Colleen Leners is the Chief Health Officer at 1st Call HEALTH, dedicated to providing high-quality care to veterans. A U.S. Army Nurse Corps veteran and Bronze Star recipient, she has over 25 years of nurse practitioner experience. Dr. Leners previously served as the Director of Policy at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and was selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow, working with Senator John Thune on the Senate Finance Committee. She serves as Region 3 Director for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), on the Case Western Reserve Alumni Board, and Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research. Inducted as a Fellow in both the American Academy of Nursing and AANP, she holds a DNP from Case Western Reserve University and an MSN from the University of San Diego.

Caroline Stowe, DNP, MSN, FNP-C, AAHIVS, AQH, MSCP, is a Doctorally-prepared Nurse Practitioner with extensive experience advancing telehealth models of care. She earned her BS in Biology from the College of Charleston in 2005, her BSN and MSN from Johns Hopkins University in 2008 and 2010, and her DNP from George Mason University in 2022. Dr. Stowe is boardcertified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and credentialed as an HIV Specialist, with dedicated expertise in HIV prevention, PrEP, and STI care. Her clinical and leadership roles have focused on bridging access gaps through innovative telehealth strategies, particularly for underserved and high-risk populations. Passionate about education and advocacy, she brings a unique perspective on integrating technology and clinical best practices to expand access to prevention services.

Katy Morgan is an acute care pediatric nurse practitioner who has worked for over 9 years in pediatric urology at the University of Virginia. She obtained her BSN from the University of Virginia and MSN from the University of Pennsylvania and previously worked in several pediatric nursing roles. She is also a past VCNP Piedmont Region President and State Secretary. Now she spends her entire days teaching people to pee and poop both at work and home with her 2.5 year old son.

Dr. Tauna Fleming Gulley, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, CNE, is a Professor of Nursing and Chair of the RN-BSN Program at the University of Pikeville. With more than 30 years of clinical and academic experience, she is dedicated to advancing rural health and strengthening nursing education across Central Appalachia. A dual board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Gulley has served for over two decades providing accessible, compassionate care to underserved communities.

Her research focuses on rural health disparities, health behavior change, interprofessional collaboration, and climate and environmental health. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and co-authored the book “Better for Being with You:” A Philosophy of Care. Dr. Gulley is an active leader in professional organizations, serving as President of the Southwest Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners and as a peer evaluator for the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

Widely recognized for her teaching excellence, scholarly contributions, and community service—including extensive work with global medical missions—Dr. Gulley is committed to preparing future nurses to lead with compassion, integrity, and a deep understanding of the communities they serve.

Randi Earls is a PharmD and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist with more than 20 years of experience in both clinical practice and the pharmaceutical industry. In her current role as a Medical Science Liaison she works closely with healthcare providers to translate emerging scientific evidence into practical insights that support patient care and the appropriate use of innovative therapies. Dr. Earls is especially passionate about bridging the gap between research and real-world practice and enjoys collaborating with nurse practitioners and other clinicians to bring the latest evidence into everyday patient care.

Dr. Elizabeth Onyejekwe is the Founder and CEO of Godaelli Psychiatry & Mental Health Center- an integrative and holistic model of care. She is a psychiatric provider across the life span, including children, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics. She has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare, with over a decade in behavioral health. She earned MSN-PMHNP from Walden University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from George Mason University, where she completed the project that serves as the foundation for her presentation. A sought-after mental health speaker, she is known for simplifying complex cases to strengthen clinical decision-making. She is deeply committed to community outreach, engaging schools, medical centers, and organizations to destigmatize mental health. She mentors PMHNPs and precepts PMHNP students from various universities, advancing clinical excellence and ethical leadership. Her presentation underscores the urgent need to embed mental health screening and care into medical practice.

Dominica has been a Family Nurse Practitioner since 2001. She currently practices full-time as a hospitalist NP and as a PRN infectious disease NP. She earned her BSN from Virginia Commonwealth University, MSN from the University of Virginia, and is a Doctor of Nursing Practice candidate at UVA with an anticipated graduation in May 2026. Her career spans both inpatient and outpatient care, including hospital medicine, infectious disease, orthopedics, allergy, asthma, and immunology. Over time, she developed a deep passion for infectious disease and hospital medicine, with a particular focus on antibiotic stewardship. She views hospital medicine as the gatekeeper of all hospitalizations, where timely decisions, interdisciplinary collaboration, and diagnostic clarity, paired with judicious antibiotic use, have the most significant impact on patient outcomes.

Janice has been the urology NP at SNVMC since 2017. Prior to this, she held a variety of roles in nursing administration, education, program management, nursing faculty, and research study coordination. Her clinical interests include procedural care, postoperative outcomes, and the implementation of evidence-based practice changes to improve patient safety and outcomes. She holds a BSN from Boston College , MSN in Nursing Education from The Catholic University of America, and two post-MSN certificates in Primary Care NP and Acute Care NP from The George Washington University and the University of Virginia, respectively. She is a Doctor of Nursing Practice student at UVA with an anticipated graduation in May 2026. Janice is passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration, translating research into practice, and advancing patient-centered, nurse-led, efficient healthcare delivery. She is committed to improving clinical outcomes while supporting sustainable practice change within complex healthcare systems.

Dr. Tebbenhoff has had the honor of working with people across the lifespan who are experiencing mental health needs. Her clinical specialties include Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Eating Disorders, and Mental Health Promotion and Wellness. She previously worked at the National Institute of Mental Health as well as several clinics that serve underrepresented and rural communities. She is currently an Associate Professor at Frontier Nursing University.

Julie Spencer, DNP, FNP-BC, CUNP, AFMC, is a nurse practitioner with more than 22 years of experience in women's health and urology/urogynecology. She is certified in functional medicine with additional advanced training in hormones, menopause care, and sexual health. A Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, Julie founded Julie Spencer Wellness after over two decades in urology and urogynecology where she focuses on helping women restore hormone balance and improve gut health. Julie has appeared on local television discussing gut and hormone health and has been featured as a guest presenter at Urology Grand Rounds. A former Georgetown University adjunct professor, national and local speaker, and published author, she is known for her passion for teaching and community outreach that empowers women to understand their health and take control of their wellness.

Stephanie Bork is a Clinical Instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and holds a Faculty Practice appointment in the Department of Pulmonology at VCU Health. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science in Nursing, along with a Family Nurse Practitioner certificate, from the University of Pennsylvania. Stephanie has extensive teaching experience in graduate nurse practitioner programs, where she has taught a range of courses including advanced health assessment, diagnosis and management, health policy, population health, and practicum courses. Clinically, she specializes in severe airway diseases and has over 12 years of experience as a nurse practitioner and an additional 5 years of nursing experience. Her research interests focus on severe asthma, respiratory biologics, and the evolving role of advanced practice providers in healthcare. She has contributed to both clinical trials and investigator-led studies, serving as a primary and sub-investigator. Stephanie has published several articles and presented nationally on topics related to airway disease and nurse practitioner professional practice. She is an active member of several professional organizations and currently serves as faculty for the Association of Pulmonary Advanced Practice Providers.

Lisa completed her MSN (FNP specialty) at University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 1998 and practiced in primary care for 18 years, working at community health centers for the majority of her career. She became ANCC board certified as a PMHNP in 2016 and received grant funding to develop a model integrating mental health as part of the services offered at her primary care clinic. She now divides her time between this integrative primary care site (University of Maryland Medical Center) and the Johns Hopkins' Children Mental Health Center (CMHC), where she provides psychiatric care for children and adolescents. CMHC uses a co-occurring model of providing psychotherapy and psychiatry services in a community setting. Lisa lives in Baltimore with her three children and enjoys learning languages (in the hopes of traveling more in the future!)

Clinical Educator for Fairfax County Fire and Rescue since September of 2010. I instruct 1700 paramedics and EMTs providing continueing education for their recertification. I have worked at several different areas as a nurse practitioner to include emergency, urgent care, family practice and primary care. I also currently work as a primary care provider for Grafton Integrated Health services at their Berryville Campus part-time. I graduated from University of South Florida in December of 2006 with a master's in nursing. My certificate was obtained in 2007 from the AANP.

Lori Conyers is a Family Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice with more than two decades of nursing experience in the Shenandoah Valley. Her clinical background includes operating room, home health, public health, family medicine, and women's health. She has practiced as a nurse practitioner for over 12 years, with a blended focus on family practice and women's health. Lori currently serves as the FNP Program Director at Mary Baldwin University and has recently opened her own family practice. She is passionate about evidence-based, holistic care and lifelong learning. Through her clinical work, she identified a significant gap in the evaluation and treatment of sexual health concerns, motivating her to develop approaches that make these conversations more comfortable for patients and to pursue effective treatment modalities for these issues.

Jennifer Sherman, MSN, AGACNP-BC is the Lead Advanced Practice Provider for the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery team at Inova Loudoun Hospital. With two decades of experience in critical care, she has helped lead the hospital's successful transition to a Level II Trauma Center. Jennifer is deeply involved in Advance Practice Governance, having served as Secretary for the Inova Health System APP Governance Congress and Chair of the Professional Development Sub-Council. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Virginia Commonwealth University with a concentration in Quality and Safety. Jennifer is passionate about trauma education, team-based care, and clinical excellence.

Dominique Tobbell, PhD, is Centennial Distinguished Professor of Nursing and director of the Eleanor Crowder Bjoring Center for Nursing History of Inquiry at the University of Virginia. Dr. Tobbell's research examines the complex political, economic, and social relationships that developed among academic institutions, governments, and the health care industry in the decades after World War II and assesses the implications of those relationships for the current health care system. She is the author of three books, including Dr. Nurse: Science, Politics, and the Transformation of American Nursing (University of Chicago Press, 2022), Pills,
Power, and Policy: The Struggle for Drug Reform in Cold War America and its Consequences (University of California Press,
2012), Health Informatics at Minnesota: The First Fifty Years (Minneapolis: Tasora Books, 2015), and co-editor of Troubling
Access: Global Health and Pharmacology (Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA, 2021). She has been the recipient of several awards, fellowships, and grants, including grants from the American Philosophical Society, the American Association for the History of Nursing, and the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing. Dr. Tobbell earned an undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Manchester, and both a Master of Art and a PhD in the history and sociology of science from the University of Pennsylvania.

Martha Purvis RN, DNP, FNP-BC is a Family Nurse Practitioner with 40 years of nursing experience. She has been a nurse practitioner for over 25 years, the last 16 in Primary Care with the VCUHS Division of Geriatrics. She completed her DNP at the VCU School of Nursing in 2021. She is Faculty in the VCU School of Nursing, serving as Project Coordinator for the VCU School of Nursing Mobile Health and Wellness Program (MHWP). This program brings mobile health care to rural sites in Virginia, while serving as an educational practice site for RN and FNP students from VCU and local Community College Schools of Nursing. The students and faculty provide care navigation services, education and assistance with managing chronic medical conditions and medical visits for insured and uninsured individuals.

Leigh Ann Breckenridge, DNP, FNP-C, is a Clinical Associate Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing. With over 35 years in academia and practice, she integrates public health, trauma-informed care, and arts-based pedagogy to advance nurse practitioner education. Her scholarship explores collaborative testing, dyad precepting, and Kintsugi art to teach Adverse Childhood Experiences. Drawing on personal experience with dementia and financial scams, Dr. Breckenridge advocates for awareness of cognitive vulnerability in older adults.

Ashley Apple earned a BSN, MSN, and DNP from the University of Virginia School of Nursing, where she is now an assistant professor. She worked for more than a decade as an emergency department nurse, caring for both adult and pediatric patients, before becoming a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She remains in clinical practice in a pediatric urgent care setting. Apple has been involved in numerous health policy and advocacy initiatives at both the state and federal levels. In 2020, she was awarded a Virginia Nurse Advocate Health Policy Fellowship, and her doctoral work centered on nursing engagement in health policy and advocacy related to health disparities and social justice. In this capacity, Dr. Apple partnered with state and federal legislators, leaders from national and international professional nursing organizations, public health experts, legal and fiscal analysts, and nurse-lobbyists, among others.
Deeply committed to advancing equitable public policies, Apple continues to work closely with legislators and stakeholders to address sociopolitical barriers to wellness. She is a member of the board of directors for the Virginia Nurses Association, having served two terms as the commissioner on government relations and now serving as the vice president. Dr. Apple leads the Virginia Legislative Nursing Alliance, a collaborative think tank for specialty nursing organizations across Virginia, and she has played a key role in the passage of numerous bills related to professional practice in the Commonwealth.

Alysia E. Pack, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Old Dominion University and serves as the State President of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners (VCNP). A nationally recognized nurse practitioner leader and health policy advocate, Dr. Pack has played a key role in advancing legislative and regulatory reform impacting NP practice in Virginia, including efforts to modernize licensure, reduce practice barriers, and expand access to high-quality care. She is an active educator, consultant, and community leader, with a professional focus on workforce development, leadership, and health equity. Dr. Pack brings a pragmatic, policy-informed perspective grounded in frontline clinical experience.

Dana Burns is a clinical associate professor with Virginia Commonwealth University and a practicing Family Nurse Practitioner with VCU Health Internal Medicine Department Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. She obtained nurse practitioner training at Columbia University and doctoral degree from Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Burns expertise is in resilience and mindfulness in the clinical and academic environments. She a member of the VCU Health /VCU School of Nursing Strength in Caring HRSA Wellness Grant team investigating strength based leadership and organizational dynamics impact on clinician wellness, resilience and intent to stay. Her current projects include improving nurse practitioner education through the implementation of innovative clinical education models with a focus on interprofessional team pedagogy. Dana is the clinician lead of an interprofessional team with the NP/PharmD Diabetes Management Clinic with VCU Health in Richmond and satellite program with VCU Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill, Virginia.

Rachel Cloutier is a clinical assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and an acute care nurse practitioner. She maintains active clinical practice in the outpatient oncology clinic at the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. She received her bachelors of science in human physiology from Boston University, and her Bachelors of Science, Masters of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy in nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research interests surround nutritional status and expanding nutritional knowledge for patients, providers, and students to improve health outcomes.

Linda Hart Bio
Linda Hart DNP, RN, ACNP-BC, FACC is the Director of Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Training & Development at Aligned Cardio, Inc. where she designs and leads innovative programs to recruit, train, and mentor high-performing advanced practice cardiology providers across a multi-practice network. Her leadership extends beyond clinical practice, encompassing the creation of specialty training pathways, development of models of care, and advancement of APP leadership skills. Additionally, she has led heart failure transformation initiatives, developed patient support programs, and served as a trusted educator for providers, patients, and communities.
Linda has practiced as a nurse for over four decades and as board certified acute care nurse practitioner for 25 years in areas including critical care, emergency medicine, cardiac surgery, acute care cardiology, and outpatient cardiology with a focus on prevention and heart failure. Linda received her Bachelors of Nursing at Radford University, her Masters of Nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University with a focus in acute care cardiology. and her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Virginia with a research focus in heart failure and transitions of care.
Dr. Hart is recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and has received decades of national leadership appointments to ACC committees. She is a nationally recognized clinical expert and leader in cardiology, heart failure, health promotion, advocacy, and adult education. With experience spanning acute care, advanced heart failure management, clinical research, and professional education, she brings a unique blend of scientific expertise, instructional strategy, advocacy, and health policy to every role she undertakes.
Linda is married and lives with her husband in Goochland. They enjoy spending their time with their 5 adult children and 11 grandchildren, traveling, and on medical mission work with Friends of Barnabas in Honduras.

Dr. Knoeckel has been a family nurse practitioner (FNP) since 2009. She works at Tri-Area Community Health Center in Floyd, Virginia providing care across the lifespan. Since 2010, she has also served as a preceptor to many FNP students. In 2018, Dr. Knoeckel began her teaching career. She has been teaching at Radford University since 2021 and teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses. The primary course she oversees is undergraduate pharmacology, where she has aimed to be innovative using different teaching strategies and third-party teaching tools. Her research focus has been on interprofessional education, women's health, obesity management, chronic disease management and behavioral lifestyle interventions. She has traveled with academic and faith-based organizations on medical and service trips to El Salvador, Spain, Costa Rica and Peru. She grew up in Spain and speak Spanish fluently. She is married and has 3 children. She enjoys reading, cooking, hiking, swimming and traveling.

Dr. Jenny Hall is the Associate Dean for Interprofessional Education and Practice and an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health and Healthcare Leadership in the Waldron College of Health and Human Services at Radford University. With over two decades of experience in health promotion and education, she specializes in tick safety and tick-borne disease education. For the past decade, Dr. Hall has researched, taught, and conducted outreach on ticks and tick-borne diseases, and founded Ticks in Virginia in 2023. Her work has included urban tick surveillance, studies on the lived experiences of Lyme disease and Alpha-gal Syndrome, and the development and evaluation of theory-based educational activities. Her expertise is shaped by both her research and her engagement with individuals affected by endemic and emerging tick-borne conditions. She holds a doctorate in Community Health Education with a specialization in Environmental Health and is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist.

I started my healthcare career as a Trauma Surgery Nurse at a Level 1 Trauma center. My NP rotation in Neurosurgery attracted me to the area of spinal cord injury and spine surgery care. I obtained my Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification in 2015. I then began working as a Orthopedic and Neurosurgery Spine Nurse Practitioner at St. Mary's Hospital. I manage all aspects of postoperative care and discharging of complex spine surgical patients. I also see spine consults and initiate patient work-up and guide treatment for various spine pathologies including but not limited to epidural abscesses, discitis, spinal cord tumors, disc herniations, cervical myelopathy, spinal fractures, and paraneoplastic disease. In 2019, I took on the role of Lead Advanced Practice Clinician at St. Mary's Hospital. In addition to my clinical role I now lead a team of inpatient service-line Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants in driving APC initiatives, supporting day to day function of hospital-based APCs, and determining appropriate utilization of our APC workforce.

I graduated from my Bachelors degree in Nursing in 2000 and started working as a nurse in a medical ICU in India between Dec 2000-2004. I also taught for a year from 2004-2005 as a clinical instructor for the BSN program in India prior to moving to the United Stated in 2005. I worked in an intermediate medicine unit as a RN at Virginia Commonwealth University hospital until 2009 when I graduated from ACNP program at University of Virginia. I have since worked as a nurse practitioner (NP) in cardiology working in both inpatient, procedural and outpatient cardiology services. I went on to complete my PhD in 2018 from University of Virginia. As a NP, I was instrumental in designing and implementing inpatient Cardiology /Electrophysiology APP service (March 2010), inpatient APP consult service (November 2015), inpatient APP CCU service (November 2016), valve inpatient APP service (2018), inpatient APP ACS service (2021) with currently being the manager for all the inpatient APP services, Procedural APPs and Heart Failure APP services since March 2024. I also work in an Electrophysiology clinic in collaboration with an Electrophysiologist since 2014. I am the recipient of the Huskey Research Exhibition Award, University of Virginia in 2016, Patient experience awards in 2021, 2023, 2024 and APP excellence in Leadership award in 2023 at UVA. I had the privilege to serve as the APP council President in UVA from Jan through Dec 2023, Co-Chair for the planning committee for the UVA Advance Practice Conference APOGEE 2024 and currently serving as the chair for APOGEE 2025. I have presented in regional, national and international conferences. My research interests are management of arrhythmias and complementary & alternative therapies.

Jennifer graduated from the University of Virginia with her AGACNP in 2014 and DNP in 2020. She serves as the System Director of APP Development for Sentara Health's inpatient specialty services, leading initiatives that advance professional growth, quality, and systemwide alignment for inpatient and specialty APPs. She also practices clinically as a Hospital Medicine NP at Sentara Rockingham and contributes through the APP Council, High Performance and Quality teams, and as chair of the APP Onboarding Committee. Jennifer co-led the creation of Sentara's 5-Phase APP Professional Development program and has developed multiple specialty-specific onboarding and competency pathways. She is committed to elevating APP engagement through leadership, mentorship, and education. Outside of work, she leads a weekly women's Bible study, reflecting her dedication to growth, encouragement, and service.

Dr. Morgan McDowell, is a dual-certified nurse practitioner with nine years of experience in urology and currently serves as Director of Advanced Practice Provider Education at Centra Health. She is a national and state-level speaker, most recently presenting at the American Urological Association APP Series and for Grand Rounds in Urology on BPH. Dr. McDowell has lectured widely on urology topics for advanced practice providers, coauthored a patient fact sheet on intermittent catheterization with SUNA, and published her DNP project in the Journal of Urologic Nursing. She is also the President-Elect of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, where she advocates for NPs across Virginia!

Dr. Monique Farrington is the owner of Farrington Cares, P.L.L.C. and is licensed to practice in the states of Virginia and Florida. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, VA, and attended Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, VA, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in both Chemistry and Nursing.

Dr. Farrington began her nursing career at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in the cardiac and labor & delivery units. Her desire to care for others through the field of nursing compelled her to pursue and complete her Master of Science in Nursing at ODU, after which she became a Family Nurse Practitioner. Taking with her all those invaluable experiences, she decided to pursue her passion for primary care, where she thoroughly loves serving in this capacity.

In addition to tending to her established patients with Farrington Cares, P.L.L.C., Dr. Farrington serves as the medical director for Shades of Life Labs, LLC, as well as serving on various community service boards, contributing her expertise and dedication to improving community health and well-being. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the immediate past president of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners - Tidewater Chapter, a lifetime member of the National Black Nurses Association, and Central Florida Black Nurses Association (CFBNA), and an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc - all organizations having a stated mission of community service. Outside of working and being an active participant in her community and professional activities, she very much enjoys spending quality time with her family.

Gale Adcock is a family nurse practitioner in her second term in the North Carolina Senate following 8 years in the state House and 7 years on the Cary, NC town council. Adcock is the first APRN to serve in the 170-member NC legislature and the first nurse to serve in the state Senate. Senator Adcock models collaboration among individuals of different experiences, perspectives, and ideologies, describing her style of bipartisanship as "living in the aisle”. She has championed legislation to expand access to care and remove barriers to practice for pharmacists, physician assistants, therapists, psychologists, and APRNs. She believes clinicians' skill in patient advocacy is their roadmap for policy influence at every level. From 1994 through 2020, Adcock was the chief health officer for global software company SAS, managing operations of its large onsite primary care center. She has a nursing diploma, a BSN from East Carolina University, and an MSN and FNP certificate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an adjunct faculty member at East Carolina University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, Wake Forest University, and Case Western Reserve University. She is past president of the NC Nurses Association, past chair of the NC Council of Nurse Practitioners, and past chair of the NC Center for Nursing. Adcock is a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, a Distinguished Policy Fellow of the National Academies of Practice, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Dr. Shelia Talbott is the associate dean and director of the School of Nursing for Murphy Deming College of Heath Sciences at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, VA. With over 30 years of clinical experience, Dr. Talbott has practiced in a wide variety of settings including nursing informatics, urgent care and family practice, but her passion is women's health. She received an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Old Dominion University. In addition to being the Government Relations representative for the Piedmont region of the VCNP, she serves as the vice chairman of the Coalition of Christian Nurse Practitioners (CCNP), and leads short term medical mission trips to Honduras and Haiti.

Emily Bell is a Registered Nurse and a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Her graduate training focused on Psychiatry and Psychotherapy across the lifespan including clinical placements at Yale Child Study Center, Yale-New Haven Hospital's Crisis Intervention Unit, Pediatric Emergency Department, and Child Psychiatry on Pediatrics Consultation Liaison. She has worked across the continuum of mental healthcare services including acute inpatient, state hospital inpatient, day hospital programs, outpatient clinics, emergency departments, and primary care-mental health integration. Since becoming a Psychiatric NP in 2009, her work has largely focused on providing psychiatry services to U.S. military active-duty Service Members, Veterans, Retirees, and military-connected family members both in the National Capital Region and the Tampa Bay area in Florida. She has a passion for suicide prevention and legislative advocacy to attain Full Practice Authority for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. In 2024, Emily transitioned into working as a Senior Policy Advisor at the American Nurses Association after nearly 20 years of direct care as a psychiatric nurse.

Ali Walker is a long-time volunteer and former Chair of the National Capital Area Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), a practicing Physician Assistant in the Washington, D.C. area in adult critical care medicine and clinical quality, and an adjunct instructor at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences where she completed her medical training and later earned her Doctor of Health Sciences in Leadership in Clinical Practice & Education.
Ali also serves on AFSP's National Chapter Leadership Council, the Leadership Council for the Suicide Prevention Alliance of Northern Virginia, and the MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing Suicide Prevention Workgroup.

Fawn Workman, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, is a dual-certified family and psychiatric nurse practitioner with over a decade of experience. She is the founder of Lifesong Health, an integrative psychiatry practice in Virginia focused on the intersection of mental health, weight, and metabolic conditions. Fawn serves as adjunct faculty at Yale School of Nursing, contributing to coursework in psychopharmacology, and precepts nurse practitioner students from Yale, VCU, and Frontier Nursing University. Her clinical approach emphasizes evidence-based wellness strategies and whole-person care.

I have been a nurse for 29 years and a NP for 12 years. I completed my MSN and DNP at Radford University and have been practicing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation since becoming an NP. I have a passion for treating Traumatic Brain Injuries and became a Certified Brain Injury Specialist in 2017. I also teach as adjunct faculty at Radford University School of Nursing.

Sharmaine M. McCoy, DNP, ACNP is a board-certified acute care nurse practitioner specializing in women's cardiovascular health and health equity. She holds degrees from Hampton University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Old Dominion University. She serves as Director of Health and Wellness at Mount Olive Baptist Church-Centreville. Her clinical work improves postpartum cardiovascular care for women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, driving earlier diagnosis and better outcomes. She is published in Nature Partner Journal Women's Health and JACC: Advances.

Dr. Alap Shah is a cardiac electrophysiologist with 15 years of experience caring for patients with heart rhythm disorders. He practices with Virginia Arrhythmia Consultants, Virginia's only practice focused exclusively on cardiac electrophysiology.

His clinical interests include the management of atrial fibrillation and the use of advanced therapies to improve long-term outcomes. The practice is actively involved in advancing the field through clinical trials and thoughtful use of cutting-edge technology. Dr. Shah values collaborative decision-making, patient education, and individualized approaches to treatment.

Wendy L. Wright,
DNP,ANP-BC,FNP-BC,FAANP,FAAN,FNAP

Wendy received her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2019 from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. She is a 1992 graduate of the Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program at Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts and completed a family nurse practitioner post-master's program in 1995. She is an adult and family nurse practitioner and the owner of two, nurse practitioner owned and operated clinics within New Hampshire named: Wright & Associates Family Healthcare. Her family practices have won numerous awards, including Top Providers in New Hampshire 2018, Top 20 Fastest Growing Family Business, and Top 20 Women-Owned Business in New Hampshire. In addition, she is the Owner of Partners in Healthcare Education, a medical education company. She is the Past President of NPACE and the Senior lecturer for Fitzgerald Health Education Associates.

She is the recipient of numerous awards and was chosen by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners as the 1999 recipient of the New Hampshire State Excellence Award. In addition, she received the 2009 NH Nurse Practitioner of the Year and the 2014 Top 5 Women in New Hampshire Business Award. In 2005, she was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners; in October 2014, a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, and in March 2017, a Fellow into the National Academies of Practice.

She is the founder of the NH Chamber of Entrepreneurial Nurse Practitioners, an organization designed to assist nurse practitioners with independent practice issues. In addition to full-time clinical practice, she presents nationally to different audiences and has been a speaker at over 1000 conferences in 47 states. She is the nurse practitioner representative to the State of NH Immunization Advisory Board. She has been a medical media spokesperson for numerous companies and has appeared on radio, television, and in print magazines. Wendy is frequently consulted by malpractice attorneys around the area of clinical practice and has worked on more than 100 malpractice cases involving nurses and nurse practitioners.

Dr. Long is a board-certified family nurse practitioner and nursing professor living on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. She earned a bachelor's degree in environmental health from Rutgers University, a Master of Science from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Virginia. Dr. Long holds academic positions at Regent University and Tidewater Community College and enjoys precepting students in her practice on the Eastern Shore. Married, she and her husband have raised 8 children and are enjoying their 9 grandchildren.

Christine A. Hart Kress, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, NEA-BC, MSCP, is a seasoned healthcare leader with over 30 years of experience in women's health. She is the CEO and owner of a specialized telemedicine practice focused on comprehensive menopause and midlife care. Dr. Hart Kress proudly served 27 years in the United States Air Force as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner and Healthcare Executive. After retirement, she transitioned to a Chief Nursing Officer role in a hospital system then returned to clinical practice in gynecology. Board-certified as a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, Dr. Hart Kress has advanced training in hormone prescribing, sexual medicine and the care of breast cancer survivors. Her passion lies in transforming access to high-quality care for women in midlife and menopause. She is an active member of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health Advocacy Committee and has co-authored several key resources, including the Scope of Practice and Health and Healthcare of Midlife Women position statements. A published author in the field of women's health, Dr. Hart Kress has been featured on multiple podcasts and blogs, sharing her expertise and insights. She has received numerous accolades for her clinical excellence and leadership, including the Air Force Medical Service Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year and Tucson's Fabulous 50 Nurses awards.

Dr. Cassie Sheffey, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, is a seasoned nursing professional with a 15-years of experience in healthcare as a nursing assistant, LPN, RN, and FNP. With experience spanning intensive care, cardiac step-down, surgical care, obstetrics, and a focus on trauma and emergency medicine, Dr. Sheffey currently serves as a nurse practitioner in a local rural health clinic. As the MSN Program Director and Assistant Professor, she leverages her diverse background to inspire the next generation of nursing professionals. Beyond her professional roles, Dr. Sheffey embraces the titles of wife and mother, balancing the demands of family life with a passion for the outdoors. A camping enthusiast, she finds solace and joy in nature, embodying a holistic approach to life that seamlessly blends her roles as a healthcare professional, educator, and nature lover.

Elizabeth Lamb, is a Family Nurse Practitioner with Centra Heart & Vascular Institute (HVI), where she has provided care since 2006. She earned her BA in Biology from the University of Virginia and both her BSN and MSN from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also holds advanced certification as a Certified Cardiac Device Specialist. Specializing in cardiac electrophysiology, Elizabeth's clinical work is both inpatient and outpatient. She manages patients before and after procedures; performs consults; provides routine and acute follow-up care; interrogates pacemakers, ICDs, and loop recorders; implants and explants loop recorders; and supports EP triage and the AFib Clinic at HVI. She is also the EP instructional faculty for the cardiology PA fellowship program at Centra. She was inspired to go into healthcare by her passion for science and helping others. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, running, hiking, tennis, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Johanna Christensen is the Lead Advanced Practice Provider in Nephrology at VCU Health, where she spearheads clinical
innovation and quality improvement initiatives for kidney transplant and chronic kidney disease care. With over a decade of experience spanning transplant surgery, nephrology, and primary care, she has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented nationally on topics including immunosuppression optimization, infection prevention, and multidisciplinary care models.

Johanna has served as a clinical preceptor for advanced practice programs at VCU, Georgetown, and Columbia University and is actively engaged in research as a sub-investigator on multicenter clinical trials.

Randi Thompson is a Nurse Practitioner who specializes in pre and post kidney transplant care. She has a background in critical care and has been in her current role in Transplant Surgery for almost 5 years. Her focus is on immunosuppression management, CKD management, health prevention and patient education.

MSN from University of Pennsylvania, 1980, Family Nurse Practitioner. Worked in public health, in a school of nursing, and in primary care over the years. Retired from Carilion Family and Community Medicine, March of 2022, but continue working in a flex position 2 days a week. In 2018 completed MS in yoga therapy from Maryland University of Integrative Health; certified yoga therapist with the International Associate of Yoga Therapists. Became an entrepreneur and business owner of Guiding Star Yoga Therapy. Working to navigate a shift to a business model that includes yoga and my skill set as a Family Nurse Practitioner in independent practice. Cat lover, hiker, meditator, and happy yogi.

Dr. Laurie Anne Ferguson, DNP, APRN, has practiced as a Nurse Practitioner since 1984. She is certified as an Adult, Family and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and has practiced in a variety of clinical settings in the NP role including ER, Occupational Health, and Primary Care in Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Florida, Louisiana and in Manitoba Canada. She received her BSN from the University of San Francisco, MSN from the University of Pennsylvania, and DNP from the University of Texas, Houston Health Sciences Center. A nursing educator since 1993, she has served on faculty at the University of Manitoba, University of South Florida, Louisiana State University and Loyola University New Orleans, where she served as Dean of the College of Nursing and Health. She was named Founding Dean of the School of Nursing at Emory & Henry College in 2021. Dr. Ferguson is a Fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and maintains an active clinical practice.

Dr. Katia Hall, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CNE is a dual board-certified Family and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Educator from Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is the owner and founder of Alpha Psychiatric Services, located in Chesapeake, Virginia. Since opening its doors in January 2019, Alpha Psychiatric Services has grown to include a team of 15 medication providers and six therapists, including a psychologist. The practice provides comprehensive mental health services and offers innovative treatment options such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Spravato therapy.

Dr. Hall earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Virginia Wesleyan University in 2008 and her Diploma in Nursing from Sentara College of Health Science in 2010. She began her nursing career in Mother-Baby and Nursery Services before completing her Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Family Nurse Practice from Old Dominion University in 2013.

After five years of clinical practice in pain management, pediatrics, family medicine, and psychiatry, she earned her Post-Graduate Certificate as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in 2018. The following year, she completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Frontier Nursing University. She is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Old Dominion University, with an anticipated graduation date of December 2026.

In addition to clinical leadership, Dr. Hall is deeply committed to education and mentorship. She began her academic career at South University (2015-2017) as an Adjunct Faculty member in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program. She later joined Frontier Nursing University in 2019 as an Instructor in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program. In May 2023, she returned to her alma mater, Old Dominion University, where she currently serves as Director of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program.

Dr. Hall is an active member of several professional and service organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, the Clinical TMS Society, and the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners (VCNP). In May 2025, she began her term as President of the VCNP Tidewater Chapter.

Passionate about advancing mental health care and empowering nurse practitioners, Dr. Hall continues to bridge clinical excellence, education, and community service through every facet of her work.

Dr. Carla Nye is a Clinical Professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Dr. Nye teaches, mentors, and studies the impact of a positive work environment on learning and work productivity. Her love of intentionally creating positive environments is deeply commingled with her love of creating safe learning environments in simulation, classroom and in clinical. Dr. Nye is an alumni of the NLN Simulation Leaders program, an NLN certified nurse educator, a SSH certified healthcare simulation educator and is former Masters Program Director and Simulation Center Director. Dr. Nye is a member of the NONPF Simulation Committee.