSN-Ed, BSN, RN has been a nurse for 23 years I received my BSN from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, IN. My specialty areas in nursing are inclusive of L&D, ER, Mental Health, and Academia. With a completed Graduate Degree in Nursing Education and completed Doctoral Degree in Nursing with a specialization in Executive Leadership academia is my current setting. My research interest is inclusive of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with a focus in Higher Education; Medical Mistrust among African Americans from Past to Present, and Addressing the Maternal Death Rate among African Americans
Sandra Davis, PhD, DPM, ACNP-BC, FAANP
Sandra Davis, PhD, DPM, ACNP-BC, FAANP, is a leading expert in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in both academia and public health. She is deputy director for the National League for Nursing (NLN)/Walden University College of Nursing Institute for Social Determinants of Health and Social Change. Prior to joining the NLN, Dr. Davis was an associate professor and inaugural associate dean for DEI at the George Washington University School of Nursing. Throughout her career, Dr. Davis has served in academic leadership, administrative, and educator roles and in clinical practice. Her scholarship focuses on health inequities, social and structural determinants of health, structural competency, and antiracism. Her co-authored hallmark book, Fast Facts for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Nursing: Building Competencies for an Antiracism Practice, won a 2022 American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award. Dr. Davis is on the editorial board for Nursing Education Perspectives and is a guest editor for the Sept./Oct. 2023 special issue on DEI.
Through her leadership, Dr. Davis is making an impact on local, national, and international levels. Globally, she consulted with Riverside College in Bacolod, Philippines, to discuss DEI with faculty and students. Nationally, she serves on numerous committees to advance best practices for DEI, and she is directing the landmark NLN/Walden Interprofessional Leadership Academy to cultivate leaders for social change and to enhance the integration of social and structural determinants of health in nursing and the health professions curricula and programs. Locally, she conducted the Heart Healthy Participatory Action Research Study for middle school students in Washington, D.C., so their voices are heard within their communities through photography, critical analysis, and writing policy briefs, which were exhibited at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Dr. Davis was awarded the Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation’s Heart Health Across the Lifespan award that was funded by Astellas to conduct this research project.
Dr. Davis is board certified as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and is Past President of the Nurse Practitioner Association of the District of Columbia. She is an AACN/Wharton Executive Leadership Fellow, a Leadership for Academic Nursing Fellow, and a Fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Dr. Davis is a 2020 -2021 inductee in the Temple University Distinguished Alumni Gallery of Success. Dr. Davis received a BA from Wellesley College, a BSN from Temple University, an MSN with ACNP concentration from the University of Pennsylvania, a DPM from Temple University, and a PhD from Drexel University.
Vernell DeWitty, PhD, MBA, RN
Dr. Vernell DeWitty is a transformational leader with a unique vision for advancing
diversity, equity, and inclusion for the nursing profession. She served as the inaugural
Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at the American Association of Colleges of
Nursing (AACN) where she advised the nation’s top academic nursing leaders on
building consensus around a strategic approach to diversity and inclusion. She is now
Senior Consultant for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for AACN and the CEO of
Pourquois Diversity Consulting, LLC.
Her distinguished career encompasses leadership roles in nursing education, practice,
and healthcare administration. She directed the Robert Wood Johnson New Careers in
Nursing Scholarship Program, a nine-year $44 million national collaboration between
the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and AACN that focused on diversifying the
nursing workforce. In this capacity she created and implemented strategies and
resources that contributed to the academic success of underrepresented and
disadvantaged students in 130 nursing schools located in 41 states and the District of
Columbia. In addition, Dr. Dewitty led the design and implementation of a
groundbreaking technical assistance program for over four years for 32 nursing schools
funded by the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) to increase nursing
workforce diversity.
Dr. DeWitty most recently designed a training program, including the development of an
expert consultative team, for nursing schools seeking to implement holistic admissions
review and related strategies to increase diversity and inclusion in student populations.
She has published on mentoring, academic success, and student progression as she
continues to develop strategies and programs to increase the diversity and cultural
competency of nursing graduates.
Dr. DeWitty earned her doctorate from George Mason University, her MBA from Howard
University, her MSN from The Catholic University of America, and her BSN from Dillard
University. She is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and
received a certificate as a Healthcare Executive in Diversity and Inclusion from the
Association of American Medical Colleges. She is a graduate of the Unconscious Bias
Learning Lab by Cook Ross and the Maryland Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program
at the University of Maryland Shafer Policy Center.
Dr. DeWitty was the recipient of the American Nurses Association 2014 Mary Mahoney
Award for her significant contributions to advancing equal opportunities in nursing. She
also received the President’s Award from the State University of New York, Downstate
for her leadership and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The National
Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education in March 2020 awarded her the
Individual Diversity Award. Dr. DeWitty has an unwavering passion for improving the
health of vulnerable populations as reflected in her work to achieve health equity,
increase access to care, and advance workforce diversity.
Marica Derby-Davis Ph.D., RN
ZahariYAH: Healing Body Mind Spirit- Registration & Vendor Engagement Options on 4th Floor
- Closing Mindfulness Session
- Sunrise Mindfulness Moment
Dr. Marcia J. Derby-Davis has been a Registered Nurse for over 30 years in south FL. She received her Ph.D. degree from Barry University in 2010. She recently transitioned from the role of full-time Associate Professor in the Ron and Kathy Asaf College of Nursing at Nova Southeastern University to adjunct faculty after 15 years as an educator. Dr. Derby-Davis is founder of ZahariYAH Healing Body Mind and Spirit.
Dr. Derby-Davis believes that healing is a journey that involves intentionality, courage, and presence without shame and judgment. Her goal is to heal and transform the lives of women all over the world.
Her motto: “Heal the woman heal the world"
Amy Felix, MSN, RN, CRNP
Amy Felix, MSN, RN, CRNP is a Nurse with almost years 20 years of nursing experience. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing BSN ’04 and MSN’04. Amy has spent her entire career in Pediatrics, initially as RN in critical care, and then as a NP in outpatient GI and Emergency Medicine. In her most recent role, she served as a Manager of Advanced Practice Providers. In 2021, Amy embarked on a nurse sabbatical to rediscover her passion for nursing after experiencing burnout. Amy is currently the Founder of the Nurse Sabbatical Movement to inspire nurses to take breaks and chase dreams. In addition, she is the CEO/Co-Founder of the mobile app, TrackCE. In her spare time, Amy is a wanderluster, having traveled on 12 solo trips, and remains on a quest to discover the best beaches in the world.
Rodney Duckett, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Veterans AffairsDr. Rodney L. Duckett is a family nurse practitioner with over two decades of healthcare experience and education. He holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice. He was widely praised in the Army for his innovative thinking in times of crisis. He continues to use this approach in his emergency care work and as a community advocate/steward with his nonprofit, IMPAC Outreach (Intelligent Minds Proving and Applying Commitment), which mentors adolescents exiting the juvenile justice system. Furthermore, Dr. Duckett has a strong interest in history, anthropology, and archaeology, which led him to pursue a degree in archaeology. His fervent ambition and adventurous nature drew him to three continents and sixteen countries to study alongside international scholars.
Justin Fontenot, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAADN
The Organization for Associate Degree NursingDr. Justin Fontenot is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he teaches undergraduate community/public health and graduate theory courses. He is a DNP to Ph.D. student at Texas Woman's University, working on his new theory, concept analysis, and instrument development for his dissertation. He is a board-certified Nurse Executive Advanced. His research interests are in clinical pedagogy and instruction, LGBTQIA+ healthcare, and confidence in nursing practice. He is a fellow of the Academy of Associate Degree Nurses and is a proud ADN-prepared nurse.
Selena Gilles, DNP, ANP-BC, CNEcl, FNYAM
Vice President, DNPs of Color at Associate Dean, NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing- Closing
- Introduction of Keynote Speaker
- ACADEMIA: Navigating the Transition from Clinical Practice to Nursing Academia: Considerations, Challenges and Strategies for Nursing Professionals of Color
- State of DOCs & Closing
Selena Ann Gilles is Clinical Associate Professor and Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Program a New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She is an Affiliate Faculty member of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing (HIGN) where she serves as Co-Director of HIGN Scholars Program. Dr Gilles is also an Affiliate Associate Professor at Howard University College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences and Volunteer Associate Professor for the State University of Haiti.
She has a DNP from Monmouth University (2014), a MS in Adult Health Nursing from Hunter College, City University of New York, (Cum Laude, 2010) and a BS with a major in Nursing degree from Long Island University (With Honors, 2005). Dr Gilles is a certified Clinical Nurse Educator and is also certified in Critical Care Nursing. Dr Gilles has been an Adult Nurse Practitioner for 13 years, specializing in Neuro and Pain Management.
Dr Gilles is known for creating and implementing nontraditional immersive teaching/learning innovations to address nationally identified nursing education issues that will enhance student learning/program outcomes. She is regarded as a leader and prelicensure nursing education expert who has implemented curricular innovations that have been evidenced-based, creative and effective teaching strategies that span across multiple courses at Meyers and settings outside of Meyers, having a significant impact on student academic success and role transitions. Her contributions have helped enhance the nursing curriculum, filling identified gaps and answering the new Essentials call for all entry-level professional nurses to have knowledge and proficiencies to practice across a variety of settings in the spheres of wellness/disease prevention and chronic disease management.
Dr Gilles is passionate about the management of acute and chronic pain, as well as opioid overdose prevention. She is the Program Director of the Greater NYC Black Nurses Association Opioid Overdose Prevention Program. She has strong community advocacy and passion for global health, currently working with organizations aimed to serve the underprivileged and underserved communities in Haiti, Ghana, and Nigeria.
Wallena Gould, EdD, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN
Diversity CRNADr. Wallena Gould, EdD, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN is the founder of the non-profit organization, Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program and former Chief Nurse Anesthetist. For 15 years, this grassroots organization program has successfully mentored over 714 diverse critical care nurses into 92 out 124 graduate nurse anesthesia programs.
Dr. Gould was the lead consultant for a $1 million-dollar HRSA Workforce Diversity Grant for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Nurse Anesthesia Program. And, she served as AANA Chair of the Diversity Task Force from 2015 - 2016. In 2015, Dr. Gould was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Gould is the first Nurse Anesthetist of color inducted as a member into the Academy. In 2018, she was the recipient of The Trailblazer Award from the National Black Nurses Association.
Most notably, Dr. Gould was the recipient of the 2019 American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Agatha Hodgins Award for Outstanding Achievement. In August 2021, Dr. Gould was inducted in the inaugural cohort as a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. In 2022. Dr. Gould was selected as an Edge Runner by the American Academy of Nursing for the Immersion Model for Diversifying Nurse Anesthesia Programs. Presently, she serves as the Chair of the American Academy of Nursing Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity Committee and Vice Chair for the American Nurses Association Education and Innovation Committee.
Mimi Guiracocha
National Director, Health Systems Improvement of American Lung AssociationDr. Mimi Guiracocha, DNP, RN, is a public health nurse working for the American Lung Association as National Director of Health Systems Improvement. There, she leads a national asthma quality improvement program, partnering with primary care providers, clinics, and systems to improve asthma outcomes. Prior to this position, Dr. Guiracocha worked as a NICU nurse, advocating for all families to have equitable access to quality care. She has also worked with the Chicago Public Schools to improve school management of chronic conditions for students. Dr. Guiracocha is Ecuadorian-American, a life-long resident of Chicago, passionate about environmental justice and community organizing, and speaks Spanish.
Lindsey Harris, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Lindsey Harris is a family nurse practitioner at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Medicine and faculty at the UAB School of Nursing. As a family nurse practitioner with the Inpatient Glycemic Management Service, Harris manages the care of patients with diabetes and other hyperglycemic issues. At UAB School of Nursing where she has sponsored an endowed scholarship, Harris guides learning activities for students in the master’s and doctoral programs in health policy and leadership courses.
Harris is the first person of color to serve as president of the Alabama State Nurses Association in 107 years. Harris advances the organization’s mission to promote nursing excellence and the vision of being the professional voice of registered nurses. Harris was named an Alabama Influencer, and was featured on billboards, media spots, and mailers statewide. She has presented extensively on health care disparities, access to care, mentorship, mental health, and nursing advocacy issues. Harris continues to address health care inequities that have been highlighted by COVID-19. Proficient in Spanish, she helped to manage COVID-19 vaccine sites improving access in the Hispanic communities.
As past president of the Birmingham Black Nurses Association, Harris leveraged partnerships with the state’s minority nursing associations, local city officials, hospital and pharmacy associations, and district church leaders in efforts to increase health care access and education in Alabama’s underrepresented communities. She was awarded the Advanced Practice Nurse and Staff Nurse of the Year awards by the National Black Nurses Association. She received the Living Legacy and Young Alumnus of the Year awards from Samford University. UAB School of Nursing awarded her the Joann Barnett Compassionate Care Award, and in 2021 recognized her with the Visionary Leader Award.
After earning a BSN from Samford University, Harris received her MSN with a concentration in family practice and her Doctorate in Nursing Practice at UAB School of Nursing.
Jahman Hill
The Flourish AlabamaJahman Hill is an award winning poet, playwright, and professor. In 2018, Jahman claimed the title of 3rd best slam poet in the world, and in 2019 he wrote, produced, and starred in an award-winning one-man show, Black Enough, which played off-Broadway. Jahman Hill has become a sought after poet internationally. His poetry videos have garnered millions of views online. Jahman is a professor at the University of Alabama where he received Master’s degrees in both Communication Studies and Women’s Studies. The core of Jahman's creative work centers around “The Flourish”, or the idea that Black people are infinitely possible beings.
Charlene Hollins, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Nurse Practitioner Urgent CareCharlene C. Hollins, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C is a Nurse Practitioner at Massachusetts General Brigham Urgent Care, a former Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department, and a Nurse Administrator at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. In addition, Charlene is an Assistant Professor at Regis College in the Pre-Licensure Nursing Program, providing education to our future nursing students. She is a Doctoral graduate whose clinical research focuses on cultural competence and humility training for emergency room nurses. Working in the emergency department has given her insight into the patient's unmet needs and access to a network of resources to improve health behavior and community outreach within vulnerable populations. She is invested in her community organizations and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, the Psi Iota Omega chapter, which is the first Black Greek Sorority. As a healthcare professional, her passion lies in defining health inequities, cultural competence, and humility, determining the healthcare needs of her community, and continuing to bridge the gap of healthcare disparities by implementing necessary changes to ensure optimal healthcare is available for all patients. She is an expert in emergency care delivery for structurally vulnerable populations and has the skills and experience to support health equity initiatives across all domains
Theo Jones, MSN, FNP-BC
Theo Jones Sr. is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. He began his career as a registered nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital, serving in critical care units as well as trauma operating rooms.
After obtaining his master's degree in nursing from the Chamberlain College of Nursing, he received training in pediatrics from Cross Keys Pediatrics, in addition to training in internal medicine and family practice from Mercy Medical Center.
In 2018, Theo founded Weekend Whitecoat concierge with the goal to build a personal and trusted relationship between patient and provider.
Weekend Whitecoat was born out of my frustration with the current healthcare system. While working as a Family Nurse Practitioner, both in hospitals and in private practices, things would change rapidly while faces changed even faster.
Carl Kirton, DNP, MBA, RN
Carl Kirton is the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Nursing. He earned a BSN from Lehman College, a MA in Nursing Education from New York University (NYU) a post-master's certificate as an adult nurse practitioner from NYU. He received a doctorate in nursing practice from Case Western University a Masters in Business Administration from St. Peter’s University and is currently pursuing a doctor of philosophy degree in Nursing at Seton Hall University.
Dr. Kirton has diverse nursing experience including: critical care nursing, HIV-AIDS nursing, ambulatory care and nursing leadership. He has held several nursing clinical and operational leadership roles including: nurse educator, advanced practice nurse, nurse manager, and director of nursing. Dr. Kirton has more than 15 years of experience as a chief nurse executive in academic medical and safety net facilities. He is an outstanding nurse educator with adjunct faculty appointments at New York University, Rutgers University, Temple University and Philips School of Nursing.
Alexandria Lightning, DNP, FNP-BC
LightningmedDr. Alexandria Lightning is an accomplished and resilient healthcare professional whose journey through the medical field is marked by dedication, diverse expertise, and triumph over challenges. With a profound commitment to patient care and continuous learning, Dr. Lightning has consistently excelled in various roles.
Dr. Lightning embarked on her educational path at Purdue University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 2012, subsequently laying the foundation for a remarkable career. She then pursued a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at Purdue University, specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner and receiving the prestigious Donna Jesse Scholarship in 2015.
Determined to enhance her skills, Dr. Lightning completed a Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of California – Irvine (UCI), followed by a Nurse Injector Aesthetic Externship at Revenge MD. These experiences fortified her proficiency in diverse medical domains.
Equipped with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from South University, Dr. Lightning ventured into professional practice, demonstrating unwavering dedication during disaster relief efforts as a COVID19 Frontliner Nurse Practitioner. Throughout her career, she undertook various permanent and locum tenens positions, and in 2020, became the Owner/Operator of Lightning Medical but now owns Lightning VIP, a Direct Primary Care clinic, specializing in weight loss and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
Dr. Lightning's commitment to healthcare is further demonstrated by her extensive list of licenses and certifications, including board certification from ANCC. Notably, she conquered breast cancer in 2021, a testament to her strength and resilience.
With an exceptional blend of educational achievements, clinical expertise, and a triumphant personal journey, Dr. Alexandria Lightning continues to make impactful contributions to the medical field, offering comprehensive care and inspiration to both patients and peers.
Sheniece Martin-Stancil-El, DNP, RN, CNL
Sheniece L. Martin-Stancil-El, DNP, RN, CNL is an accomplished Registered Nurse with a diverse background spanning acute care, medical/surgical nursing, care coordination, population health, geriatrics, and clinical care management. With a commitment to excellence in nursing, she has earned significant recognition in her field.
As the inaugural Nursing Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Rochester Medical Center, Dr. Martin-Stancil-El is a trailblazer in promoting inclusivity and equity within healthcare. Her role reflects her dedication to creating an environment that values diversity and ensures quality care for all. In addition to her leadership position, she serves as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing at the University of Rochester School of Nursing. Her educational contributions reflect her passion for nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals, instilling in them the values of compassion and excellence. With a profound commitment to healthcare and education, Dr. Martin-Stancil-El continues to shape the landscape of nursing through her roles in leadership, academia, and advocacy for diversity and inclusion.
Danielle McCamey, DNP, ACNP-BC, FCCP
President & CEO, DNPs of Color at DNPs of Color- Welcome Address & Historical Moment in Time
- SIGNATURE PANEL: Calling all Game Changers and Trailblazers: Future of Nursing Founders Roundtable Discussion
- State of DOCs & Closing
Dr. Danielle McCamey, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, FCCP is an expert critical care advanced practice clinician. She has nearly 20 years of nursing experience and over a decade as a board-certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. Her specialties range from perianesthesia care, palliative, and critical care. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean for Strategic Relationships at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She previously served as Chief Advanced Practice Provider of the Preanesthesia Testing Department and still practices as a Senior Advanced Practice Provider in Surgical Critical Care. Dr. McCamey is a true visionary. She is the founder, CEO, and president of DNPs of Color, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit national organization that builds community and creates opportunities for nurses of color through networking, mentorship, and advocacy to increase diversity in doctoral studies, clinical practice, and leadership. In addition, she is the co-creator and former chair of the Doctoral Nurses Collaborative, a group that joins DNP and PhD prepared nurses throughout her current healthcare system. The Doctoral Nurses collaborative provides mentorship, scholarship, and elevation of evidence-based practice.
Michael McFarland, DNP, FNP-BC, AGACNP-BC
Dr. Michael McFarland is a Senior Clinical Instructor at Emory University. He serves as a lead faculty member for the Veteran Affairs Nurse Practitioner Residency Program, which is a partnership between the Atlanta VA and Emory University. He is also a practicing acute care nurse practitioner in the Division of Hospital Medicine at Emory University.
Celia McIntosh, DNP, RN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, SCRN, CCRN, CEN, CNRN
NP at McIntosh Advocacy and Consulting, LLC- Mini Podium Presentation: Navigating Racism, Audacity, and Misogyny, in the Workplace as a Black Woman: Strategies for Success
- Participate in Research Focus group
- Participate in research focus group
Celia McIntosh, DNP, RN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, SCRN, CCRN, CEN, CNRN is The Advocacy Nurse. She is a thought leader and a respected powerhouse in the community. Celia has 20 years of clinical experience as an educator, clinician, consultant, and social justice advocate in the health sector. Celia’s clinical experience includes emergency medicine, cardiac ICU/stepdown, neurology, and nonprofit leadership. She received her Doctor of Nursing Practice and M.S. in Family Nursing and a post-masters in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from St. John Fisher University. Celia is a founding Rochester Black Nurses Association member and the current President. She speaks locally and nationally regarding human trafficking, depression after stroke, and Black maternal health. She is a career coach and Chief Advocacy Officer of McIntosh Advocacy and Consulting. She teaches professionals how to pause, pivot, and navigate toxic workplace culture and improve their self-efficacy to become better self-advocates.
Billy McMullen
Billy McMullen is a former Philadelphia Eagle and University of Virginia All-American receiver. He was the all-time leading receiver at UVA and a 2-time All-ACC selection after his 4-year tenure. He played 7 years in the NFL, winning the 2005 Championship and earning a trip to Super Bowl XXXIX. After the NFL,Billy spent more than a decade advising, mentoring, and advocating for student and professional
athletes through speaking, community platforms, and specialized programs focusing on self-identity, financial literacy, and mental health awareness.
Billy also serves as Director & Private Wealth Advisor for Verdence PRO, where he focuses on high-net-worth clients, especially Professional Sports and Entertainment Executives.
Awards and Accolades
Henrico High School Hall of Fame
University of Virginia All Time Leading Receiver
2001 Dudley Award Winner
2x 1st All ACC
Football News Football All American
Drafted to Philadelphia Eagles
Super Bowl XXXIX
Style Weekly 40 under 40
NFL Career
Philadelphia Eagles
Minnesota Vikings
Seattle Seahawks
Community Involvement
Richmond VA: Reconnect Jackson Ward -Steering Committee
Spark Talk - Student Athlete Virtual Forum (Financial Literacy & Mental Health awareness)
Patrick McMurray, MSN, RN
Nurse Specialist at UNC Chapel Hill School of Nursing- Mini Podium: When Nursing Research Belongs to Everyone: Using Citizen Science as an Invitation to Co-Create Nursing Knowledge
- RESEARCH: The Pathway to Successful Publication: Unpacking the Process and Exploring the Possibilities
Patrick McMurray, MSN, RN, works as a Nurse Specialist at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing, supporting students in the didactic, clinical and laboratory learning . His primary clinical background is in adult cardiovascular critical care. Patrick received his Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at Robeson Community College (RCC) in 2013. He received his Bachelor & Master of Science Nursing - focused in nursing education 2022 from Western Governors University. Patrick is currently a Nursing Ph.D. student at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing on the biobehavioral research track. Patrick’s scholarly interests include equity in nursing education, cardiovascular care, decolonizing nursing, symptom science, and citizen science. In his spare time, Patrick gets absorbed in his favorite pastimes of reading sci-fi and fantasy books, hiking, traveling, amateur astronomy, and watercolor painting.
Sharrica Miller, PhD, RN
DOC Miller Speaks- Mini Podium Presentation: It Was Never About Merit. Exploring the Ideology and Implications of the Affirmative Action Ruling
- RESEARCH: The Pathway to Successful Publication: Unpacking the Process and Exploring the Possibilities
Dr. Sharrica Miller currently services as tenure track faculty as chair of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and Student Engagement at Cal State Fullerton. As co-investigator of a $2.2M HRSA workforce diversity grant, her primary role is to facilitate recruitment and retention of Black and Hispanic students within the school of nursing. She is a doctorally prepared pediatric nurse practitioner and graduate of Howard University who received her PhD from UCLA in 2017,
Dr. Miller is a nationally sought after speaker, trainer, and instructional designer who has conducted over 50 DEI workshops for employees and staff at hospitals, universities, and child welfare organizations to provide DEI training to employees and staff. She is founder of Kapstone Consulting, where she provides expert guidance to nursing programs on how to address their DEI needs. As a former foster youth from Compton and HBCU graduate, Dr. Miller is an active mentor, advocate, and volunteer who is passionate about the health and wellbeing of vulnerable populations.
Suzanne Miyamoto, PhD, RN, FAAN
American Academy of NursingSuzanne Miyamoto is the CEO of the American
Academy of Nursing (Academy). The Academy’s
mission is to improve health and achieve health
equity by impacting policy through nursing
leadership, innovation, and science. With two
decades of policy, advocacy, and leadership
experience, Dr. Miyamoto directs the internal operations to help the organization achieve its
vision of healthy lives for all people.
Dr. Miyamoto is highly regarded for her expertise in health care and higher education policy as
well as her leadership and successful development of advocacy-based coalitions. Prior to her
position at the Academy, Dr. Miyamoto served as the American Association of Colleges of
Nursing’s (AACN) Chief Policy Officer. Starting at AACN in 2006, Dr. Miyamoto supported the
membership as a policy analyst, advocate, and strategist at the federal level. She simultaneously
led the Nursing Community Coalition— the largest national nursing coalition focused on
inserting the voice of the profession in health policy discussions— from 2008-2018. During this
time, Dr. Miyamoto worked on such critical legislation as the Higher Education Reauthorization
Act in 2008, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009, the Affordable Care Act in
2010, and the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and
Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act in 2018.
Michelle Molitor
Executive Director of The Equity LabMichelle Molitor (she/her) is the visionary founder and dedicated Executive Director of The Equity Lab. Her journey of impact began as a founding administrator and principal at a Washington, DC charter school. Beyond traditional education, Michelle's adventurous spirit led her to serve as a crew member and shipboard educator on The Freedom Schooner Amistad.
A recognized leader in her field, Michelle is celebrated as both a Pahara and Billions Institute fellow. Her unwavering dedication extends to mentoring future leaders as faculty for Billions and the Surge Institute. Michelle's collaborative spirit shines as she partners with numerous like-minded organizations, all working tirelessly toward the vision of a more humane and just society.
Michelle utilizes her expertise and boundless passion to enact positive change. She harnesses her formidable talents, expertise, and boundless energy for the greater good, tirelessly championing the cause of equity and justice.
Erica Moore, DNP, APRN, CRNA
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing | Emory UniversityDr. Erica Moore is an Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of the Nurse Anesthesia program at Emory University. She has combined years of critical care nursing experience, nurse anesthesiology experiences, and education on diversity, equity, inclusion for the integration of culturally competent care to diverse providers and professors.
Michelle Nelson, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC FAANP, FAAN
Dr. Nelson is a fierce advocate for advancing health policy and promoting full scope of practice for Advance Practice Nurses in Georgia. As an FNP, Dr. Nelson would be able to assist with developing a more detailed plan for vaccine distribution particularly at the point of care. As an educator, she is skilled in educating individuals regarding vaccination administration, side effects, and symptomatology. A proven leader in professional nursing associations, serving as the current president of Advance Practice Registered Nurses of Georgia, she encourages advanced education and certification, and leading the unification of APRN organizations in Georgia as well as student and colleagues to take an active role in government through promoting legislative action. She serves on multiple state level nursing association committees: Georgia Nurses Association (GNA), Georgia Association of Nurse Educators (GANE), Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition (GNLC), and national level committees for the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) and AARP. Dr Nelson is no stranger to the Georgia State Capitol where she has forged bipartisan support in advancing a number of bills aimed at strengthening scope of practice for nurses to promote the wellbeing of the citizens of Georgia in urban and rural communities. Dr Nelson credits her determination and will to her West-Indian parents who stressed the value of quality, advanced education as well as hard work. Dr. Nelson has received numerous nursing excellence and leadership awards including most recently the 2020 Atlanta March of Dimes Distinguished Nurse of the Year.
She currently practices as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specializing in anticoagulation therapy at Staten Island University Hospital. Dr. Nelson is currently the State President of United Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (UAPRN) of Georgia and Co-Director of the Coalition of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (CAPRN). She previously served as the UAPRN State Secretary. UAPRN is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving access to healthcare for the citizens of Georgia. Dr. Nelson is also the Chair and a founding member of Georgians United for Healthcare. She also serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for The Nurse Practitioner Journal.
Devyn Nixon, MSN, FNP-C
Nurse Practitioner at Western Washington UniversityDevyn Nixon, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CVNP-BC collaborates with community and traditional health organizations to increase BIPOC representation in healthcare, educate healthcare providers on anti-racism and cross cultural engagement and change policy in my county and others surrounding.
Timothy Onserio DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CRNP
Director Regulatory Review Officer of FDADr. Onserio is a senior Regulatory Program Coordinating Officer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) in the Office of Translational Sciences (OTS). He
was appointed in August 2011, as a Commissioned Corps Officer in the United States Public Health Service.
Dr. Onserio provides guidance, policy and coordinates programs aimed at advancing regulatory science.
These programs include but not limited to the review of the FDA Scientific Achievement Awards program.
In addition, he is also the program lead overseeing the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)’s emergency
preparedness execution and management. This program provides an organized effort to ensure the
continuance of essential functions of a federal agency across a wide range of potential emergencies. On
another capacity, he coordinates review of applications for Medical Countermeasures Initiative (MCMi), a
program aimed at advancing regulatory science and development through intramural and extramural
collaborative research, as well as through partnerships with academia, U.S. government agencies, and
Pharma industry to explore solutions to complex scientific regulatory issues. Recently, the MCMi initiative
was instrumental in the speedy development and approval of SARs-Cov2 vaccine.
Ngozi Osuagwu, DNP, CRNP, PNP, FNP
University of Maryland/ Goodtime Family CareE. Ngozi Osuagwu, DNP, CRNP, PNP, FNP is dual-certified Family and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She cares for individuals across the lifespan, from newborns to geriatric patients. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Health at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She also provides patient care across the lifespan at Goodtime Family Care, where she has practiced in primary care for the past fifteen years. She recognizes that compassion and understanding are just as important as clinical experience in building trust with patients. Over her 12 years of experience as a nurse practitioner, Dr. Osuagwu has especially enjoyed counselling and mentoring adolescent patients and precepting dozens of
nurse practitioner students from surrounding universities.
Dr. Osuagwu earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Maryland Baltimore. She returned to earn her Master of Science as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in 2008
and Doctor of Nursing Practice in Family Care in 2019.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and serving as a leader in women’s ministry at her church.
Vivienne Pierce McDaniel, DNP, MSN, RN
Interim Executive Director of NBNA- POLICY: Policy as a Trailblazing Instrument to Accelerate Change in Health Equity
- Mary Eliza Mahoney Scholarship & Award Gala at the Hilton DC at the Wharf
Dr. Vivienne Pierce McDaniel is known to have a spirit of servant leadership. She is the president of the Central Virginia Chapter National Black Nurses Association (CVCNBNA) and co-leads the CVCNBNA Health Policy Committee. She chairs the Virginia Nurses Association and Foundation Diversity Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council. She serves on the Virginia Nurses Foundation Board of Trustees and on the Board of Trustees of Henrico, Parham, and Retreat Doctors’ Hospital. A passionate educator, she is a nursing professor who teaches health policy and advocacy and nursing leadership and chairs students through their Doctor of Nursing Practice capstone projects. In addition, she is a DEI consultant for James Madison University School of Nursing and Sentinel U®. Dr. Pierce McDaniel is a Fellow of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Diversity Leadership Institute and serves as a consultant and mentor for future Fellows. She is the recipient of the 2022 American Nurses Association Leadership in Ethics award for demonstrating the highest standards of ethics and leadership in her daily nursing practice. A justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion champion, she believes someday we will live in a society where all people are aware of, and acknowledges the diversity and equity required to build a more just society. Dr. Pierce McDaniel earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Walden University and her Master and Bachelor degrees in nursing from American Sentinel University.
Roberto Roman Laporte, PhD, DNP, RN, CMSRN, EBP-C
VitalBridge HealthRoberto Roman Laporte, PhD., DNP, RN, CMSRN, EBP-C is a highly accomplished and dedicated healthcare professional with over 20 years of experience. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Miami and a DNP from Johns Hopkins University. As a registered nurse, he specializes in medical-surgical nursing. He is one of the first 40 people to earn certification in the specialty area of Evidence-Based Practice. He was recently inducted into the Bouchet Honor Society at Yale University.
His research focuses on the needs and challenges faced by sexual and gender minorities, aiming to bridge the gap in healthcare disparities and promote inclusivity in healthcare. Driven by his desire to improve patient outcomes, he has published and presented on various topics, including evidence-based practice, mentorship, LGBT+ healthcare, simulation, and certification.
Dr. Roman’s expertise and dedication have earned him recognition and admiration in the healthcare community. He has been a recipient of prestigious awards and honors for his outstanding contributions
Joanna Seltzer, EdD, RN
Nurses You Should Know at Nurses You Should KnowJoanna Seltzer Uribe is a registered nurse with a Master's in Nursing Informatics from New York University and a doctorate of education in organizational change from Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. Joanna spent half of her 20 year nursing career as a nurse coordinator and nurse informaticist at top-ranked kidney transplant programs in NY and NJ before she transitioned to academic roles at New York University’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing, where she taught and developed one of the first design thinking courses for graduate and undergraduate nurses in the nation. Joanna was selected as one of 12 nurses from across the country for the inaugural cohort of the Johnson and Johnson Nurse Innovation Fellowship where she co-created the Nurses You Should Know project. She is currently a Senior User Experience Research Lead for improving clinical trial software. Her dissertation, published in 2022, is titled White Nurses, White Spaces, and the Role of White Racial Identity in the American Nursing Profession.
Carmen Sierra, DNP, RN, MBA, CCTN
Carmen J. Sierra DNP, RN, MBA, CCTN started her nursing career as peri-operative nurse. She spent most of her nursing profession caring for transplant patients in different stages of their health. Her nursing experience has facilitated many opportunities; the latest was working in the medical device industry working as a clinical research scientist on cancer clinical trials. Carmen is also an international marathon runner and former Iron-man triathlete. She lives with her husband and two dogs off the southwest coast of Florida. Carmen graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor's degree in nursing, obtained a doctorate in nursing practice from Rush University in Chicago, and is a PHD candidate at the University of Miami where her research is on the incidence and prevalence of latent tuberculosis in kidney transplant recipients.
John Silver, PhD, RN, MBAC
Nurses Transforming Health Care NTHAfter 24 years in healthcare, including 39 years as a Registered Nurse, John was drawn to two essential problems- Why couldn’t Nursing control it’s practice domains, and why was the healthcare system we had so dysfunctional in terms of Public Health outcomes. John soon realized that the problems were linked. If nursing could not ensure safe levels of practice, and were not actively engaged at the decision tables as to where resources were allocated in the systems, how could Nursing ensure the maximum benefit for our patients would be realized?
The answer lay in the political relationship of nurses to the facilities, and Nursing to the political process. He then embarked on a journey of research and discovery in his Public Intellectual Ph.D in Comparative Studies. He has spoken at several international and national conferences, including the AANP, on healthcare system design. He also advised several nursing groups on political empowerment, including NP’s as they worked towards independent practice and prescriptive authority. Out of this work, he discovered a need for a clear mission and vision for nursing.
Political Highlights:
2000-Master’s Project- Proactive Media Utilization
2004- Led Spectrums National online chat before the election
2005- Addressed Michigan NP Meeting
2006- Went to Michigan again to talk to their leadership
2010- PhD Dissertation on political effectiveness
2013- Published “just a union…of nurses” (Legacy Press) on political effectiveness
2020- Formed NTH nursestransforminghealthcare.org
Maria Smilios
Author, The Black AngelsMaria Smilios is a journalist and author of The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses
who Helped Cure Tuberculosis. In 2016, while working as a developmental editor for Springer
Science she learned about this extraordinary story and became determined to tell it. She spent
eight years interviewing historians, archivists, and medical professionals, but most of her
research came from being immersed in the lives and oral histories of those close to these
remarkable women.
Maria holds a Master of Arts in American literature and religion from Boston University where
she was a Luce scholar and taught in the religion and writing program. She has written for The
Guardian, Narratively, The Forward, Dame Magazine, The Rumpus, and others.
This is her first book.
Whitney Thornton, DNP (c) ,MSN, APRN, AGNP-C, BSPH
Duke University School Of NursingWhitney Thornton, DNP(c) BSPH, MSN, AGPCNP is a DNP candidate at Duke University School of Nursing and a recent graduate of the universities MSN -AGPCNP program with a certificate in Veterans’ Health. She received her BSN from Emory University and Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health from Georgia Southern University. Her passion for working for veterans stems from her maternal grandfather, great grandfather, and uncle who all served in the armed forces. Previously Whitney worked as a Veterans Affairs spinal cord and traumatic brain injury rehab nurse. Her experience there inspired her to be an advocate for veterans with spinal cord injuries. Her goal is to serve patients and their families as a clinician in rural areas much like the bucolical setting in which she grew up. She endeavors to be the type of provider that participates in a team approach to all aspects of patient care with the patient at the center.
Anna Valdez, Ph.D., RN, PHN, CEN, CFRN, CNE, FAEN, FAADN
Dr. Valdez is a Professor of Nursing at Sonoma State University and the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Emergency Nursing. She is currently serving as co-chair of the ENA DEI Committee. Dr. Valdez served as a subject matter expert on the inaugural National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing and was a contributing author of the Commission’s foundational paper on racism in nursing. She is currently serving as an independent Commissioner. Dr. Valdez has presented nationally on antiracism, bias, environmental justice, health equity, and DEI. She has taught thousands of nurses and health care professionals about providing inclusive, unbiased, and equitable care. Her research and publications include emergency nursing, DEI, bias, antiracism in nursing, and health equity. Dr. Valdez was selected as one of the 20 nurse leaders advocating for health equity to follow on social media. In 2022 and 2023, she was selected as Brexi’s 30 best nurse influencers to follow on social media.
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Latrina Walden, MHA, MSN, FNP-C, FNP-BC
Board Member, DNPs of Color at Latrina Walden Exam SolutionsLatrina Walden is not only a certified family nurse practitioner but a health care veteran. She’s worked as a nursing home administrator, dialysis administrator and a myriad of other nursing roles such as a trauma 1 emergency room nurse, a case manager, and an enterprise staffing nurse. In these roles, she’s had an exemplary record of providing caring, thorough medical services to patients and using superior critical-thinking skills.
At her previous position as a faculty member at Clayton State, Walden taught various courses in health administration, coordinated the internship program for the entire health administration program, and developed curriculum for new courses. She’s produced multiple journal articles, and a paper on which she was a co-author, “Using the ACO Concept to Produce Better Outcomes through Integrated Healthcare,” was named the Business and Health Administration Association’s conference “Best Paper” in 2014.
Now, Walden runs a highly successful test-prep company named Latrina Walden Exam Solutions. It is here that she prepares student Nurse Practitioners to become certified Nurse Practitioners through a variety of online/on demand test preparation materials. She is able to break highly complex systems down into manageable pieces and have fun while doing it. She fully believes in bettering the industry through teaching and has made it her life's work to push the industry forward.
Janet Williams, DNP, MSM, CNM
CEOJanet A. Williams, DNP, MSM, CNM is the founder of Transitions Women's Health Consulting, LLC, and a board-certified Nurse Midwife who worked in a full scope municipal midwifery practice for 19 years. In 2023 she left clinical practice, after assisting mothers to bring more than 900 babies earthside. She received her Doctorate from Wilkes University, and her Masters in Midwifery from SUNY Downstate. She is the creator of “B.L.A.C.K. Mothers Interrupted”, a recognized expert in maternal health, bias training, and a sought after speaker who has presented at numerous national conferences which include the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM), the New York State Perinatal Association (NYSPA), and Birthing the Magic Collaborative to state a few. She is a consultant, author, and educator who is the “go to trainer” on implicit bias for medical professionals
Michael Williams, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC
Student Rep, DNPs of Color- CLINICAL PRACTICE: Breaking the Silence: A Discussion on Black Men's Mental Health and Wellness
- Poster Presentation 8-min Pitch Session
Michael Williams (He/Him/His) is a board-certified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).
As a bilingual (English, Spanish) APRN who has specialized in Internal Medicine, he has had the opportunity to provide care for a culturally diverse and medically complex patient population for over four years at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FHQC). He has a great deal of experience in caring for patients from various socioe-conomic levels and communities.
Michael credits his love for medicine to growing up in New York City and to his parents, who are from Panama. His upbringing exposed him to many of the healthcare challenges and obstacles to care first-hand. Being of Panamanian descent allowed him to see the importance of understanding culture and its impact on delivering care. These experiences led to seeking and ultimately obtaining a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing ‘09 and Master’s of Science in Nursing‘16 at the University of Tampa. While developing his clinical practice as a provider, he has focused on his development as an educator in the nursing profession as well. Michael served as a clinical instructor at Yale University for three years and is currently teaching at Texas State University. Along with teaching, Michael recognizes the importance of obtaining advanced education and as a first-generation college graduate himself, he initiated an endowment scholarship for first-generation college students at his alma mater.
Michael believes community care is essential to the advancement of society. The philosophy that guides his practice is to provide the highest level of care through meaningful and collaborative relationships with patients and all members of the community. Community engagement is important and he actively participates in various events; i.e. panelist on health- related topics, 5k runs, health fair, etc. He has also authored peer-reviewed poems related to social issues in the community. Michael firmly believes improving healthcare outcomes begins with educating and empowering the community that he serves.