ANPD Virtual Symposium

Dr. Kenya Beard is the Inaugural Dean and Chief Academic Officer at Mercy College’s School of Nursing and past chair of the New York State Board of Nursing. As a 2012 Macy Faculty Scholar who is committed to strengthening workforce diversity and advancing health equity, she founded the Center for Multicultural Education and Health Disparities and propagated research and best practices to improve health outcomes. She later served as a Senior Fellow at the Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement and co-produced healthcare disparity segments on WBAI-FM for over 400,000 listeners. More recently, she co-authored and established the nation’s first Nurse Faculty Fellow’s program.

Dr. Rebecca O'Connor is an Associate Professor in the University of Washington School of Nursing, and an inaugural Betty Irene Moore Nurse Leaders and Innovators Fellow. Her research, teaching, and service reflect her commitment to addressing racism and other forms of oppression in nursing and beyond. She developed and leads implicit bias training for health sciences students, faculty, and research teams, and a 3-day Antiracism-DEI Teaching Institute for School of Nursing faculty and received the School of Nursing’s student-nominated Excellence in Promoting Diversity Through Teaching in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2021 and Excellence in Graduate Teaching in 2022.

Deborah C. Stamps is the founder and chief executive officer for Deborah Stamps Consulting, LLC. Dr. Stamps has over thirty years of progressive healthcare leadership and is an internationally recognized authority on workforce development, diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, nursing education, and leadership. She has held a variety of roles, including founding President of the Rochester General College of Health Careers and the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer at Rochester Regional Health. Dr. Stamps created the professional academic workforce (PAW) model to advance the educational and economic mobility of underrepresented minorities in nursing through establishing partnerships between healthcare, community, and academic organizations. In 2021 Dr. Stamps was named among 50 of the nation’s most influential diversity leaders, receiving the prestigious Leadership Excellence Award at the 2021 National Diversity and Leadership Conference. Dr. Stamps is the co-lead for the NYS Action Coalition and chairs the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. She is a member of the AARP’s Historically Black College and University’s Learning Collaborative for Diversifying the Nursing Workforce.

Dr. Mary Harper is the Director of Research and Inquiry for the Association for Nursing Professional Development. She has published widely on topics and research related to nursing professional development.

Dr. Ulrich is a professor at the Cizik School of Nursing at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and is the Editor-in-Chief of the Nephrology Nursing Journal. She is the editor of Mastering Precepting, which was just released earlier this year.

Dr. Maloney is a Teaching Professor at the University of Washington Tacoma School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership. A former president of ANPD, Dr. Maloney received the Advocate for the NPD Specialty award in 2023.

Dr. Warren is also a past-president of ANPD. She was the former executive director of the Maryland Organization of Nurse Leaders, Inc. and Maryland Nurse Residency Collaborative, where she led the implementation of a statewide nurse residency program and preceptor development program.

Dr. Cathleen Opperman has a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from The Ohio State University and certifications in professional development, evidence-based practice, nurse executive and pediatric nursing. She has been in professional development for over 35 years and works at Nationwide Children’s in Columbus Ohio. Cathleen presents, consults and writes on developing Educators, the EBP process, ROI for professional development activities, relationships in the workplace and pediatric topics.

Marian Altman is a clinical practice specialist at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses , where she serves as lead faculty and program supervisor for the AACN Programming. Altman’s 40-year nursing career encompasses roles as both direct care and advanced practice nurse, NPD professional as well as earning her PhD in Nursing in 2017. She lectures nationally on a broad range of healthcare topics and is published in peer-reviewed journals and nursing textbooks.

Kim Ramos has 18 years of RN experience and currently works as an NPD specialist in the Department of Professional Nursing Practice at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Kim leverages her experience in bedside nursing, nursing leadership, and nursing education across academia, hospital settings, and a national nursing organization to effect collaboration and positive results in her current role.

Adriana Rumoro has spent most of her career in nursing professional development, & currently holds an NPD specialist position in the Department of Professional Nursing Practice at Rush. Adriana’s NPD expertise is supported by her service in education and frontline operating room work, NPD practice in hospital settings, as well as a national nursing organization, where she served as a contributing specialty core curriculum author.

Tracy Langston is the Director of Nursing Professional Development and Innovation at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina. Certified in Nursing Professional Development, Tracy has 18 years of nursing experience and 10 years of experience in Nursing Professional Development.

Renee Cherry is the Manager of the Professional Development Specialist Nursing team at ECU. Certified in Nursing Professional Development, Renee has 31 years of nursing experience and 10 years in Nursing Professional Development. As a change agent and advocate for NPD, Renee supports team goal achievement while sharing the NPD team’s value to the organization.

Jessica Grote is a nursing professional development specialist that has worked as an RN in a variety of rural settings from critical care to critical access, quality, engagement, administration, education, and adjunct faculty. Currently Jessi is the Program Coordinator for the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program. She also runs a nonprofit providing beef to foster families, works as a hospice nurse, and volunteers as an EMT in her community.

Nicole Weathers is a nursing professional development specialist scaling the divide between practice, academia, and entrepreneurship with a passion for bringing resources to all corners of healthcare. As the program manager for the University of Iowa College of Nursing – Online Nurse Residency Program, Nicole has been leading the way in the world of online nurse residency since 2014, helping over 70 organizations implement transition to practice support.

LaToshia Gilbert works as a Nursing Professional Development Senior Specialist, and is graduate-prepared with a master’s in nursing education and board certified in Nursing Professional Development. She has over 20 years of nursing experience in pediatrics, critical care, emergency medicine, and as a clinical instructor, with the last seven years in the NPD department. LaToshia is responsible for quality, safety, and regulatory issues for her organization.

Cheryl L. Rockwell is a Nursing Professional Development Senior Specialist with 34 years of nursing experience in surgical trauma intensive care, emergency room, and academia. Cheryl has a purpose to cultivate new nurses transitioning into nursing, working with a Nurse Residency program for over 7 years. She has a passion for educating at all levels of nursing and creating curriculum blueprints for life-long learning.

Amanda N. Weaver is a Senior Specialist in Nursing Professional Development, & has a unique background commencing with a career in broadcasting and marketing. She has blended this communication background with nursing for the past 12 years, with experience in rural hospital acute care, nursing professional development, and nursing leadership. Amanda is passionate about the development of nurses, striving to be an encourager and motivator as they navigate their desired pathways on their nursing journey.

Dr. Susan Keim is an Associate Practice Professor serving as director of master’s degrees in nursing healthcare leadership and a doctor of nursing practice program in executive leadership at the University of Pennsylvania School of nursing. She is also a nurse scientist facilitating various research initiatives at Penn Medicine at Home.

Jill Rachild is the inaugural nurse coordinator for the nurse residency program at Penn Medicine at Home. Jill has over 17 years of professional development experience in varied health care settings.

Lindsay Bowler is a board certified nurse leader serving as Director of Practice and Professional for Penn Medicine at Home, which is inclusive of home health, home hospice, home palliative and home infusion services.

Deborah Goodlett is a Regional Director of Education and Professional Development for Ochsner Health, River Region. She is a Registered Nurse of 42 years and has an MSN from the University of South Alabama. Her specialty experiences include Oncology, Medical Surgical & Telemetry Inpatient Areas, Nursing Education, Professional Development, and Leadership.

Kellee Brown is the current Manager of Pharmacy Clinical Services at Ochsner Medical Center Kenner in Kenner, Louisiana. Kellee possesses a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from The University of Texas and a Doctor of Pharmacy from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Kellee is a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist with special interest in critical care medicine and transitions of care.

Lisa Boothby is the director of pharmacy at Ochsner Medical Center-Westbank campus in Louisiana. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from University of Florida and is board certified in pharmacotherapy since 2002. Lisa earned her Master of Business Administration from Indiana University. She is an elite green belt with a passion for healthcare clinical process improvement, medication safety, and healthcare leadership.

Pam is dually certified in medical-surgical nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses and is also certified in Nursing Professional Development. Pam’s accomplishments include published author for journal articles, chapter author for medical-surgical textbooks, and recent author of a medical-surgical certification review textbook. She has been the recipient of various awards and recognitions throughout her career. She also serves on an advisory panel for the American Nurses Association and is a mentor for nurses seeking career coaching. Pam speaks nationally on clinical and legal topics for healthcare professionals, and has served in the United States Air Force Reserve as a flight nurse.

Peta-Kaye Johnson is a Nursing Professional Development Practitioner with 10 years of experience in professional development and emergency nursing.

Catana Philipps has been a nurse since 2012, beginning her career in the emergency department. She worked in the emergency department at an urban academic health center and level I trauma center for 3 years before moving to Trauma Services where she has worked for the past six years. Catana has served as the Trauma Educator and Outreach Coordinator since 2017. Catana holds her CEN and TCRN certifications and is a current member of the ENA and STN. She received her Master’s Degree in Nursing Education from in 2019. Catana is passionate about trauma education and enjoys teaching others about the care of injured patients.

Colleen Grose is a Nursing Professional Development Specialist at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, in Norfolk, Virginia. Colleen started her career as a pediatric nurse, in 2007, in the inpatient hematology oncology unit and has since worked in a variety of specialties and leadership and management roles.  Her love for teaching and nursing professional development of the new graduate nurse ultimately brought her into her current position as a NPD specialist.  Colleen's focus is on nurse preceptor development and ongoing support, new graduate RN residency, research and evidence-based practice, and academic partnerships.

Sarah Meyer is a masters-prepared Registered Nurse, is licensed as a Public Health Nurse, and is a NPD-BC. She works as a Nursing Professional Development Specialist at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System as a Preceptor Program Director and a Site Director for Pre-Licensure Nursing and Clinical Placements. Sarah has a strong passion for Evidence-Based Practice, data collection, and preceptor support!