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Adanna Agbo, DrPH, MPH, MSN, RN, PHNA-BC
Chief of the Advanced Nursing Education Branch at Health Resources and Services AdministrationDr. Agbo currently serves as the Chief of the Advanced Nursing Education Branch in the Division of
Nursing and Public Health (DNPH) at the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Bureau of
Health Workforce. She is responsible for developing policy recommendations and implementing
advanced nursing education programs that train nurses and advance public health, addressing the issues
of supply, access, quality, and distribution of the nursing workforce. In her role, she oversees a team
that supports innovative programs with an investment of over $100M annually. She earned a BS in
Nursing from Fitchburg State University; MS in Nursing, MPH and post-graduate certificates in Teaching
in Health Professions and in Global Health from the University of Maryland Baltimore, and a DrPH from
Morgan State University. She received a Fulbright grant in 2015 that enabled her to conduct a rural
community-based study in Nigeria exploring factors associated with maternal health outcomes, and was
recently selected into the prestigious Nurse Leadership Institute at the University of Maryland Baltimore
School of Nursing. She is also a current Center for Disease Control and Prevention International
Experience and Technical Assistance (CDC IETA) Fellow. Dr. Agbo also teaches nursing students at
Howard Community College as an adjunct clinical instructor. On the rare occasion when she is not
working or chauffeuring her four teenage children, she enjoys unwinding at home or spending quality
time with her friends and family.
Dr. Kayla Cheatham
Kayla Cheatham is a dedicated Family Nurse Practitioner who earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree from Duke University in 2023. With over 6 years of experience in the nursing profession, Kayla is deeply committed to serving vulnerable populations. Her passion for teaching is evident in her scholarly pursuits, particularly her focus on mentoring new mothers in lactation and newborn care. Kayla has shared her expertise with aspiring nurses as an instructor for ADN nursing students during onsite clinical rotations. As a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honors Society, Kayla has been recognized for her excellence in the field. She has been invited to speak at Duke University, where she presented to ABSN students, eagerly sharing her scholarly work with the community.
Tara Spencer, MS, RN
Chief, Nursing Education and Practice Branch at HRSATara D. Spencer, MS, RN is the Deputy Director of the Division of Nursing and Public Health
(DNPH) at the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Bureau of Health Workforce. In
this capacity, she provides strategic guidance and oversight for a $642M/year investments
focused on developing and increasing the health workforce through various education and
practice programs. Under her leadership, the DNPH’s workforce development efforts support
three key areas - Nursing Education and Practice, Advanced Nursing Education, and Behavioral
and Public Health with a focus on increasing the supply, distribution, and preparation of a
diverse nursing, behavioral and public health workforce prepared with the skillset to deliver
quality care in community-based settings to rural and underserved populations and to promote
new innovative models of health care delivery. Tara’s work experience prior to HRSA includes
working as a Nurse Clinician in the Baltimore Metro Area. Tara has a Bachelor of Science in
Nursing from Hampton University in Hampton, VA, and a Master of Science with a focus in
Nursing Leadership and Management from Stevenson University in Owings Mills, MD.