The Confidence Gap: Helping Nurses Advocate for Their Growth, Voice & Value

Tara Williams, DNP, RN

Tara is a senior executive with more than twenty years of progressive leadership experience in acute care hospitals, including twelve years in a tertiary, three years in academic settings. During her career, she has served in various nursing leadership positions including clinical oversight of medical-surgical, critical and intermediate care, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, trauma, burns, neurology, neurosurgery, epilepsy monitoring and advanced practice providers. Tara currently holds a BSN in Nursing from Mount Carmel College of Nursing, Columbus, Ohio; MSN in Nursing from Mount Carmel College of Nursing, Columbus, Ohio; DNP in Executive Healthcare Leadership, Mount Carmel College of Nursing, Columbus, Ohio. Tara actively mentors through the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio for master’s students studying Nursing Leadership. She serves as Adjunct Professor at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio in the undergraduate nursing program. Tara is a member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nurses and Ohio Organization Nurse Executives (OONE). She was honored with the Daisy Team Award-Critical Care Shared Governance Council, University of Cincinnati Medical Center Hospital 2022; Nurse Leader of the Year Nominee, Mount Carmel East Hospital 2013-2020; March of Dimes Nurse Leader of the Year Nominee, Columbus, Ohio 2014-2015; Wise Women in Leadership Nominee, Columbus, Ohio 2013; Nurse Leader of the Year Award, Mount Carmel, Mount Carmel East Hospital 2012; Leadership Distinction Award, Mount Carmel College of Nursing 2012.

Scott Greenwald, MSN, NI-BC

Scott Greenwald, MSN, NI-BC, is a Clinical Informatics Manager at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center with a background in critical care nursing. He specializes in clinical workflow optimization, change management, clinical documentation improvement, and healthcare technology implementation. Scott has led numerous initiatives to improve clinician experience, operational efficiency, and the adoption of digital health solutions across the organization.

Tonya Kimber-Jones

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Brenda Byk, MSN, RN, NE-BC, NPD-BC

Brenda A. Byk, MSN, RN, NE-BC, NPD-BC, is the Director of Staffing Operations, Florida and Hospital Care at Home for Cleveland Clinic. Throughout her healthcare career, she has held several positions as a registered nurse that enabled her to provide safe, compassionate and quality care to her community. With more than 25 years of leadership experience, Brenda brings a comprehensive background in building and motivating dynamic teams.

Sybil Vinas, RN

Nurse Sibyl is a critical care nurse and content creator passionate about educating, empowering, and entertaining the nursing community. With experience in L&D and the CVICU, she has a social platform reaching hundreds of thousands of nurses sharing everything from clinical insights and career advice to the humor surrounding the realities of being a nurse.

Amy Brown, MSN, RN

Amy Brown MNS, RN, has been a registered nurse for more than 20 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Valley State University and her Master of Science in Nursing from Ferris State University. Brown joined the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) in 2024 as the organization’s first chief nursing officer. Prior to joining the MHA, she spent most of her career at a 500+ bed acute care Level 1 Trauma Center. Brown started her chief nursing officer career in March of 2020, just a couple weeks into a global pandemic, and served in that role for more than three years. She is an authentic leader, focused on transparent, ethical behavior, leading with her head and her heart. Her role at MHA is to convene nurse leaders, seek input, disseminate best practices and drive positive change with a unified voice to influence healthcare transformation – ensuring the perspective and needs of nurse leaders are heard and addressed in public policy issues related to nursing and patient care. Brown also co-leads the MHA Keystone Center providing clinical counsel for the ever-critical work of quality and safety. She serves on the board of the Michigan Organization for Nursing Leadership and has been a member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) for more than 10 years. Brown also completed AONL’s Nurse Executive Fellowship in April of 2021. She currently serves on the following boards: Lawrence Technological University’s Healthcare Violence Reduction Center, the Advisory Board for the Gift of Life Michigan and the Michigan HomeCare & Hospice Association.

Thomas Veeser, RN, MS

Tom’s experience includes Chief Nursing Officer since 2002. He has held that role first as a site CNO then as a System CNO for Affinity, which merged with Ministry and ultimately with Ascension Health for Wisconsin. Tom served as Holy Family Memorial’s CNO and VP for Quality prior to their integration with Froedtert Health.

Sonya Selhorst, RN, BSN, MBA

Sonya S. Selhorst, MBA, BSN, RN, FACHE, is a healthcare executive and nurse leader with more than 25 years of progressive experience in clinical care, hospital operations, and executive leadership. She currently serves as President and Chief Nursing Officer of Mercy Health–Defiance, providing strategic and operational leadership for the hospital, multispecialty clinics, and regional outreach services. Throughout her career with Mercy Health, Selhorst has advanced through progressive leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Nursing Officer, Hospital Administrator, and Director of Urgent Care Services. Her expertise includes organizational leadership, nursing operations, quality and patient safety, strategic planning, financial management, workforce development, process improvement, and change management. She is recognized for building high-performing teams, leading complex organizational change, and advancing access to high-quality care in rural communities. Selhorst has guided Mercy Defiance to numerous national distinctions, including CMS 5-Star ratings, Grade A Leapfrog ratings, Press Ganey Guardianship of Excellence recognition, and recognition as a Modern Healthcare Top 100 Best Place to Work. Her leadership has also driven significant operational improvements, including supply chain optimization, workforce initiatives, physician recruitment, and the integration and expansion of healthcare services. Her leadership in rural healthcare has earned national recognition from Becker’s Hospital Review, which named Selhorst among its “Rural Hospital and Health System CEOs to Know” in 2024. Becker’s recognized her leadership in strategic growth, operational oversight, innovation, workforce development, and improving care and engagement at Mercy Defiance. A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Selhorst holds an MBA in Knowledge Management, a Bachelor of Healthcare Administration, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She is also actively involved in professional, civic, educational, and community organizations throughout Northwest Ohio, reflecting her commitment to strengthening healthcare and the communities she serves.

Michele Szkolnicki, M.Ed, BSN, RN, FACHE, FACMPE

As senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Michele Szkolnicki provides leadership on key nursing initiatives, aligns nursing strategy to support hospital goals and is responsible for overall patient care. Szkolnicki has more than 25 years of executive experience in a variety of adult and pediatric hospital and medical practice environments. Presently, she serves as the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center’s Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. While in that role, she directed a restoration of nursing staffing and culture transformation which led to a nurse turnover rate reduction from 23% to under 9% - maintaining that for 13 consecutive months and recently achieved a nurse vacancy rate low of 2.65%. In addition, she was co-Executive Sponsor in a hospital-wide initiative to reduce length of stay which resulted in institutional performance in the top decile for 6 consecutive months in FY 2025. She is currently steering the team in pursuit of its 5th Magnet designation with the site visit scheduled for October 2026. Prior to joining Hershey Medical Center, Szkolnicki was the chief operating officer of Crozer Keystone Health Access Network, Springfield, Pa. She also held numerous health care and nursing leadership roles in the Philadelphia region, including COO and CEO roles at Tenet Healthcare in Philadelphia, Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services for Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Chief Operating Officer for Drexel University Physicians and several management and nursing leadership roles with the University of Pennsylvania Health System. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Senior Level Healthcare Executive Regent Award from the ACHE of Central Pennsylvania in October 2025, the ACHE Service Award, the 2017 Neumann University Nursing and Health Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award, the 2012 Neumann University Alumni Association John Neumann Award, and the Nurse Administrator of the Year Award presented by the Philadelphia Business Journal during its 2011 inaugural Healthcare Innovation Awards. Szkolnicki was named to the Becker’s Hospital Review’s 274 Hospital and Health System CNOs to know in 2025.

April Waddell, RN, BSN, CFEI, CFP® Candidate

April Waddell, RN, BSN, CFEI, CFP® Candidate, is the founder of NurseMoneyDate®, a financial education platform dedicated to helping nurses build financial confidence and long-term wealth. After a seven-year career in healthcare, primarily as a pediatric ICU nurse, April founded NurseMoneyDate® in 2021 and has since worked full-time educating and providing financial literacy to the nursing profession. She is known for her unique approach to teaching finance in “nurse speak,” translating complex financial concepts into language and real-life context nurses can actually understand, helping move them from financial avoidance to financial confidence.

Kourtney Radcliff, MSN,RN,CMSRN,NE-BC

Kourtney Radcliff, MSN, RN, CMSRN, NE-BC is a transformative nursing leader with more than 15 years of progressive experience in healthcare, advancing from Patient Care Technician and Registered Nurse to Chief Nursing Officer at Deaconess Gateway Campus for Deaconess Health System. Throughout her career, Kourtney has demonstrated a passion for developing nurses and leaders, improving patient care, and creating high-performing teams. Her areas of expertise include nursing leadership and management, workplace transformation, coaching and mentoring, and organizational development. She is particularly passionate about empowering nurses to recognize their leadership potential, embrace change, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients, families, and colleagues. Kourtney holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in Nursing Leadership from Western Governors University and is currently working on her Master of Business Administration. She is a proud wife and mother of two boys and enjoys spending time with family.

Melanie Van Sistine, BSN, RN

Melanie "Mel" Van Sistine, BSN, RN, is the founder of Mel's Crafty Corner, an award-winning custom apparel and accessories brand built for healthcare professionals, educators, and caring professionals everywhere. Mel started her career in 2013 as a CNA before becoming a Registered Nurse in 2018, going on to work as an acute care pediatric nurse specializing in endocrine, pulmonary, GI/GU, and mental health care. She served as a charge nurse, mentor, and preceptor, and was a three-time DAISY Award nominee. In 2020, during a slow season brought on by the pandemic, Mel designed a simple rainbow t-shirt as a symbol of hope ~ and Mel's Crafty Corner was born. After a back injury led her away from bedside nursing, she leaned fully into the business, going full-time in 2022. She's since been named Nurse.org's 2023 Nurse Entrepreneur of the Year and 2024 Best Nurse-Founded Business, and 2025 Best Nurse Entrepreneur Creator; all while running MCC from her Milwaukee, Wisconsin studio, one Happy Mail package at a time.

Anthony Scarpone-Lambert, BSN, RN

Anthony Scarpone-Lambert is a Registered Nurse and the Co-Founder & CEO of Adni, a Y Combinator-backed, AI-powered career community for healthcare workers. Since 2021, he has scaled the platform to over 200,000 members and hosted 100+ meetups for healthcare workers. As a digital content creator (@nursefounder), he advocates for better working conditions and provides clinician-focused AI education to 45,000+ followers. His work has been widely featured in The New York Times and Forbes.

Jerry Schwartz, RN, MHHA, NE-BC

Jerry has nearly 40 years of nursing experience across hospitals, managed care, and consulting. His expertise is in nursing leadership, with much of his career spent leading clinical departments in pediatric critical care and cardiac service lines. He is passionate about creating strong professional experiences for nurses and supporting their career growth.

Kelly Kruse, MS, RN, APRN-BC

Kelly Kruse Nelles MS, RN, APRN-BC is a registered nurse and board-certified nurse practitioner, clinical practice consultant, educator and nurse entrepreneur. With more than 30 years of experience providing clinical care, practice model implementations, academic and clinical education across practice settings, Kelly now leads state nursing workforce initiatives through her role as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Center for Nursing. Kelly is a recognized nurse leader committed to innovation in nursing practice, RN role development that supports nurses success and initiatives that ensure equitable care for all.

Sarah Brooks, M.Ed. Clinical Counseling

Sarah (Brown) Brooks is the Senior Director of People & Culture at Health Carousel, partnering with executive leaders to advance organizational effectiveness, leadership development, culture, and employee engagement. Drawing on a background in counseling, coaching, and business leadership, she helps leaders navigate change, strengthen teams, and build organizations where people and performance thrive. Sarah also hosts the Failing Forward podcast.

Michelle Hehman, MSN, RN, NEA-BC

Michelle holds a Masters of Science degree in Nursing Administration from the University of Cincinnati and Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Mount Saint Joseph University. She has extensive clinical and leadership experience in a variety of settings, including emergency, telemetry, community health, and the staffing industry. She also served as an educator at Xavier University for 13 years. Michelle serves as a Subject Matter Expert for American Nurses Association, supporting nurse executives and new nurse managers throughout the nation as they pursue ANCC leadership certification. She was a contributing author for the Emergency Nurses Association publication: Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course Manual and has served as an Abstract Reviewer for the ANCC National Magnet Conference. Michelle is committed to supporting and promoting the nursing profession on a global scale. She has presented at numerous healthcare workshops and seminars. She has shared her nursing leadership expertise with audiences throughout the U.S. and Asia. Her presentations cover a wide range of topics, including nursing leadership, resilience in healthcare, and professional growth & development.

Joscel James, BSN, RN

Joscel James is a former ER nurse who left bedside care to become a comedian and speaker after realizing his coping mechanisms were marketable. He's built a following of over 100,000 healthcare workers, survived more overtime than any human should, and has a 100% success rate at making orientation awkward in the best way. A patient once pulled a knife on him. He's fine. The patient did not leave a good Yelp review. Joscel has been called "unprofessional" by at least one manager who couldn't take a joke, which he considers a compliment.

Jennifer Gross

RN with 6 years of charge, travel, and trauma experience.

Pauline Nkazi, MSN, BSN, RN

Originally from Nigeria and qualified as a nurse in 2001. Worked and studied in Ireland for over 17 years.

Madella Lynne Horario, BSN, RN

Started practice as a registered nurse in the Philippines back in 2019, as a Perioperative nurse. Currently works as a Med-Surg nurse at the Orthopedic / Neurology / Neurosurgery department in a facility at Northeast Iowa since 2023.

Edna Alvero, BSN, RN

RN in the Philippines for 5 years RN in the US for 2.5 years, currently working in CHOA

Kenechi Oguejiofo, BSN, RN

Kenechi is a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. I boast of having over 10 years of experience working first as a student nurse in the Philippines then moving on to being an experienced nurse in Nigeria and now the USA. While majority of her experience has been in oncology, providing expert care to adults battling cancer; she has experience in other specialities such as medical-surgical, orthopedics etc.

Jeah Jacob, BSN, RN, LSSBB

Jeah is a Health Carousel (2025) alumna who now is currently working as an Assistant Nurse Manager in Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. She used to work as a BPO professional specializing in Operational Excellence, Program Management, Training and Talent Development. She is trained and certified in Lean Six Sigma (Black Belt), Design Thinking and DEC with over fifteen years of cumulative experience in Insurance, Healthcare (Clinical and Service Operations) and Customer Service platforms.

Peter Mecouch, MBA, MSN, RN

MBA and MSN prepared healthcare leader with a proven track record of supporting organizations in their ongoing operational, financial, customer service, quality, compliance, and growth initiatives. Professional healthcare leader with over 30 years experience in clinical nursing, education, and management in a variety of profit and non-profit hospital, clinic, and service settings. A skilled problem solver and self starter with an orientation towards goal achievement and outcomes assessment. Demonstrated success in project completion, team building, and organizational design. Experienced in developing and conducting educational programs. Proven customer service track record that includes all stakeholders within the healthcare arena. Dedicated to self-improvement and improved knowledge through academic pursuit.

Christopher Haviland, BSN, MS, RN

As a Registered Nurse in the Healthcare Value Engineering team at UKG, he leverages my clinical expertise and healthcare operations experience to enhance workforce management and HCM solutions that improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency. His role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to analyze healthcare workflows, identify areas for improvement, and implement innovative strategies that align with best practices in care delivery. By utilizing data-driven insights and evidence-based methodologies, he contributes to the development of UKG workforce solutions that optimize resource utilization and enhance the overall operation efficiencies, compliance, and quality of care. My commitment to advancing healthcare technology ensures that we meet the evolving needs of healthcare providers and their patients, ultimately driving value and fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the organization. Specialties: Registered Nurse, Staffing and Scheduling in Healthcare (acute, procedural and long term care), Hospital Patient Flow, Healthcare Workforce Management, Clinical Staffing, Patient Workload, Analytics, International Healthcare Consulting, Employee Relations, Acquisition Analysis, Product/Market Gap Analysis, Value Engineering, Compliance, Return on Investment, Public Speaking.

Bonnie Barnes, FAAN

Bonnie Barnes co-founded The DAISY Foundation in 1999 with her husband Mark, following the passing of Mark’s son Patrick, to express their profound gratitude for the compassionate care Patrick’s nurses provided during his illness. What began as a heartfelt thank-you has grown into The DAISY Award®, now celebrated in over 7,000 healthcare facilities and schools across the globe, recognizing nurses for their extraordinary skill and compassion. Under Bonnie’s leadership, DAISY continues to expand its impact through nurse recognition, scholarships, research support, and global outreach, honoring nurses at every stage of their careers.

Robbie Best, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CMSRN, CNL

Robbie Best, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CNL, CMSRN, is an accomplished Clinical Director of Nursing with over 17 years of progressive leadership in clinical and administrative roles. She currently oversees inpatient surgical operations, driving strategic initiatives that elevate healthcare quality and patient safety. Known for her visionary leadership and team-centered approach, Robbie inspires excellence across all levels of care. Her dedication to innovation and compassionate leadership continues to shape the future of nursing and patient outcomes.

Kacie Salas, BSN, RN, NC-BC

Kacie is night shift nurse of 20 years specializing in rural healthcare. She currently works part time as a break nurse at a critical access hospital in Northern California and part time with Debriefing the Front Lines as a Debriefing Nurse and the Director of Sobriety Support. When Kacie isn’t working nights in the local critical access hospital, she’s homeschooling her 3 boys, active in her community co-op, nurturing her sobriety and chasing her chickens. Kacie shares “relapse is a part of my story - addiction is isolating. It’s through connection with others I’ve gained freedom from loneliness and shame.”

Tara Kosmas, MSN, RN, NC-BC, CHSE, SOAR

Life as a burn survivor shaped Tara’s experience and led her to the nursing profession. Tara’s experience spans 21 years and includes burns, academia, peer support and debriefing. In 2020, sixteen days after a global pandemic was declared, Tara began Debriefing the Front Lines. She has since built a team of board certified nurse coaches and together they offer debriefing, sobriety support and education to individuals and healthcare systems. When not championing change, find Tara soaking in the sun, swimming in the gulf, collecting sharks teeth, chasing her animals and tending to her kosmic garden alongside her husband.

Karen Ofafa, EdD, MPH, BSN, RN

Karen Ofafa, EdD, MPH, BSN, RN serves as the Director of Transition to Practice for the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA). In this role she is responsible for providing direction and oversight of the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of the Arizona Statewide Transition to Practice Program for newly licensed Registered Nurses. Karen has demonstrated success with improving nurse retention, implementing competency-based workforce solutions, and empowering the nursing workforce.

Jamil Norman, PhD, RN, CNE

Dr. Jamil Norman is the Associate Dean of the BSN Program at Walden University. She is a Certified Nurse Educator with twenty years of experience in higher education. Throughout her career, Dr. Norman has served as an agent of social change in the roles of educator, researcher, and mentor. As a nurse research, Dr. Norman works to advance the body of evidence in pregnancy-related health disparities among African American women. 

Steven Verrone

Dr. Steven Verrone's background is in marketing management, strategy building, leadership, and higher education where he has served various roles over his 30+ year career. He served as Director of Marketing for a consulting firm developing marketing initiatives for strategic alliances, in Las Vegas NV. He then moved into higher education positions related to developing strategic marketing, leadership, course design, and assessment. At Walden University, he teaches MBA marketing, innovation, and capstone courses.

Bob McWhirt, DNP, MSN, BSN

Dr Robert “Bob” McWhirt is the Academic Program Coordinator at Walden University. He is Board Certified as a Nurse Executive and has over twenty five years experience as a nurse leader including thirteen as a Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer. Bob has been teaching for 11years here at Walden. He is well versed in project management and leadership principles and practices

Erica Ponchot

Erica Ponchot is the Director of International Recruitment and Programs at Health Carousel International, where she’s spent over 12 years helping talented foreign-educated healthcare professionals achieve their dreams. She leads the team that recruits for PassportUSA and supports candidates through exams and visa petitions. When she’s not busy at work, she’s off exploring the world with her husband and two sons, indulging in a little retail therapy, getting lost in a good book, or testing out new recipes in the kitchen.

Amy Guptill, RN, BSN

Amy is a leader focused on fostering a positive and collaborative organizational culture. Enjoys mentoring new nurses and healthcare professionals. Leads with a servant leadership style where I focus on working in the trenches alongside staff to create engagement.

Mary Jo Loughlin, DNP, RN, NEA-BC

Mary Jo Loughlin is the Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services at Hunterdon Healthcare. Prior to this role, Mary Jo served as the Administrative Director of Patient Care Services at the same company. Mary Jo holds a DNP in Systems Level Leadership from Thomas Edison State University and a Master's degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Samantha Wall, LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Samantha is a social worker that currently works at a group practice, primarily treating people ages 5-55 for PTSD, anxiety and depression. Samantha also has a focus on treating people who have experienced CPTSD with different therapeutic modalities. She loves to talk about how to help those heal and manage complex triggers and trauma.

Samuel Calvin, LPC, NCC

Before starting his career as a therapist, he worked as a first responder in the Denver Metro Area. He worked collaboratively with some of Colorado’s bravest individuals and saw the importance of putting mental health on the frontlines. He takes great pride in his work with first responders and other members of the medical field. When trying to be open and honest, it can be helpful when you don’t have to explain to your therapist what a Yankauer tip is.

Brenda Byk, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CMSRN, NPD-BC

Brenda A. Byk, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CMSRN, NPD-BC, is the Regional Director of Staffing Operations, Florida and Hospital Care at Home for Cleveland Clinic. Throughout her healthcare career, she has held several positions as a registered nurse that enabled her to provide safe, compassionate and quality care to her community. With more than 25 years of leadership experience, Brenda brings a comprehensive background in building and motivating dynamic teams.

Judi Kuric, RN, BSN, MSN, DNP

Dr. Judi Kuric has over 35 years of experience in providing nursing and advanced practice nursing care. She is board certified as an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, family nurse practitioner, and emergency nurse practitioner.

Sarah Miller, MSN, RN, CPN

Sarah has been a nurse for a little over 7 years. The majority of these years have focused on the pediatric population. I have completed my MSN in nursing leadership as well as got my CPN (Certified Pediatric Nurse). I also spent a couple of these years travel nursing.

Joyce Fitzpatrick, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN, FNAP, FAANP(H)

Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN, FNAP, FAANP(H) is Director of the Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy, and Elizabeth Brooks Ford Professor of Nursing, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland Ohio. Dr. Fitzpatrick is widely published in nursing and health care literature with over 400 publications, including 85 books. She will share insights about opportunities for nurses' career planning and address important facts included in her book, 301 Careers in Nursing.

Micah Matiang'i

Dr. Micah Matiang'i, PhD, serves as a Senior Lecturer in the School of Medical Sciences and heads the Directorate of Open, Distance, and eLearning (ODeL) at Amref International University (AMIU). With over 18 years of experience in training human resources for health, he leads primary health care (PHC) focused initiatives, particularly in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH). A Commonwealth Fellowship alumnus, Dr. Matiang'i holds a BSc in Nursing, along with a Master's and PhD in Public Health, and is passionate about health systems research and embracing disruptive training technologies.

Emilia Ngozi Iwu, PhD, RN, APNC, FWACN

Dr. Iwu is a Global Health Practitioner, Researcher, Primary Health Provider, and an accomplished Nurse Leader. She is an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Global Health at Rutgers University School of Nursing, Newark. Dr. Iwu was selected as a Fellow American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) for 2024. She is a Board Member, past President, the first Education Committee Chair and current Nigerian Liaison, of National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America (NANNNA). She's a member of the committee for implementation of Advanced Practice Nursing in Nigeria. She's also the Senior Technical Advisor for Nursing, Care and Support Programs at Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, a CDC/PEPFAR-funded organization supporting HIV & TB care in Nigeria. Her research focuses on global health workforce and HIV treatment support to improve access, adherence, and retention in care for Women, Children, Adolescents and Families affected by HIV. Dr. Iwu is the Nigerian Principal Investigator for a four-African country consortium research funded by UK-AID. This 5-year, longitudinal midwifery cohort study in conflict-affected area, examines midwives' education, workforce experience and influence on maternal/newborn mortality and morbidity in Yobe State, Nigeria. She's a two-time Carnegie Foundation African Diaspora Fellow; Robert Wood Johnson; and Jonas Foundation Nurse Leadership alumnus. She served as a CGFNS Alliance Board Member until 2022. She has been a member of the National Academies of Science and Engineering (IOM) Forum on Health Professions Education since 2014. She is married and blessed with children and grandchildren.

Peter Preziosi, PhD, RN, CAE, FAAN

Peter Preziosi, the President and CEO of TruMerit, is a leader in the global effort to strengthen health systems by improving career development and mobility for healthcare workers worldwide. Dr. Preziosi was appointed to lead the organization in early 2023 when it was known as CGFNS International, the world's largest credentials evaluation organization for the nursing and allied health professions. Since then, he has led its transformation into a new era of global impact, expanding its mission toward research and advocacy in support of healthcare workforce development solutions, including global standards and frameworks for certification of nurses and other healthcare professionals. This has included rebranding the organization as TruMerit and enlarging its profile to enable healthcare workers everywhere to work at the top of their capabilities and licensure. Dr. Preziosi has also reinvigorated the organization's global activism as a member of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO) and has guided its induction into the WHO's World Rehabilitation Alliance (WRA), a network of stakeholders that advocates for improving rehabilitation management and investment, building a high-quality rehabilitation workforce, and enhancing data collection on rehabilitation. Prior to joining the organization, Dr. Preziosi led quality, standards development, and credentialing at the World Health Organization's initiative to build a technology-driven global learning center, the WHO Academy, with a goal of upskilling millions of health workers worldwide. After beginning his career as a registered nurse, Dr. Preziosi has spent nearly three decades in high-profile positions at corporations, government agencies and nonprofits. His work has included leading strategic innovation, partnership-building and healthcare reform initiatives for national and international organizations including Verizon's healthcare innovation incubator, Concentrix Corporation, the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the National League for Nursing and the AMDEC Foundation, a New York-based biomedical research consortium. He also worked for the City of New York's Health and Hospital Corporation, and he directed the Mayor's Office of Medicaid Managed Care. Dr. Preziosi holds a PhD in health policy and a master's degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a master's degree in education from Columbia University's Teachers College. His bachelor's degree in nursing is from Florida State University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Global Partners for Rehabilitation and is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, where he is a Certified Association Executive.

Lea Sims

Lea is Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for TruMerit (formerly CGFNS International). In that role, she oversees brand strategy and communications for the nearly 50-year-old nonprofit, aligning the organizational narrative with its core mission to shape global health workforce development. Lea is also the host of TruMerit's podcast Care Anywhere, launched in 2024. Prior to coming to shape global health workforce development. TruMerit, she served as Global Marketing Lead for Verizon's Healthcare and Life Sciences practice from 2011-2023, overseeing healthcare messaging, marketing and thought leadership for Verizon's enterprise business. From 2002-2011, Lea was Director of Professional Practices for the Association for Healthcare Documentation (AHDI), overseeing practitioner certification, continuing education, legislative advocacy, and marketing strategy for the association's 20,000+ global professional members. She was Editor-in-Chief of the association's two clinical/technical journals and authored the Book of Style for Medical Transcription, 3rd edition, the standards manual used by clinical documentation specialists globally.

Angela Agore Egwele, MRes, BSc, RGN

Angela Agore, MRes, BSc, RGN, is the Lead Research Nurse at a National Health Service (NHS) Trust in the UK, overseeing a portfolio of 40+ clinical studies and advancing inclusive research practices. She champions Black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups representation and patient involvement in research through roles within south east regional research delivery network under the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) UK. She is also the UK Lead and Co-Director for Research and Quality Improvement at Ghanaian-Diaspora Nursing Alliance (G-DNA), and contributes to global equity in research as Nurse advisor at CareForMe.

Folake Adelakun, DNP, RN

Dr Folake Adelakun graduated from Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria nursing school in 1989 with Diploma in Nursing and then proceeded to obtain Diploma in Midwifery in 1993, and certificate in Nephrology Nursing from the same institution in 2000. After immigrating to the United States, she obtained bachelor's degree in nursing from Bethel University St Paul in 2004, master's in nursing and business administration degree with concentration in Health Care administration from University of Phoenix, Arizona in 2010, and Doctorate in Nursing practice with concentration in Transcultural Nursing from Augsburg University in 2013. She is a certified Public Health Nurse and Nationally certified as Nurse Educator. Dr Adelakun has worked in long term care setting, as a medical/surgical nurse, pediatric nurse, nurse /midwife, school nurse, home care nurse, gynecological nurse, mental health nurse, and public health nurse. She has taught in various Colleges and Universities since 2010. She is a published author, presenter at conferences, and book reviewer. She is an abstract reviewer for various nursing organizations including the international council of nursing. She is currently the secretary and chief editor of Newsletter of National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America and on editorial board of Journal of Current Trends in Nursing and Health care. She is a member of Transcultural Nursing Society, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, and National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America. She is involved in mentoring other nurses, international, and community work.

Marlon Garzo Saria, PhD, RN, AOCNS, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, FAAN

Dr. Marlon Garzo Saria serves as a Nurse Scientist and Magnet Program Director at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. Additionally, he holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, assigned to the 452d Aeromedical Staging Squadron at March Air Reserve Base, California. As President of the Philippine Nurses Association of America, Dr. Saria is committed to advocating for improved healthcare across all communities and increasing representation within the nursing profession.

Andrew Lingo

Andrew Lingo has held a variety of leadership roles within Health Carousel over the past 19 years and currently serves as the the Director of Ethical Recruitment & Sustainability. In 2022, Andrew gained the additional responsibility of serving as the executive director of the newly formed Health Carousel Foundation. Andrew's focus is on championing corporate and foundation projects that aim to elevate and transform the nursing workforce globally.

Clara Kassner

Clara Kassner serves as the Senior Director of International Employee Experience at Health Carousel, where she leads the International Placement and Deployment Advocates and International Employee Supervisors teams. Together, these teams support internationally educated healthcare professionals throughout their journey to the United States, from identifying career opportunities and securing placements with healthcare organizations to preparing for deployment and successfully transitioning into their new communities and workplaces. Clara is passionate about creating exceptional experiences that empower healthcare professionals to build successful careers while strengthening the healthcare workforce across the United States.

Angela Snider, MS, RN, APRN-BC, NEA-BC

Angela M. Snider, MS, RN, APRN-BC, NEA-BC is the Chief Nursing Officer at Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital and a board-certified Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist with over 15 years of experience in nursing leadership, emergency services, and advanced clinical practice. She is known for driving quality outcomes, leading operational improvements, and fostering collaborative clinical environments. Angela previously held key leadership roles at Hennepin County Medical Center, where she worked alongside the Chief Nursing Officer to enhance clinical operations, support emerging leaders, and improve patient care strategies in high-acuity departments. She has led major initiatives, including the opening of a Crisis Services program and a Free-Standing Emergency Department, resulting in measurable improvements in patient flow and satisfaction. An advocate for community health, Angela has spearheaded addiction education programs, Narcan distribution, and hospital-based response teams. Her leadership has earned multiple awards, including the Women of Vision Leadership Award and Leadership Teammate of the Year. Angela holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Mount Carmel College of Nursing and is actively involved in nursing professional organizations and alumni leadership. She remains committed to advancing nursing practice and supporting underserved communities.

Tracy Hankin

Tracy is an experienced Senior Executive and General Manager with a track record of delivering superior results in business growth, revenue generation, customer relationship management, and strategic planning. Developed national, high performing, committed, cross functional teams across consumer products, health care, data technology, sports, and media industry sectors. Leads by example, collaborative, and focuses on driving positive business outcomes.

Debra Morton, DNP, MA, BSN

Highly accomplished Nurse Executive with 30 years of progressive acute care experience leading hospital operations, P&L management, strategic planning, staff empowerment, labor relations, and quality management. A visionary and decisive leader with demonstrated success across the healthcare continuum, from clinical operations to HCAHPS optimization. Recognized for fostering high-reliability organizations and advancing patient-centered care models.

Leah Ramos, DNP, RN, CENP, NE-BC, CCRN

Dr. Leah Ramos is the Associate Chief Nursing Officer for the Adult Hospital at MUSC Health–Charleston, where she supports strategic planning, nursing operations, quality, and patient safety initiatives. With more than 25 years of healthcare experience, she has served in a variety of roles spanning acute care, critical care, education, and nursing leadership. Her professional interests include nursing operations, clinical research, patient safety, and quality improvement, with contributions to multiple publications and presentations in these areas. Leah earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Louis University in the Philippines and her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership from the University of South Carolina. She holds three nationally recognized certifications in critical care and nursing leadership. She is also an alumna of the Amy V. Cockcroft Leadership Fellowship and currently serves as the Region 4 representative for the South Carolina Organization of Nurse Leaders. Leah has been recognized with multiple national, statewide, and organizational awards, including the MUSC Health Earl B. Higgins Leadership in Diversity Award, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Circle of Excellence Award, the South Carolina League for Nursing Excellence Award, and the South Carolina Palmetto Gold Award.

Ron Gonzalez, MS, BSN

With over 25 years of experience in healthcare and technology, Ron is the Founder and CEO of UNA Health, a company that creates disruptive and innovative software solutions for acute care organizations and the healthcare staffing market. Ron has a proven track record of leading and growing successful healthcare technology ventures (such as JobRobotix, Prophecy Healthcare, and BlueSky Medical Staffing Software), has published multiple articles on healthcare management and assessment, and served as a strategic advisor and consultant for various healthcare organizations. He is passionate about transforming healthcare through technology, and empowering healthcare professionals and organizations to deliver high-quality care.

Brian LeCount

Brian is the Chief Marketing Officer at Health Carousel, a top 20 leader in healthcare staffing and workforce solutions in the US and the #1 healthcare staffing provider internationally. Brian leads Health Carousel's multi-brand B2C and B2B marketing efforts, digital strategy, corporate strategic planning initiatives, and other innovation programs designed to drive demand, optimize retention and deliver strong lifetime customer value.

Melanie Van Sistine, BSN, RN

Mel, the founder of Mel's Crafty Corner, is a nurse, entrepreneur, and mental health advocate with a passion for creativity and community. Drawing from her own experiences in healthcare, she uses her platform to design products that inspire conversation, promote self-expression, and support mental health awareness. Balancing her love for art, her dedication to others, and her entrepreneurial spirit, Mel has built a brand that's as much about connection and compassion as it is about crafting beautiful, meaningful pieces.

Micheline Fraser, BScN, RN

Micheline lives in a small town in Ontario, Canada. She began my nursing journey as a Registered Practical Nurse in 2011, and continued education through the bridging program. She completed by BSN in 2015, and has since worked in community nursing, stroke rehab, long-term care, and infection control. After a life-changing experience with burnout in 2019, she went through a rough couple of years recovering and she is now settled into a job she enjoys. She has a passion for helping her fellow healthcare workers with burnout prevention and recovery.

Christine Kirmsse, RN

Christine is a Registered Nurse, content creator, and founder of Daisy Social Club, a wellness-driven community for nurses. She shares her journey balancing a healthy lifestyle with the demands of nursing, offering real, relatable inspiration to fellow healthcare professionals. Through her content and community, Christine hopes to inspire and support nurses in every part of their life.

Emma Doherty, BSN, RN

Emma is an emergency department nurse in rural South Carolina. She has always had a passion for mental health and working in the Emergency Department highlights how critical the integration of mental and physical health is. Her favorite stress relievers are hiking, reading and gardening! She hopes to bring Operation Happy Nurse's message to the forefront of discussions regarding mental health within healthcare and healthcare workers.

Shannon McPeek, BSN, RN

Shannon McPeek is a passionate mental health advocate and the founder of Operation Happy Nurse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting nurses facing stress, anxiety, and depression. After beginning her career in the Neonatal ICU and later transitioning into travel nursing, Shannon's own struggles with anxiety inspired her to create a supportive community for others in the profession. She has been recognized as a 2022 L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Honoree and a 2023 Purdue University Early Career Achievement Award winner.

Bill Lecher, DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC

Bill is a doctorally prepared, board certified nurse leader and brings more that 30 years of nursing practice and leadership to Nursing Careers Week. He utilizes his experience in academic medical centers and community hospitals; pediatric and adult care; and acute care, behavioral health, and ambulatory care settings to support and mentor aspiring nursing students and emerging nurse leaders on their career path and journey. In his current role as director on nursing at Health Carousel, Bill provides clinical support and leadership internally to our team and our health care professionals and hospitals that we serve.

Danielle Altares Sarik, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, FAAN

Danielle Altares Sarik is Director of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Senior Policy Service Professor at George Washington University, and Senior Fellow at the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania. As a pediatric nurse scientist and health services researcher, Dr. Danielle Altares Sarik focuses on improving pediatric systems of care and outcomes through policy, innovation, and research. She developed and implemented the American Academy of Nursing Edge Runner-designated designated Baby Steps model, a transition of care approach to address health equity for neonatal patients and families discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit.

Simmy King, DNP, MS, MBA, RN-BC, NE-BC

Dr. Simmy King serves as the Chief Nursing Informatics and Education Officer at Children's National Hospital. She holds the position of Associate Professor of Pediatrics at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Emphasizing the importance of innovation, she leads initiatives in digital transformation, workforce education, and wellness strategies to improve clinical outcomes and facilitate the adoption of technology into nursing. Through her leadership, Children's National was the first organization in Washington, DC, to achieve recognition as an ANCC Practice Transition Accreditation Program with distinction in 2019, and more recently as one of six organizations globally, and the first pediatric hospital, to achieve the ANCC Well-being Excellence credential.

Deborah Stamps, EdD, MBA, MS, RN, GNP, NE-BC, CDE, FADLN, FAAN

Deborah C. Stamps, EdD, MBA, MS, RN, GNP, NE-BC, CDE, FADLN, FAAN, is the founder and CEO of Deborah Stamps Consulting, LLC, with nearly four decades of progressive healthcare leadership. An internationally recognized authority on workforce development, nursing education, and leadership, she created the Professional Academic Workforce (PAW) model to advance the educational and economic mobility of underrepresented minorities in nursing. Dr. Stamps has held executive, academic, and board leadership roles, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing, and continues to shape policy, education, and equity in healthcare.

Cole Edmonson, RN, DNP, NEA-BC, FACHE, FNAP, FAONL, FAAN

Dr. Edmonson has a career spanning three decades with roles including chief nursing/clinical officer and his current role CEO for the Nurses on Boards Coalition. He is a Fellow in AAN, NAP, and AONL. Serves on ANCC board and as the previous Chair of the NLN Foundation. He served on the Texas Hospital Association Board. He is a Past President for the Texas Organization of Nurse Executives and as the elected AONL region 7 representative. He currently serves as the Chair of the Board of New Friends New Life.

Jaclyn Neilly, MHA, BSN, BA, RN

Jaclyn has been an RN for over nine years. She has worked in both travel healthcare staffing as a VP of Clinical Services and in acute care as a Clinical Nurse Coordinator. She is also the Education Committee Nurse Planner and the Speaker Engagement Specialist for TravCon.

Elizabeth Menschner, DNP, MAS, MSN, RN, NEA-BC

Elizabeth Menschner, commonly known as Liz, serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders. With an extensive career spanning over three decades in nursing leadership and hospital operations, Liz has held several pivotal roles. Notably, she has served as the Vice President of Patient Care Services at Riddle Hospital and as the interim Chief Nursing Officer at Temple University Health System. Her professional focus encompasses innovative care delivery, harm prevention, and the mentorship of emerging leaders. Liz possesses advanced degrees in both nursing and business and holds board certification in Nursing Executive Advanced.

Melissa Knybel, BSN, RN

Melissa is the current Director of Education for TravCon responsible for curating high-quality, engaging, and relevant content that supports the professional development of healthcare travelers while ensuring compliance with continuing education (CE) accreditation standards. Additionally Melissa has 26 years of experience in the healthcare staffing industry, primarily focusing on operations, safety, and quality improvement. Melissa earned her BSN from the University of Massachusetts and worked for 10 years at the bedside, primarily in ICU.

Holly Bass

Holly Bass is an accomplished executive with over two decades in healthcare staffing. She served as President of PPR Travel Nursing for over 5 years and as Executive Vice President of Recruitment at Medical Solutions, the industry’s second largest travel nurse staffing company. Holly led PPR through multiple successful recapitalization processes and been recognized nationally. She was named on the 2021 SIA Global Power, Women in Staffing List and won the Best Places To Work, Leader For All Award. She was the President of NATHO and appointed the Board of Directors from 2018-2023. Holly has also been a Panelist at the SIA Healthcare Staffing Summit and Speaker at TravCon.

Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN

President & CEO Dr. Beverly Malone has led the National League for Nursing since 2007. She contributed to the ground-breaking IOM report, "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health," and served on the Minority Health Federal Advisory Committee. With over 20 honorary degrees and numerous accolades, Dr Malone's distinguished career has blended policy, education, administration, and clinical practice--including the position of Federal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health under President Bill Clinton. Dr. Malone is internationally recognized as the first African American General Secretary of the United Kingdom (UK) Royal College of Nursing representing 400,000 nurses and served as a member of the UK delegation to the World Health Assembly.

Andrew Smith, MSN, RN, CPN, NE-BC

Andrew smith bio

Donita Ross, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CGNC

Donita Ross is a global healthcare executive with nearly three decades of nursing and leadership experience, currently serving as Vice President and Associate Chief Nursing Officer and Head of the International Division at Health Carousel International—one of the nation's largest international nurse staffing organizations. A Certified Global Nurse Consultant and Board Director for Health Carousel Global Services Inc., she leads a global operation spanning the U.S., Manila, and offshore centers with full P&L accountability for 100+ employees and a robust pipeline of international healthcare professionals. A recognized thought leader on the nursing shortage, ethical recruitment, and international workforce strategy, she is a TruMerit DAISY Award recipient and a two-time Staffing Industry Analysts Global Power 150 Female Leader in Staffing.

Ryan Eastman

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Abby Zimmerman

Abby Zimmerman serves as HCTN’s Vice President of Recruitment and Client Fulfillment, overseeing our Recruiting and Account Management teams across Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton. Abby has spent 12 years in the recruiting and staffing space in recruitment, account management, sales, implementation, and leadership roles. Abby is passionate about providing a world-class experience to both our clients and candidates while supporting our internal employees as they strive to achieve their own career goals. Abby is a Cincinnati native where she lives with her 12-year-old son, Brooks, and two doodles.

Deb Zimmermann, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Deb Zimmermann serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the DAISY Foundation. Prior to joining DAISY, Deb served in the United States Army Nurse Corps, practiced as a nurse practitioner, and for 25 years served in chief nursing officer positions in New York and Virginia. She is the president of AONL and a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. She is the past chair of ANCC Commission on Magnet� and the AONL Foundation.

Sarah Brown

Sarah is big on a few things: entrepreneurship, leadership development and becoming your highest self. She has a master’s degree in counseling, two coaching certifications and was responsible for leading talent development in government and health care organizations. Sarah currently leads People & Culture for Health Carousel, a Cincinnati-based medical staffing company. She is a mindset coach and hosted the podcast Failing Forward. On the podcast, Sarah interviewed over 140 successful people who share the failures that launched them into success. Sarah was a Woman to Watch, a YWCA Rising Star, 40 under 40 recipient and is past board president of Artworks.

Earl Dalton, MHA, MSL, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Earl Dalton, MHA, MSL, BSN, NEA-BC, FAAN, is Chief Clinical Officer and Vice President of Clinical Services at Health Carousel. With more than 30 years of healthcare leadership experience, he is a nationally recognized speaker, author, and advocate for nursing, workforce culture, quality improvement, and patient experience. Dalton serves in leadership and advisory roles with NATHO, The Joint Commission, and the American Staffing Association and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Janet Schultz

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DeAnna Hawkins, DNP, RN, NEA-BC

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Jordan Puskar

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Jamie Nixon

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Rowell Cordova, BSN RN - ADON/UR

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Toye Cadiente

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