Sixteenth National DNP Conference: 2023 Virtual

Dr. Vivienne Pierce McDaniel places a high value in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) and in advancing health equity in all aspects in nursing. Her contributions and advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and dismantling structural racism in healthcare is recognized locally, at the state level, and nationally. She is often seen in Congress and at General Assembly in her state advocating for issues that impact nursing and healthcare.

Dr. Opsahl is an associate professor and assistant dean of nursing at Indiana University, Bloomington. Angela has over 32 years of nursing experience. In 2021, Dr. Opsahl was appointed to the National League for Nursing Commission as a Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA) as an On-Site Program Evaluator, supporting continuous quality improvement and promoting excellence in national and international nursing education. Her scholarship is focused on ways to utilize active learning strategies in both academic and clinical settings to engage the student, the faculty, the staff, and the patient with the overall goal of quality outcomes.

Jean is an established nurse executive who is a Director at Mass General Brigham. Additionally, in her role as Associate Professor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions, she prepares emerging and established nurse leaders to practice in complex healthcare environments.

Pamela Jeffries is Professor and Dean of Nursing at Vanderbilt University. She is an internationally recognized leader and researcher in nursing and health care education, with a reputation for innovation in teaching strategies, experiential learning, new pedagogies and the use of technology.

I am a full time Associate Professor at Bradley University in the online Nursing Graduate Program. I have an interest in health inequities and disparities among people of color and sexual/gender minorities.

Dr. Golino is a critical care clinical nurse specialist that has worked as a nurse for sixteen years. Dr. Golino has spoken at national nursing conferences on topics such as music therapy research, as well as on webinars on topics related to social justice. She has advocated for the removal of the ban on men who have sex with men from donating blood, as well as on the topic of racism in nursing. Dr. Golino has been published in American Journal of Critical Care as well as American Journal of Nursing.

Angel McCullough is a member of the Patient Care Executive Team at a large academic medical center in Philadelphia. Dr. McCullough has also recently launched a professional consulting business specializing in leadership development, diversity and inclusion team assessments and leader coaching, A.N.G.E.L. Leadership Consulting Services. She has served in Executive Level Healthcare Administrative roles for over 15 years and in some of the most complex organizations in and around the city of Philadelphia. Angel was inspired to launch her leadership consulting business because she noticed a lack of preparation and support for minority leaders to assimilate into leadership positions within complex organizations. There is a play book for many things, how to grow sales, how to manage people, how to follow a budget, however there is a lack of resources to help young, aspiring leaders with emotional intelligence, self-awareness, cultural humility, and interpersonal savvy.

The facilitator is a registered nurse for 19 years and worked in 4 different hospital systems including 3 level one trauma centers. Transitioned to critical care educator, policy writer, code team member and reviewer. Next receive a Doctoral Degree in Nursing Leadership in 2019 and is comfortable speaking in large venues.

Dr. Susy Varghese is a FNP at UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. She received her DNP from UT Medical Branch in March 2019 and has been a board-certified Advanced Practice Provider from the AANP since 2015. Dr. Varghese completed her master’s in science at TWU in Houston and her undergraduate in nursing at Texas Tech University, Lubbock. She has been practicing at MD Anderson for a total of 15 years and has spent the last 8 years in the Department of Pain Medicine where her dedication to both patients and the institution have been commendable.

Leslie is an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), currently teaching in their DNP nurse practitioner program. She has a joint position as the Kay Chitty Chair at UTC, which allows her to also serve the community by providing primary care to patients at a community health clinic in Chattanooga.

Nursing education of Dr. Amy Dudley spans nearly three decades including an Associate Degree in Applied Nursing Science from Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville, Virginia, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, a Master of Science Degree in Nursing from Florida Gulf Coast University, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree from the University of South Alabama. Dr. Dudley has been a practicing ANCC board-certified Family Practice APRN since 2010 as well as serving as an Assistant Professor at Florida Gulf Coast University in the BSN-DNP graduate program since 2022.

Nurse researcher, educator, clinician with a wide range of experience in clinical practice and academics.

Beth Sanford is the interim Dean of Nursing at the Fargo/Moorhead campus of Rasmussen University. She is the President-Elect of the North Dakota Nurses Association and specializes in vitamin D translational research.

Dr. Grant is the Interim Vice Dean, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Duke University School of Nursing. Dr. Grant was the 36th president of the American Nurses Association, the nation’s largest nurses’ organization representing the interests of the nation’s 4 million registered nurses. He is a prolific and engaging speaker with decades of experience as a nurse and in professional organizations. Dr. Guilamo-Ramos is Dean and Professor of the Duke University School of Nursing and Vice Chancellor for Nursing Affairs. Dr. Guilamo-Ramos is a nurse practitioner dually licensed in primary care and psychiatric-mental health nursing and he is credentialed as an HIV Specialist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine. Clinically, he specializes in the primary care of adolescents and adults at elevated risk of or experiencing negative sexual health outcomes, in particular HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

Dr. Guilamo-Ramos is Dean and Professor of the Duke University School of Nursing and Vice Chancellor for Nursing Affairs. Dr. Guilamo-Ramos is a nurse practitioner dually licensed in primary care and psychiatric-mental health nursing and he is credentialed as an HIV Specialist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine. Clinically, he specializes in the primary care of adolescents and adults at elevated risk of or experiencing negative sexual health outcomes, in particular HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

Jennifer Wilson is an advance practice registered nurse (APRN) with over 16 years of diverse experience in family medicine. She obtained her doctorate degree from Troy University where she is also employed as an assistant professor in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. As a professor at Troy University, she has promoted patient inclusion by providing learning opportunities that address populations at risk for alienation.

Dr. Aaron Sebach is Chief Nurse Administrator and Dean of the College of Health Professions and Natural Sciences at Wilmington University in New Castle, Delaware. He is a NLN Certified Nurse Educator and Certified Clinical Nurse Educator with expertise teaching and leading DNP programs. Dr. Sebach maintains an active clinical practice as a Hospitalist and Emergency Medical Services Nurse Practitioner.

Bermesola Dyer is a Family Nurse Practitioner currently specializing in Obesity Medicine at a private practice in Laurel, Maryland. She is also an assistant professor of Nursing at Stevenson University. She received her BSN from Johns Hopkins in 2002 and a MSN from Bowie State University in 2012. She also pursued a DNP from Johns Hopkins University and graduated in 2016.

Dr. Laura Flinn earned her BSN (2008) from Bradley University, MSN (2013) from Illinois State University, and DNP (2022) with an emphasis in leadership from Bradley University. She is board certified through ANCC as a Family Nurse Practitioner since 2013. Dr. Laura Flinn currently works at Bradley University in the Department of Nursing in Peoria, IL and as a Family Nurse Practitioner at OSF St. Francis Medical Group. Her focus is teaching in the graduate online nurse practitioner program in a variety of in the health assessment, theory, and practicum courses.

Dr. Mintz-Binder is an Associate Professor of Nursing at Texas Tech Health Science Center School of Nursing. Having received her DNP from Case Western Reserve University in 2007, Dr. Mintz-Binder has been consistently involved in both EBP and research studies, as well as the advisor to many DNP students. She has been a presenter at both national and international Sigma Theta Tau conferences, the Nurse Educator Conference in the Rockies and regional meetings. She has published in numerous nursing journals on the topics of resiliency, stress reduction, burnout and the early phases of this DNP study.

Dr. Winn works as an Adult NP in a homeless clinic and provides clinical experience for FNP students there.

Amber High DNP, APRN, CRNA, NC-BC has practiced anesthesia full-time in the Houston area since 2009. Amber is also a board-certified transformational nurse coach and works as a consultant for Vital WorkLife. She recently completed a DNP program at The University of Texas Medical Branch, with a focus on authentic leadership and provider well-being. Amber has had remarkable success as the project coordinator for a pilot peer support program within the department of anesthesiology at UTMB Health.

Monica Geiger was born in Puerto Rico, where she learned Spanish and developed a passion for furthering the health and safety of her community. She received her undergraduate degree in nursing from The University of Connecticut and both her MSN and DNP from The George Washington University. She currently an officer in the United States Public Health Service stationed in Dallas, Texas, where she creates partnerships and disseminates knowledge with the goal of advancing the health and safety of vulnerable populations. She does so with a passion for health education, matched only by her love for her two cats.

Dr. Opsahl is an associate professor and assistant dean of nursing at Indiana University, Bloomington. Angela has over 32 years of nursing experience. In 2021, Dr. Opsahl was appointed to the National League for Nursing Commission as a Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA) as an On-Site Program Evaluator, supporting continuous quality improvement and promoting excellence in national and international nursing education. Her scholarship is focused on ways to utilize active learning strategies in both academic and clinical settings to engage the student, the faculty, the staff, and the patient with the overall goal of quality outcomes.

Beth Sanford is the interim Dean of Nursing at the Fargo/Moorhead campus of Rasmussen University. She is the President-Elect of the North Dakota Nurses Association and specializes in vitamin D translational research.

After 20 years in management, Dr. Levine retired in 2017 from her position of Director of Education, Chief Learning Officer, after 31 years of service at the US Department of Veterans Affairs. She returned to academia as Assistant Professor of Nursing and served for one year as Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs. Dr. Levine completed a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Rutgers University in 2012 and is an ANCC Nurse Executive Advanced board certified nurse leader . Dr. Levine’s expertise in the areas nursing education, leadership development, organizational behavior, and workforce and succession planning.

Associate Professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; published recent article in Nurse Educator: The Chat GPT Storm and What Faculty Can Do; Executive Board member of NONPF