2023 VCNP Annual Conference

Speakers
Wednesday, March 22 to Saturday, March 25, 2023

Lynn Rapsilber, DNP APRN ANP-BC FAANP

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.
Coding & Documentation: Know Your Worth
March 22, 2023, 12:30 pm

Laurie Anne Ferguson-Parker, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, FNP-C, CPNP, FNAP, FAANP

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.
Managing Common Hand & Nail Conditions
March 22, 2023, 12:30 pm
Breakout Session: Generalist - Bumps, Itches & Rashes
March 23, 2023, 11:15 am

Dr. Alysia Pack, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Alysia E. Pack, DNP, APRN, FNP-C is a doctor or nursing practice and autonomous licensed family nurse practitioner with over 20 years of work in patient care and health advocacy. Through experiences as novice to expert practitioner, grew an intense interest and passion to make changes to the existing healthcare landscape whereby the autonomy, voice, and respect of the nurse practitioner was the rule and not the exception.
Dr. Pack is the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioner's state president-elect and immediate past president of the Tidewater region. Dr. Pack serves as graduate faculty at Old Dominion University and on the Board of Directors for the Western Tidewater Free Clinic. Her work and research have helped to establish rural satellite micro-clinics, create academic-community partnerships, and implement nurse practitioner-led, primary care-behavioral health integrated clinics to promote health equity, equality, and healthcare access to underserved populations throughout southeast Virginia.
VCNP 101
March 22, 2023, 12:30 pm

Katy Morgan, MSN, RN, CPNP-AC

n/a
VCNP 101
March 22, 2023, 12:30 pm

Nancy Harvey, MSN, FNP, MS, Yoga Therapy

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.
Past & Present Support for Healing Properties of Yoga & Yoga Session - BRING YOUR OWN YOGA MAT
March 22, 2023, 2:30 pm

Pamela Maxson, PhD, PCC, SPHR

Pamela Maxson is an executive coach, trainer, and speaker who specializes in helping individuals become the leader they are meant to be. She is passionate about helping individuals tap into their purpose, overcome their personal and professional obstacles, and achieve a fulfilling and meaningful life. Pam has invested hundreds of hours in coaching healthcare providers and has worked in an academic medical center for over 25 years. Pam received her doctorate in Human Development from Pennsylvania State University, is an internationally credentialed coach, and a Senior Professional in Human Resources.
VCNP Leadership Training
March 22, 2023, 2:30 pm

Beth Macy

Beth Macy is a Virginia-based journalist with three decades of experience and an award-winning author of three New York Times bestselling books: Factory Man, Truevine and Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America. Her first book, Factory Man, won a J. Anthony Lukas Prize and Dopesick was short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, won the L.A. Times Book Prize for Science and Technology, and was described as a "masterwork of narrative nonfiction” by The New York Times. Dopesick has now been made into a Peabody award-winning and Emmy-winning Hulu series on which she acted as an executive producer and cowriter. Her fourth book, Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of America's Overdose Crisis, was published on August 16, 2022.
Keynote Speaker: Beth Macy, Journalist & Award Winning Author
March 23, 2023, 8:00 am

Sarah Tiesing, RN, MSN, FNP-C

Sarah Tiesing worked as a nurse for 7 years prior to beginning her career as a Nurse practitioner for the last 10 years. She has experience working in Cardiology, Primary care and Hospital medicine. She is currently working as a Hospitalist Nurse Practitioner at CJW Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia where she serves as the Lead Advanced Practice Clinician for her team.
Detoxing & Dopesick
March 23, 2023, 9:30 am
Breakout Session: Acute Care - Things We Do For No Reason in Acute Care
March 23, 2023, 11:15 am

Karen Higgins, DNP, FNP-BC

Dr. Karen Higgins is a certified family nurse practitioner and teaches in the School of Nursing at Old Dominion University. Her interests include health promotion, wellness, innovative teaching strategies, and incorporating the arts in education. Additionally, she maintains clinical practice at a clinic for uninsured adults. She is a graduate of Bradley University (BSN), ODU (MSN), and Chatham University (DNP) and is a veteran of the US Navy Nurse Corps.
Breakout Session: Generalist - Resilience: Moving Beyond Exercise, Nutrition, and Sleep
March 23, 2023, 11:15 am

Lisa Beauvois, CRNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

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!)
Breakout Session: Mental Health -Helping Patients Taper Off of Benzodiazepines
March 23, 2023, 11:15 am

Lisa Onega, PhD, RN, MBA, FNP-BC, CNS-BC, GNP-BC

Dr. Lisa Onega attended a diploma nursing program at Roanoke Memorial Hospital School of Professional Nursing and subsequently completed her BSN from Radford University. Lisa then obtained her MSN, PhD, and FNP post-master's certificate from the University of Virginia and completed a one-year post-doctorate in gerontological nursing at the University of Iowa. In 2002, she began taking undergraduate business courses and completed an MBA from Radford University in 2010. Lisa is certified as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, a Family Nurse Practitioner, and a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner. She recently completed a Post-Master's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program and plans to take her national certification examination this summer. After living in West Virginia for 5 ½ years she recently returned to her home state of Virginia and assumed the role of Associate Dean of Graduate Nursing Programs and Professor of Nursing at Averett University.
Breakout Session: Pediatrics - Selection of Psychiatric Meds for Children and Adolescents
March 23, 2023, 11:15 am

Barb Bancroft, RN, MSN, PNP

Barb has provided more than 2200 educational and motivational seminars on clinical topics and health maintenance topics to healthcare professionals and corporations throughout the US and Canada. She has been the keynote/plenary speaker for corporate groups such as Smith Barney/Citicorp and the Million Dollar Round Table. She has provided keynote/plenary speeches for healthcare associations including the Association for Practitioners for Infection Control, The National Association of Biology Teachers, The Emergency Nurses' Association, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the Pacific Coast Dental Association, and the Washington State Dental Association.
Treatment for Autoimmune Diseases--something old and lots NEW!
March 23, 2023, 2:30 pm
Food For Thought
March 24, 2023, 9:15 am

Janice Lavoie, MSN, AGPCNP-BC

Janice has been the urology NP at SNVMC since 2017. Prior to this, she has held a variety of roles in nursing education, program management, and administration. She completed the acute care post Masters certificate program at the University of Virginia in 2022.
Breakout Session RAPID FIRE: Professionalism - Transitioning to Acute Care/Autonomous Practice
March 23, 2023, 3:50 pm

Tammy Maloney, FNP-BC, DNP, AE-C

Characteristics of Nurse Practitioners Assessing Intimacy in COPD, Abstract". Poster presented at Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Albuquerque, NM ( November, 2015).
Character is of NPs Assessing Intimacy in COPD". Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, Homestead, Va March, 2016.
"Tools of the Trade for Pulmonary Patients" presentation for Tidewater Region Nurse Practitioner 2014
"Pulmonary Illnesses" Guest lecturer for Old Dominion University NP program.
Breakout Session RAPID FIRE: Professionalism - Transitioning to Acute Care/Autonomous Practice
March 23, 2023, 3:50 pm

Clareen Wiencek, PhD, RN, ACNP, ACHPN

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.
Breakout Session RAPID FIRE: Professionalism - Transitioning to Acute Care/Autonomous Practice
March 23, 2023, 3:50 pm

Rachel Duke, MS, NP, CANS

Rachel Duke is central Virginia's first Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS). She specializes in non-surgical facial rejuvenation. During her 17 years of aesthetic experience Rachel has provided procedures for her clients in both the retail medical spa and physician office settings. For the last seven years she has been a faculty member of Allergan Medical Institute and was named one of the Top 25 Most Loved Injectors by RealSelf. Rachel is a board certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and opened an independent injectables practice in the Fall of 2020. She is originally from Bridgeton, NJ and currently resides in Richmond, VA with her husband Patrick and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, River.
Breakout Session RAPID FIRE: Professionalism - Transitioning to Acute Care/Autonomous Practice
March 23, 2023, 3:50 pm

Elizabeth Armstrong, DNP, NP-C

Family nurse practitioner with 12 years experience. Currently working in primary care with background in women's health, urgent care, and emergency medicine. Current research interests include women's health, bioidentical hormone therapy, and women's heart health.
Breakout Session: Acute Care - Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissections
March 23, 2023, 3:50 pm

Dawn Bourne, DNP, FNP-C, HEC-C

Dawn Bourne is a Family Nurse Practitioner practicing full-time at UVA Student Health & Wellness. She obtained her Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing, as well as Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from the University of Virginia. Her doctoral work focused on moral distress in Primary Care Providers. She is an active member on the Ethics and Moral Distress Consult Services at the University of Virginia Health System. Dawn is active in the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners and is currently serving as state Secretary for a second term.
Breakout Session: Generalist - The Ill Returning Traveler
March 23, 2023, 3:50 pm

Lee Moore, DNP, MEd, LNP, PMHNP-BC, CNE

Dr. Moore is a psychiatric nurse practitioner, owning and operating Better Mental Health & Wellness in Charlottesville, VA while also serving as an assistant professor within UVA's School of Nursing. He has both educational, professional, and personal experiences operating within the world of LGBTQ+-related wellness and illness.
Breakout Session: Mental Health - Care For All: Promoting Best Outcomes for LGBTQIA+ Patients
March 23, 2023, 3:50 pm

Judy B. Jenks, DNP, FNP-BC

Dr. Judy Jenks has been in healthcare for 35 years and an FNP for 20 years, practicing in Internal med in rural Appalachia. She completed her DNP at Radford University in Executive Leadership and Administration. She holds a Post-Graduate certificate in Appalachian Studies. She owns 2 healthcare businesses; The Jenks Initiative, LLC as an NP Independent Contractor, and Clinic420, LLC the first Medical Cannabis clinic in SWVA and the second NP owned Cannabis Clinic in the state.
She is the Interim Program Coordinator of the MSN, FNP program at Radford University Carilion in Roanoke, VA. Judy is a published author and international speaker on healthcare, having spoken in Romania, Ukraine, Malaysia, Brazil, and across the United States. She is the new President of the Blue Ridge Region of VCNP. Judy is a Professional Legal Nurse Consultant, helping attorneys understand the medical profession.
Breakout Session: Professionalism - Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth & Nothing But the Truth
March 23, 2023, 3:50 pm

Susan Wirt, MSN, RN, CRRN, CCM, CLCP, CRP, CNLCP

Susan obtained her associates degree in nursing in 1977, and began her career in adult critical care, working at several major medical centers throughout the United States, including Dallas, TX, Cincinnati, OH and Roanoke, VA.
She then received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 2004 and her Masters Degree in Nursing Clinical Education from Jefferson College of Health Sciences in 2013. She is nationally certified as a Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN), Case Manager (CCM), and Life Care Planner (CLCP), a Nurse Life Care Planner (CNLCP), as well as being Certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Rehabilitation Provider (CRP).

In 1994, Susan established Wirt & Associates, LLC, where she provides medical-legal consultations, medical case management, and life care planning services to insurance carriers, employers, attorneys (both plaintiff and defense), and families, with a special emphasis on the long-term needs of individuals with chronic health conditions. Although primarily engaged in cases here in the US, Susan has also worked on cases in the UK, Bolivia, Germany, and Ontario, Canada. She is also adjunct faculty for Radford University Carilion in the undergraduate nursing program.
Breakout Session: Professionalism - Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth & Nothing But the Truth
March 23, 2023, 3:50 pm

Sarah Jessee, JD

Sarah C. Jessee is an associate in the Roanoke office of Lewis Brisbois and a member of the Medical Malpractice Department. She focuses on the defense of medical malpractice as well as other civil litigation matters. Prior to private practice, Ms. Jessee interned for judges on the Court of Appeals of Virginia and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. She earned her undergraduate degree from Washington & Lee University, and her law degree, cum laude, from University of Richmond School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Virginia and West Virginia.
Breakout Session: Professionalism - Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth & Nothing But the Truth
March 23, 2023, 3:50 pm

John Johnson, JD

John Johnson has extensive experience in litigating catastrophic injury claims, claims against constitutional officers, local government entities, school boards, and municipal authorities in all phases of litigation throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. He also has significant experience in handling post-conviction habeas corpus actions challenging criminal convictions.

In addition, he has an active appellate practice and has argued cases before the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Court of Appeals of Virginia, and the Supreme Court of Virginia. In addition, he has participated in appeals before the United States Supreme Court.

John is a frequent speaker to groups on workplace issues, worker's compensation, and the interplay between state and federal laws and regulations as well as constitutional issues.
Breakout Session: Professionalism - Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth & Nothing But the Truth
March 23, 2023, 3:50 pm

Leigh Ann Breckenridge, DNP, MSN, RN

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.
The Dyad Model: A Creative Alternative to Precepting
March 23, 2023, 5:15 pm
Breakout Session: Women's Health - Understanding Urinary Incontinence in Women of All Ages
March 24, 2023, 2:35 pm

Carla Nye, DNP, CPNP-PC, CNE, CHSE

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.
The Dyad Model: A Creative Alternative to Precepting
March 23, 2023, 5:15 pm

Dana Burns, DNP, FNP-BC, BC-ADM

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.
The Dyad Model: A Creative Alternative to Precepting
March 23, 2023, 5:15 pm

Allison Gregory, MS, FNP

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.​
The Dyad Model: A Creative Alternative to Precepting
March 23, 2023, 5:15 pm
Breakout Session: Women's Health - Understanding Urinary Incontinence in Women of All Ages
March 24, 2023, 2:35 pm

Jacqueline Cranford, JD

Jackie Cranford is the founder of Cranford Advisory Services LLC, a consultancy focused on effective talent management with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. For over 21 years, she has successfully designed and implemented talent management strategies and facilitated impactful training workshops.

Prior to establishing her consultancy, Jackie directed talent management initiatives for approximately 14 years in three global law firms. As a consultant, she utilizes her expertise to the benefit of a range of organizations in various industries. She also serves as a Trusted Advisor to the Professional Development Consortium and guest lecturer with Georgetown University's Center for Continuing and Professional Education Department.

Jackie graduated from Oral Roberts University and the University of Virginia School of Law. Following law school, she practiced law at K&L Gates and the Environment & Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice before focusing her career on talent management.
Leslie Herdegen Rohrer Memorial Session:Advancing Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion - Everyone Has A Role To Play
March 24, 2023, 8:00 am

Darleen Hoffert, DNP, RN, AGNP-C, LNC

Dr. Hoffert's passion is improving the health outcomes and quality of life for adult and geriatric patients in primary care. Over the past 20 years, she served as a nurse in acute care, home care, and case management roles focused in the areas of general medical, cardiology, mental health, and traumatic injury. As an assistant professor, she has served in undergraduate and graduate programs since 2016. Over the past six years she has taught mental health, clinical application, interprofessional education, pharmacology, geriatric nursing, and advanced assessment. She is a licensed adult/geriatric nurse practitioner in Virginia where she manages the care of patients with complex medical and mental health issues in her current role as a nurse practitioner at the Free Clinic of Pulaski County in Pulaski, Virginia.
Polypharmacy & Cytochromes
March 24, 2023, 1:15 pm

Kathryn Reid, PhD, RN, FNP-C

Dr. Reid is an Associate Professor at the UVA School of Nursing. She earned her BSN, MSN in Critical Care, and second MSN in the FNP track from UVA, and earned her PhD VCU. As an FNP since 1996 (over 25 years), most of her experience is in urgent care. Dr. Reid's current practice is in a rural primary primary care clinic and in a niche travel health consult clinic. Over her career, Dr. Reid has held numerous academic and clinical administrative positions and numerous statewide and national committee appointments. She's received number awards for her teaching and leadership, and is a past leadership fellow with the American Association of College of Nursing. In addition to her faculty responsibilities, Dr. Reid directs continuing education for the UVA SON, and she directs nursing research and EBP at Sentara MJH. Dr. Reid is a travel health expert, practicing with Passport Health, and volunteers in a rural free clinic, where she also serves as the medical director. Dr. Reid is the current president of the American Travel Health Nurses Association (ATHNA).
1.25 CE Supported by UVA - Mental Health - Responding to Disrespectful & Biased Behavior in Health Care
March 24, 2023, 2:35 pm

Kirby Williams, PMHNP-BC

Ms. Kirby Williams has been a psychiatric nurse practitioner for over 10 years. Her career as a Psych NP has been in a variety of settings including inpatient, community mental health, private practice, primary care and academia working with the adult patient population. She currently owns a private psychiatric practice in Richmond, VA. Through her company The PMHNP Source, LLC she offers services consultation and career coaching to new and novice psychiatric nurse practitioners.
Breakout Session: Acute Care - Managing Behavioral Disturbances in Neurocognitive Disorders
March 24, 2023, 2:35 pm

Susan Conaty-Buck, DNP, MFA, FNP-C, FAANP

Dr. Conaty-Buck is a University of Delaware Asst. Prof., FNP & Informatics Researcher. She mentors DNP/MSN/MBA/BSN students in Interprofessional Healthcare Informatics, Integrated Care Delivery, and Transition to Practice. She chairs UD's MSN/DNP Curriculum Committee and UD's Data Science Institute Workforce Development. Degrees include UVA (MSN and DNP), JMU (BSN), Virginia Tech (MFA Arts Administration), Rowan (BA Music Education) & Graduate Certificate UD Lerner College of Business (Entrepreneurship & Innovation). She is a certified Advanced Telehealth Coordinator, mentor for Healthcare Motivational Interviewing and completed AANP's yearlong Leadership Program. Research includes Patient Technology & Innovation, Virtual Reality for Patient Care, Healthcare Cybersecurity and NP Advocacy & Leadership. She co-chairs AANP's Heath Informatics & Telehealth Community. An AANP Fellow, she was Delaware's 2021 Top Nurse for Advancing and Leading the Profession and AANP's 2022 State Advocate for Excellence. VCNP's Shenandoah Chapter president 2x, she served on VCNP's Advocacy Committee & wrote VCNP's slogan.
Breakout Session: Generalist - Inspiration, Innovation & Insight: Health Informatics
March 24, 2023, 2:35 pm

Vera Barton-Maxwell, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC

Dr. Barton-Maxwell is an Assistant Professor in the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Georgetown University and maintains a part-time clinical practice at Wheeling Health Right, a clinic for the underserved residents of West Virginia. As past president of The American Association of Heart Failure Nurses, Vera's area of clinical expertise is in the management of chronic heart failure. Dr. Barton-Maxwell received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Wheeling Jesuit University and her PhD in nursing from West Virginia University. Awards include the St. Ignatius of Loyola Award for outstanding alumnus from WJU, the PhD Nursing Leadership Award and the Anna Mary Miller Scholarship for outstanding PhD student from WVU, and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners State Award for Excellence. Vera's research involves HF patient decision-making surrounding primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. She is a published author of peer-reviewed journals and nursing texts, a manuscript reviewer for multiple professional journals, and a national speaker on subjects surrounding cardiac care and HF.
Breakout Session: Generalist - Stage A and B Heart Failure in the Primary Care Setting
March 24, 2023, 2:35 pm

Emily Horvath, DNP, FNP-BC

Emily Horvath is faculty in the Graduate Nursing Program at Old Dominion University and the lead practitioner for ODU Community Cares at PiN, a university and homelessness ministry community partnership clinic. She cares for those experiencing the spectrum of homelessness while educating interprofessional clinical students to care for vulnerable populations.
Breakout Session - Generalist - Caring for Those Experiencing Homelessness
March 24, 2023, 3:55 pm

Keiko Kuykendall

Keiko Kuykendall is a full-time stroke nurse practitioner at a comprehensive stroke center, Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia. Additionally, she holds PRN positions as a hospitalist/internal medicine provider at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge, VA and Inova Mt. Vernon Hospital in Alexandria, VA. She started her health care career as a nursing aide in a local assisted living facility in later 90s and has worked her way up to a registered nurse then nurse practitioner while caring her two children. Addition to stroke care, she is interested in preventive health care, coordination of care, geriatrics, and palliative/hospice care. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with dogs and taking care of her yard
Breakout Session: Acute Care - Stroke Mimics & Chameleons
March 24, 2023, 3:55 pm

Ethan Collins

I am a graduate of the University of Virginia at Wise in BSN, and two Masters Degrees from Chamberlain University; Masters in Executive Nursing and Masters in Family Nurse Practitioner. I have spend my career and life in Southwest Virginia. My career path has led me to ensuring high quality care is delivered to the citizens in Southwest Virginia and ensure that I have an impact
Breakout Session: Generalist - Move Mountains Medical Missions
March 24, 2023, 3:55 pm

Paula Hill-Collins

Dr. Hill-Collins DNP, FNP-BC has over 20 years of experience as a family nurse practitioner, educator, clinical manager and expert on rural health care delivery. Currently employed with a Free Mobile Clinic as clinical director, she oversees clinical aspect of two stationary clinics and one mobile medical clinic. As Clinical Director, she oversees clinical oversight for primary care services, specialty clinics including women's health clinic and performing cystoscopy and colposcopy. She serves as co-coordinator of Remote Area Medical in Wise, the largest outreach in the United States. She has served as adjunct faculty for Vanderbilt University, University of Virginia, Frontier Nursing and Old Dominion University. She is a native of Wise County in Southwest Virginia and has a special interest in mentoring nurse practitioners peers and students, promoting rural health care delivery and improving quality of patient care for residents in Central Appalachia. She lives in Wise with her husband a local attorney and her daughter. She has one grandson who is 6 years old. She is frequently requested to lecture on rural health care, Remote Area Medical Expedition and health care reform.
Breakout Session: Generalist - Move Mountains Medical Missions
March 24, 2023, 3:55 pm

Jerry Canaan, JD

Jerry Canaan is a Partner with health care law firm of Byrne Canaan Law, and he is also the attorney for VCNP. Jerry's scope of practice includes a wide range of health care law with a focus on administrative law and government investigations. Jerry earned his B.A. in political science and English from Virginia Tech, and his J.D. from the University of Richmond. Upon graduation from law school in 1991, he clerked for the Virginia Supreme Court.
Breakout Session: Professionalism - How to Be an Effective Expert Witness
March 24, 2023, 3:55 pm

Shannon Nicholson, DNP, FNP-BC

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.
Breakout Session: Women's Health - Women's Health in Orthopedics
March 24, 2023, 3:55 pm

Wendy Wright, DNP, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, FAANP,

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.
Supported CE Session Pain Management & Opioids Update. Separate CE certificate 2.0 CE
March 25, 2023, 8:30 am

Camille Schrier, Miss America 2020

Currently pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Camille completed dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Biochemistry and Systems Biology with honors at Virginia Tech in 2018.
Breaking from tradition, Camille blew up the onstage talent competition with a highly engaging and entertaining science demonstration winning Miss Virginia in June of 2019 and then Miss America in December 2019 live on NBC.
Through her time as Miss America and beyond, Camille has focused on advocating for her social initiative "Mind Your Meds: Drug Safety and Abuse Prevention from Pediatrics to Geriatrics” with a major focus on the opioid epidemic. In 2021 Camille launched her science educational brand, "Her Royal Scientist”, which furthers her goal to inspire and educate youth and normalize females in science roles. She also works to raise awareness around Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a genetic condition that impacts her life.
Mind Your Meds- Ceasing the Stigma of Substance Use Disorder
March 25, 2023, 10:45 am