Shannon Nicholson, DNP, FNP-C joined NSMI as a Nurse Practitioner in June 2012. She is responsible for her outpatient clinic and provides sideline coverage during football games. Prior to joining the practice, she worked as a Nurse Practitioner for Leesburg/Sterling Family Practice for four years.



She received both her master and doctorate degrees in Nursing from George Mason University. She completed an Orthopaedic Nurse Practitioner concentration through Duke University in 2014. She completed several years of concentrated orthopaedic residency training before joining NSMI. Shannon Nicholson has been practicing in the nursing field for over ten years. She has a wide variety of nursing experience from Emergency, Cardiac, ICU, and Primary Care. Her interest is in prevention of secondary injuries to adolescence and prevention of injuries through proper screening. Her doctorate project was the creation of an interactive evidence based physical therapy and nutrition website: www.sportsinjuryandnutrition.org . Shannon Nicholson is currently an affiliate faculty for both George Mason University and Marymount University Nursing students. She is also an adjunct faculty member at The George Washington University. Shannon enjoys martial arts, running and water sports activities. She lives at home with her husband, daughter and her dog.

Over 17 years as a ACNP and over 10 years as a palliative care NP with specialty in the integration of palliative care and critical care.
Over 40 years of experience as a nurse, manager, educator and researcher in the care of acute and critically ill adults. Served as president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) from July 2016 to June 2017. Currently work as the director of advanced practice programs at the UVA School of Nursing.

Ms. Dahlin is Co-Director of the Palliative APRN Externship, consultant to the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), consultant to the Center to Advance Palliative Care and a Palliative Nurse Practitioner for North Shore Medical Center. She serves as national ELNEC faculty, and is a member of the American Hospital Association Circle of Life Committee. Ms. Dahlin is a member of the Massachusetts Quality of Life and Palliative Care Advisory Committee and Co-chair of the Palliative Care Workgroup for the Massachusetts Comprehensive Cancer and Prevention Control Network. Ms. Dahlin served on the Measure Applications Partnership Post-Acute Care/Long Term Care Workgroup, and Clinician Workgroup. She wrote the Hospice and Palliative APRN Professional Practice Guide Billing and Coding Primer for the Hospice and Palliative APRN. She was co-editor for Advanced Practice Palliative Nursing and the accompanying Pocket Guide. She was editor of National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care 2nd and 3rd editions and references for the 1st edition and editor of Palliative Nursing Scope and Standards, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th editions. Ms. Dahlin is a Fellow of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and a 2016 recipient of a Cambia Health Foundation Sojourns Leadership Scholar Award. She was recently named a 2018 Visionary in Hospice and Palliative Medicine by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She has authored peer reviewed articles, chapters, and curricula as well as presented nationally and internationally.

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.

HoChong Gilles has been working in the hepatology field since 2001. She obtained a BS in Biology & Nursing and Master's in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University. She recently graduated in May 2018 with a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of Virginia.
She is very active within the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. HoChong is the immediate past Chair of the Hepatology Associates Committee. She is the founder and Chair of the Hepatology Associates Special and member of the AASLD Governing Board. HoChong is currently serving her term as President of Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners and is the Program Manager for Hepatology and Liver Transplant at the McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia.

Shaughanassee Williams, DNP, CNM is an emerging trailblazer looking to establish positive change in her community. She is a Certified Nurse Midwife holding a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Frontier Nursing University, a Master and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Old Dominion University, and a midwifery endorsement from Shenandoah University. She is the owner and founder of HealthyHER Center for Women's Care in Chesapeake, VA , a unique medical practice in that it combines gynecology, primary care, massage therapy and skin care all within one location. She also serves as graduate course faculty at Frontier Nursing University as well as part of The Thrive Research Project conducted by University of California San Diego (UCSD). She is a regularly featured health expert on the online lifestyle magazine, Bustle, as well as recipient of the 2018 ACHI Magazine Health and Wellness Award and the 2018 Bennett Center Wellness Award. Aside from her career, Dr. Vines remains active within her community and grounded by her family. She enjoys spending time with loved ones, traveling, laughing and making others smile. Her personal motto is “I live to inspire.”

I am a full time faculty member at VCU's School of Nursing and serve as the concentration lead for the FNP track in the Master's program. I currently volunteer as a FNP at CrossOver Ministries where I treat Spanish-speaking, immigrant patients with chronic illnesses. I also practice on a PRN basis with Henrico County Health Department. ​My clinical interests and expertise are in primary care and particularly of​ underserved/ uninsured communities with a special interest in the health needs of the Hispanic population.​

I serve as the concentration coordinator for the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program at VCU. I maintain a clinical practice as a PMHNP at two sites in addition to my teaching.

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.

Dr. DeKoninck is Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs at Averett University and maintains a clinical practice at the James Austen Health Center in Eden, NC. Over the last 25 years she has served in many capacities as an FNP, including working for the U.S. State Department stationed in Nigeria, numerous medical mission team around the world and on the Indiana State Board of Nursing for 3 years. Beth has publications in the Journal of Nurse Practitioner, JAANP, Journal of Christian Nursing and has spoken nationally and internationally on various advanced practice topics. She enjoys spending time with their granddaughters, quilting, walking and traveling the world.

Sara has been a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner for over 20 years. Most of her career has been spent working with adolescents and young adults with chronic illness. Recent publications include the topics of transition and DNP leadership.

Bethany Coyne is an assistant professor at the University of Virginia School of Nursing. She has worked as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Pediatric Nephrology for over 20 years caring for children with chronic kidney disease. Her research focus has been on outcomes for youth with chronic illness after transitioning from pediatric to adult providers.

RN since 1974, FNP since 1996. Active in Women's Health arenas. Currently WVPM at Hampton VA Medical Center in Hampton VA, but planning to retire in May 2020!

Kelly Owens graduated from Thomas Nelson Community College with an ADN in Nursing in 2008. She went on to receive her Bachelor's Degree from VCU in 2011 and Master's from ODU as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner in 2014. As a WHNP she found herself in a psychiatric position which inspired her to continue her education to become certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health NP. Aside from working a full time job at the VA helping female vets, Kelly Owens is also an entrepreneur and mother of 2 girls ages 11 and 1.

Terri Clinger, DNP, MSN, CPNP-PC is the Deputy Executive Director for Advanced Practice with the Virginia Board of Nursing. Before coming to work as a regulator in June 2019, Dr. Clinger was a professor and an associate dean of nursing for the Virginia Community College system centering on legal practice and maternal/child nursing. She is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner where her practice and research focused on the care of neonates and infants. She is a past president and legislative chair for the Virginia chapter of NAPNAP where she lobbied for improved healthcare for children. She received her BSN and MSN from Old Dominion University and her DNP from the University of Virginia.

Dr. Hills joined the leadership team as Deputy Executive Director for Advanced Practice at the Virginia Board of Nursing in September 2017. Prior to transitioning to her role as a regulator, Dr. Hills served on the faculty of Vanderbilt University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Her practice as a women's health nurse practitioner focused on providing health care to the underserved women in the MetroRichmond area.

Gregory Pokrywka MD FACP FNLA FASPC NCMP is a Board-Certified Internist from Baltimore/Towson, Md. He attended Duke University, worked as a biochemist, attended University of Maryland Medical School and was Chief Resident in Internal Medicine at Mercy Hospital, Baltimore. He has been in private practice since 1987 and formed the Baltimore Lipid Center in 2001. Dr. Pokrywka has further pursued his interest in Menopausal Lipidology through certification as a Credentialed Menopause Practitioner by the North American Menopause Society (NAMS). He is a November 2005 Inaugural Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Lipidology ("Board Certified in Clinical Lipidology”) and is one of a handful of U.S physicians double-certified in Menopause and Lipidology. In March of 2009 Dr. Pokrywka was elected by his peers to the honor of "Fellow of the National Lipid Assn.” (FNLA) Fellowship in the National Lipid Association recognizes the excellence, innovation, and leadership of health professionals in the NLA with respect to Clinical Lipidology in private practice or academic settings. Fellowship is reserved for NLA members who have made significant regional and/or national contributions to the science and practice of Clinical Lipidology. In August 2016 Dr. Pokrywka was among the first physicians elected by his peers as a Fellow of the American Society of Preventive Cardiology (ASPC). This honor recognizes excellence, innovation, and leadership in preventive
cardiology. Dr Pokrywka now serves as Assistant Professor for the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In 11/2011 Dr Pokrywka completed a DATA 2000 compliant buprenorphine training program, and regularly treats opiate abuse patients, both in his own practice and as a Medical Director for First Step, and MATCinic, Baltimore. He has also participated in over 25 Clinical Trials with the IRC Clinical Research Center, and CPG Clinical Research of Towson, MD, as a Sub-Investigator and Principal Investigator, since 2012.

Dr. Pokrywka is a member of the American Heart Association Council on Atherosclerosis, the National Lipid Association (NLA), the International and the European Atherosclerosis Societies, the American Society of Preventive Cardiology, the Androgen Excess and PCOS Society, the Obesity Society, the Familial HyperCholesterolemia Foundation, the Lipoprotein(a) Foundation, and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He participates enthusiastically in the Go Red for Women and WomenHeart campaigns to fight heart disease in women. He was elected to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeast Lipid Assn., 2009-2019, serves as NLA Regional Representative, and Vice-Chair of the NLA Membership Committee. Lecturing nationwide since 2001, Dr. Pokrywka has conducted since 2002 over 100 lipid / lipoprotein educational programs per year. He has lectured in 44 states to Internists/FP's, Cardiologists, Ob/Gyns, Nurse Midwives, Physician's Assts. and Nurse Practitioners at hospital and medical school grand rounds, CME programs, national tele- and web-conferences and multiple other venues on "Aggressive Detection and Prevention of ASCVD in Insulin Resistant Women” and "Women's Menopausal Health.” Other areas of interest include "Advanced Lipoprotein Testing”, "Treatment of the Metabolic Syndrome”, "HDL Cholesterol”, "Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypertriglyceridemia”, "Cardiovascular Effects of Estrogen and Estrogen Receptor Modification”, "Diabetic Dyslipidemia”, PCOS and Cardiovascular Risk” and "Osteoporosis: Prevention and Treatment”. Dr. Pokrywka has served for years on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, and was promoted to Associate Editor in 2017. In 2010 Dr. Pokrywka became the first NLA Fellow to offer both in-office Carotid IMT testing for the detection of subclinical atherosclerosis, as well as a CardioMetabolic Disease reduction / wellness program in partnership with Metagenics, Inc. ("FirstLine Therapy”) and Board Certified Clinical Nutritionists. Dr. Pokrywka serves on the National Lecture Bureaus of multiple pharmaceutical companies.

Non-medical activities include a lifelong participation in sports, including coaching recreational
league basketball, the pursuit and study of reptiles and amphibians, and outdoor recreation (hiking, camping, sea kayaking, geocaching). He is the Co-Founder, President Emeritus and a current Board Member of MATTS, the Mid-Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society, Inc. Since 2015 Dr. Pokrywka has served as Organizer and Executive Director for the WatersEdge Kayak Club. Another passion is Polar Bear Super-Plunging (24 Plunges in 24 hours!) in the frosty January Chesapeake Bay, and other volunteer work for the Maryland Special Olympics.

Contact info: 410 337 0720 (Kristen) or gpokmd@verizon.net (PREFERRED) / gpokryw1@jhmi.edu

Publications:

"Intestinally Bioactive Therapies for Hypercholesterolemia : Ezetimibe, Bile Acid Resins and Plant Sterols”. Thomas Dayspring and Gregory Pokrywka. In Therapeutic Lipidology, Second Edition, 2019, edited by Michael H. Davidson, MD, Peter P. Toth, MD, PhD, and Kevin C. Maki, PhD, in press, to be published by SpringerNature.

"Update on FOURIER Trial Subgroup Analyses”. Dharmesh Patel and Gregory S Pokrywka. National Lipid Assn. Lipid Spin, May 2019.

"Lp(a) in Women. Pathophysiology and Management Update” . Myerson, Brinton Pokrywka and Wild. Journal of Clinical Lipidology, 2019, in press.

"PCSK9 Inhibitors: A Non-Statin Cholesterol-Lowering Treatment Option.” 2018, POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE, 2018
https://doi.org/10.1080/00325481.2018.1436843
"Worsening Lipoproteins on a Low Carb Diet.” NLA Lipid Spin, 2016, 14(2); 10-12.
"Use of a Blood-Based Age/Sex/Gene Expression Test Was Associated with Prescriptions for Lipid-Lowering Medications and Lifestyle Changes among Symptomatic Patients at Increased Cardiovascular Risk for Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease: Subgroup Analysis” Abstract /Poster #107, NLA Scientific Sessions Chicago, June 2015.
"Clinical Trials of Alternative Medicine: Testing Whether Magic Works.” NLA Lipid Spin, 2015, 13(1); 14-15.
"Managing to Low-Density Lipoprotein Particles Compared to Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol: A Cost-Effective Analysis” , Rizzo JA, Mallow PJ, Waters HC, Pokrywka GS, et al, Journal of Clinical Lipidology (2013), doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2013.06.004.
"Beyond LDL in the Prevention and Management of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease”, The Maryland Family Doctor, Fall 2013, 50(2); 15-17.
"Heterogeneity of LDL and HDL Particle Concentrations in Subjects Meeting LDL-Cholesterol Goals”, James Underberg, MD, Gregory Pokrywka, MD,Hollye Garner, PhD, Ray Pourfarzib, PhD,Deborah Winegar, PhD. Poster NLA Scientific Sessions, 2013, Journal of Clinical Lipidology, Vol 7, No 3, June 2013
"Nonpharmacologic and Complementary Approaches to Lipid Management.” NLA Lipid Spin, 2011, 9(1); 5-8.
Statin Use by Women's Health Care Providers” 1/2010 North American Menopasue Society "E-Consult”.
NAMS Clinician's Corner 1/2010 on ""Are changes in Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Midlife Women due to Chronological Aging or to the Menopausal Transition?”
"Residual Risk Reduction in Insulin Resistant Patients” NLA Lipid Spin, Summer 2009.
"The Impact of Triglycerides on Lipid and Lipoprotein Biology in Women”. Dayspring TD & Pokrywka G. Gender Medicine 2010, 7(3); 189-205.

"Triglycerides and Atherosclerosis”. Dayspring T, Pokrywka G. Chapter 8. Year in Lipid Disorders Volume 2 Clinical Publishing, Oxford UK, May 2010.

"Beyond Cholesterol. A Special Report on Lipids for Primary Care"(with the National Lipid Assn. Consumer Affairs Committee) 2008. See www.learnyourlipids.com

"Drug Therapy for Hypertriglyceridemia: Fibrates and Omega-3 Fatty Acids.” With P Toth and T Dayspring MD. Current Atherosclerosis Reports 2009, 11: 71 - 79.

"Debating Cardiovascular Goals: Raising HDL Cholesterol in Patients with Diabetes" (response). Diabetes DOC News 2007, 4(10), 5.

"Diagnosis and Treatment of the Metabolic Syndrome in Menopausal Women”. Menopause Management Nov/2007; 16(6), 16-28.

"Fibrate Therapy in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes Mellitus”, T Dayspring MD and G S Pokrywka MD, Current Atherosclerosis Reports 2006; 8:356-364.

"Pharmacotherapeutic Decisions in Menopausal Women with Cardiovascular Risk”, T. Dayspring MD and Gregory Pokrywka MD. Future Lipidology 2007, 2(2), 197-210.

CME Publications and Media:

The Role of Fibrates in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. CME activity for the Foundation for Health Improvement & Technology. 2013. http://www.lecturepad.org/index.php/component/guru/guruPrograms/2-cardiovascular-diabetes-lipids-lipidology-cme/3-the-role-of-fibrates-in-patients-with-chronic-kidney-disease/view/892?task=view

Atherogenic Dyslipidemia Pocket Guide. Comprehensive Lipoprotein Management to Reduce Residual CVD Risk. Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning
Pri-Med Dyslipidemia Lectures 2008- 2103


The Role of Fenofibrate in Patients with Diabetes: Improving Cardiovascular Outcomes, Microvascular Disease, and Patient Quality of Life. Frank Sacks MD and Gregory Pokrywka MD. Perspectives in Medicine, June 2007. Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning.

The Role of Fenofibrate in a Comprehensive Approach for Managing Cardiovascular and Microvascular Complications of Diabetes. Mark J Cziraky, PharmD and Gregory Pokrywka MD.
Pharmacy Times, October 2007. Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning.
American College of Gynecology UPDATE Volume 32, #3 (Sept. 2006) "Cardiovascular Issues in Women” was done with Drs. Thomas Dayspring and James Underberg.
"Hypertriglyceridemia” was recorded as a Biodiscussion lecture 4/2007 with Drs. Rade Pejic and Thomas Dayspring, and can be found at www.biodiscussion.com (Cardiovascular Forum.)
"Cardiovascular Risk in PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Patients”, radio interview 2010, 2014, http://www.pcoschallenge.com

finished Fellowship 1989; nearly nine years at Univ. of Va, Associate Professor; 2 years at Amgen in Development and Reasearch; last 17+ years in private practice with Richmond Nephrology in Richmond, Va

Morgan got her MSN from Vanderbilt in 2015. She has been working in urology in Lynchburg, VA for the last 4 years. She is currently getting her DNP from UVA.

Evelyn Hall-Harris is a Adult Nurse Practitioner who has been involved in direct patient care for over 40 years. A retired Navy Nurse Corp Captain, Ms. Hall-Harris is also a international speaker and author who has traveled the globe speaking on issues that can lead to sickness in the body, mind, and spirit.

While caring for patients, Ms. Hall-Harris began to see a common thread that affected the healing of many of her patients, namely that unresolved emotional pain was contributing to the development of many physical diseases. Once the emotional trauma were addressed, many of the symptoms resolved as well.

From Ms. Hall-Harris' own personal healings and research with patients, she authored Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, How Your Thoughts, Beliefs and Attitude cand cause Sickness and Disease, God Heals Completely, and Delivered from Darkness, a personal testimony of her healing from childhood emotional trauma.

Ms. Hall-Harris has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree from Augusta University School of Nursing, Augusta, Ga., a Masters of Science in Nursing Degree from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, Texas, Master of Arts degree in Business Management and Human Relations for Webster University, St. Louis, Mo. and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Samual DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, Richmond, Virginia.

Ms. Hall-Harris has served as adjuct professor at several nursing schools including the University of Virginia, Department of Graduate Nursing Studies, Charlottesville, Va. and has been a clinical preceptor for nurse practitioner students from several universities.
She is a nurse enterpreneur and CEO of Alliance Family Practice, INC in Midlothian, Va.

In addition to her professional and academic accomplishments, Ms. Hall-Harris is a licensed and ordained Pastor and founder of Healing the Heart Evangelistic Ministries. She and her husband Ron are the parents of four children and the grand parents one beautiful grand daughter, Ava Simone.

BSN from Mississippi College
MSN from University of Kentucky
Post masters FNP certificate-University of Memphis
DNP-University of Alabama

Areas of interest: Overcoming breastfeeding barriers
Trauma Informed Care/ACES
Speciality areas: OB, Woman's health, Pediatrics
Life long educator (32 years) at Colleges and Universities all over the USA. Currently faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University.

I am a Family Nurse Practitioner working in the UVA Family Medicine Clinic. I am the Director of Ambulatory Quality Improvement for the Department of Family Medicine and hold the role of Co-Medical Director. I also sit on the board for our provider group and And am a member of several clinical committees.

Dr. Rapsilber received her diploma in Nursing '81 St. Mary's SON, University of CT, BSN '91, & MSN Adult NP '98. She attained her DNP in Nursing Leadership from Quinnipiac University '16Dr. Rapsilber was honored as the Quinnipiac Transformational Nurse Leader Alumni Award 2017.
She owns NP Business Consultants, LLC disseminating information regarding reimbursement for NPs recognized expert on coding and documentation. Dr. Rapsilber is a Founder of the National Nurse Practitioner Entrepreneur Network (NNPEN) started by NPs to accelerate the number and rate of NPs becoming owners of sustainable businesses to preserve the benefits of nurse-led care.

Dr. Rapsilber serves as the Co-Chair of the Connecticut Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses attaining full practice authority for APRNs in 2014. She is the Connecticut State Representative for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and a Fellow. She currently works as a GI Nurse Practitioner for Connecticut GI in Torrington, CT.

Dr. Pamela Cipriano is the Dean at the University of Virginia's School of Nursing in Charlottesville, VA. Prior to this appointment, she served two terms as the president of the American Nurses Association (ANA), the largest nurses organization in the United States representing the interests of the nation's 4 million registered nurses from 2014 through 2018.
Dr. Cipriano has extensive experience as an executive in academic medical centers. Her advocacy for the profession is well recognized. She is known nationally and internationally as a strong advocate for health care quality and advancing nursing's influence on healthcare policy. Among her many honors, in 2018, she was named one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People in US Healthcare” by Modern Healthcare magazine for the fourth year in a row. In 2015, the publication also named her as one of the "Top 25 Women in Healthcare.” In 2018 the American Academy of Nursing honored her with the "Healthcare Leader” Award. She was the 2010-11 Distinguished Nurse Scholar-in-Residence at the Institute of Medicine and served as a public-sector advisor in the US Delegation to the 69th World Health Assembly in 2016. She is currently the 1st Vice President of the International Council of Nurses.

Education
BA History, BA Biology, Jefferson Scholar, University of Virginia (1997)
MD, University of Maryland School of Medicine (2002)
Pediatric Intern, University of Virginia (2002-2003)
Pediatric Resident, University of Virginia (2003-2005)
Pediatric Chief Resident, University of Virginia (2005-2006)

Clinical and Research Interests
Primary Care
Concussion Management
LGBQT Health & Advocacy
Medical Student Education
Quality Improvement

Personal Interests
I enjoy spending time with my family, including coaching various soccer teams. We thoroughly enjoy exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains - hiking, camping, mountain biking, paddle boarding. As a family, we are trying to learn German!

I am a physician at UVA Student Health and Wellness. I completed my undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at the University of Virginia, medical school at University of Virginia, as well as a Pediatrics residency, completed in 2017. I have been a member of the transgender treatment team at UVA Student Health for almost 2 years, and have learned a lot about medical management of transgender patients during that time.

April earned both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from the Medical College of Georgia, completing her studies in 2008. She is board-certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board.
Her areas of expertise include coronary artery disease, women's heart disease and heart failure.
Originally from rural south Georgia, April moved from Athens, Georgia to Williamsburg with her husband, two daughters and their Springer Spaniel. She loves our area's proximity to the beach, mountains and history. In her free time, April enjoys travel, fitness, and watching the Georgia Bulldogs play football.

I currently work as an FNP for Centra Medical Group - Bedford. I received my DNP from Radford University in 2013; I also have a BSN from Radford, an Associate Degree in Emergency Health Services from Jefferson College of Health Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Virginia Tech. Having lived on a farm my entire life, my graduate work focused on raising awareness of and preventing agricultural injuries. I am an AgriSafe provider, a certification that recognizes healthcare providers who have obtained additional training in occupational health concerns in the agricultural population; and I recently completed recognition as an Agricultural Nurse Scholar. I have delivered many presentations across the state of Virginia on agricultural trauma and providing medical care to the farming population, including Fire-EMS agencies, Farm Bureau organizations and the Virginia EMS Symposium. I am active in advocating for agricultural policy, currently serving on my local Farm Bureau Board of Directors. I also serve as Medical Advisor on the Board of Directors for Moneta Rescue Squad and was the 2017 Advanced Practice Provider of the Year for Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Olivia Newby has practiced as a family nurse practitioner for over 25 years. She is a certified diabetes educator, for over 10 years, in an urban primary care medical practice and a 'Prevent Type 2' certified lifestyle coach; diabetes has been forefront in her clinical practice. Dr. Newby is an entrepreneur/owner of Healthy Living Center (HLC) in Norfolk, a nonprofit organization, where she focuses on implementing innovative ways to reduce the health disparity within the community by addressing social determinants of health. As president of HLC, her leadership for diabetes management achieved over 75% required goals, thus obtaining accreditation from the American Association of Diabetes Educator (AADE) and the Center for Disease Control "full recognition" and 100% achievement for their diabetes prevention program.

Dana E. Stallings, MSN, FNP-C, CDE, BC-ADM received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where she also received her Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner degree. Her clinical interests are diabetes management, with particular emphasis in insulin pump therapy, and medical nutrition therapy in the treatment of diabetes.

Ms. Stallings is a member of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners; the American Association of Nurse Practitioners; the American Association of Diabetes Educators; the American Diabetes Association; and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She is a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE), and a Certified Product Trainer (CPT) for insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring products. She is also Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management. In her free time, Mrs. Stallings enjoys running, biking, camping, and hiking.

Leslie is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at the University of Virginia in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology. She enjoys working with a variety of cardiology patients and their families from simple lesions to the more complex. Leslie has a special interests in children with single ventricle physiology, heart transplantation, and hyperlipidemia. She has presented multiple times on topics such as single ventricle lesions, home monitoring programs, heart transplantation, and developmental considerations of children with complex heart defects.

Gini Weisz PhD, WHNP-BC has been working as a Nurse Practitioner since 1994. She is a tenured Associate Professor and has been teaching at Radford University since 1996, who has worked in the women's health care field, emergency department, ski patrol, and hospice settings for many years. She has worked with students internationally, including in Russia and Belize. She also has a private Reiki practice. Research interests include global, rural and underserved access to health care, complementary health approaches, and women's health care. She lives on a farm in rural southwest Virginia.

Deborah Quinn has 20 years of nursing experience and 10 years of medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology experience before opening Clarity Acne & Aesthetic Dermatology.

Deborah is an American Academy of Nurse Practitioner certified family nurse practitioner with dual certification as a Certified Dermatology Nurse Practitioner by the Dermatology Nurses Association NP Society. DCNP certification provides professional recognition for NP's who have extensive experience in the field of dermatology and who holds the value of education, clinical experience, and professional growth in the highest regard. She began her career as a Registered Nurse and has over 20 years of nursing & medical experience. She received her Bachelorette and Master of Science in Nursing degree with honors from Old Dominion University and her Doctorate degree from Radford University. Deborah is the areas only Certified Aesthetic Consultant (CAC). Her professional affiliations include the Dermatology Nurses' Association, the National Academy of Dermatology Nurse Practitioners and the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, American Med Spa association and International Association of Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine. Deborah practiced medical and surgical dermatology and has specialized training, holds various certifications and has extensive experience in performing aesthetic services and injectables.

Dr. Lori McVay received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology and health science from James Madison University, Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Shenandoah University, and Doctor of Medical Science degree from the University of Lynchburg where she was a member of the inguinal class. Dr. McVay has also received training in cardiac device technology at the Arrhythmia Technologies Institute and is currently completing additional leadership training.
Dr. McVay practices full time at Stroobants Cardiovascular Center in Lynchburg VA, a Watson top 50 cardiovascular hospital. There she is the lead of the structural heart center where she oversees the TAVR, TMVR, mitral clip, ASD, and PFO closure program. Dr. McVay also has clinical experience in hospital medicine, general cardiology, and electrophysiology.
In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Dr. McVay serves as the director of clinical practice improvement, president of the medical staff APP committee, APP chair to the medical executive committee, cardiology clinical documentation improvement champion, as well as sits on the interprofessional continuing education committee. She also serves as the Lynchburg regional coordinator for the Virginia Academy of PAs and is a Virginia state delegate in the American Academy of PAs house of delegates.
Dr. McVay is also part-time faculty at the University of Lynchburg PA medicine program where she facilitates problem-based learning as well as assists with the cardiology module and summative phase. She also routinely precepts PA students and serves as an attending for doctoral PA fellows.
In addition to being a member of AAPA and VAPA, she is also a member of the American College of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Society. Dr. McVay has also completed research in the use of Protocols in Anticoagulation Management to Achieve Optimal Dosing.
Dr. McVay has been recognized by the AAPA for her work precepting students with the CPAAPA designation as well as by the University of Lynchburg PA Medicine class of 2018 with the outstanding preceptor award. Upon completing her doctorate Dr. McVay was awarded the Stroobants cardiovascular center professional achievement award.
Dr. McVay has a special interest in PA leadership, advocacy, and education.

Dr. Aimee Strong is a Board-Certified Adult-Geriatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner working in a lung cancer screening program at UVA. She began her nursing career with an Associate's Degree in Nursing in 1995. She completed her Bachelor's in Nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2009 and received her Master's Degree in Nursing from the University of Virginia in 2013 and her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Old Dominion University in 2019.

Ms. Richards graduated from the State University of New York at Brockport with a bachelor's degree in nursing in 1994. She spent the majority of her nursing career as a registered nurse in a local community hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia. She received a master's degree in nursing from the University of Virginia in 2015 and received her family nurse practitioner license later that same year. She has been employed by the University of Virginia Medical Center Digestive Health Department for the last four years. She specializes in colorectal cancer screening and surveillance.

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.

CHRISITNE KESSLER BIO 2019
Christine Kessler is an award-winning nurse practitioner, national/international speaker, prolific author, and clinical consultant specializing in Endocrinology and Metabolic Medicine. During her 46 years of nursing (39 years in advanced practice) she has held diverse roles in management, research, academia (undergraduate and graduate nursing), and clinical practice; the latter as a critical care clinical specialist, an acute care nurse practitioner (as hospitalist & intensivist) and adult endocrinology nurse practitioner. After 15 years as the senior nurse practitioner at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Medicine, Christine now focuses on providing diabetes and weight loss management, as well as general endocrine services to an impoverished population in rural Virginia. Christine has received numerous clinical practice and patient satisfaction awards, among them three prestigious Outstanding Civilian Service Awards, the Department of Medicine's Army Silver ACE Award for being voted TOP medical provider by the medical staff and the Coin of Excellence personally awarded by the Surgeon General for having the highest patient satisfaction rating of all health care providers in the Army WORLDWIDE. . Christine co-chairs the popular, national Metabolic & Endocrine Disease Summit (MEDS) and is a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners

Rhonda Arthur DNP, CNM, WHNP-BC, FNP-BC, CNE completed her Doctorate in Nursing Practice at Case Western Reserve University. She completed her certifications in Nurse Midwifery, Women's Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner at the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing.

Rhonda has worked in rural primary care and is currently serving in rural and underserved community members through the New River Health District Health Department. Rhonda is an active volunteer and has worked with Midwives for Haiti, JP HRO in Haiti, Apple Ridge Farm - Helping Children grow program, as well as the Virginia Medical Reserve team. Dr. Arthur has taught at Frontier Nursing University for twelve years.

Dr. Arthur has published in several textbooks. She has presented at professional conferences both on the state and national level about precepting clinical students and problem-solving. Rhonda precepts medical students and residents at the Virginia Department of Health. In addition to teaching at FNU and her clinical job, Rhonda teaches pelvic exams to Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine medical students in Blacksburg Virginia.

Tonya Nicholson is a Certified Nurse-Midwife and a Women's Healthcare Nurse Practitioner. She is the Associate Dean of Midwifery and Women's Health at Frontier Nursing University and practices part time in full scope practice in Dublin, GA. She earned her midwifery at Frontier, her MSN from Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland OH) and completed her doctoral studies at Frontier Nursing University. She speaks frequently on the topics of communication, civility in healthcare, and leadership.

Nikita Duke is a Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner from who currently serves at the Director of Behavioral Health at Fast Pace Health and teaches PRN at Frontier Nursing University. She obtained her Masters and Doctorate from the University of South Alabama. She has taught in academia in the undergraduate and graduate levels for the last 7 years. She has practiced both inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, in a community mental health center, and in her current role providing Behavioral Health in an urgent care setting through live and tele-psych visits. She serves as a board member for her local NAMI chapter and member of Sigma Theta Tau National Nursing Honor Society. She is also married and a mother to 3 children.

Betsy is a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit (“HTPU”). She is currently on a 6-month detail with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. Prior to joining HTPU, Betsy spent five years working as a litigation associate with McGuireWoods LLP, gaining experience in commercial litigation, class action suits, white collar litigation, and financial services litigation. She also maintained an active pro bono practice centered on civil litigation on behalf of human trafficking survivors. Most recently, she served as lead counsel on a team that won an unprecedented $8 million civil judgment in an anti-trafficking suit against a nationwide cult headquartered in Kansas.

Betsy received her B.A. from the University of Virginia in Political Philosophy, Policy, and Law with a minor in Religious Studies, with High Distinction, in 2008 and her J.D. with honors from The George Washington University Law School in 2013. After law school, Betsy was as a law clerk for Judge Claude M. Hilton of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Betsy is active in her community. She sits on the Board of Directors for Theological Horizons at the University of Virginia, is a Douglass Fellow with the Human Trafficking Institute, and serves as a member of the Young Lawyers Committee for the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the Women's Bar Association of the District of Columbia.