The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses has announced its 2015 class of emerging leaders, the group said in a news release.
Launched in 2007, the AWHONN Emerging Leaders Program engages nurses in a formal, year-long leadership training program. Activities include guidance from mentors, networking events, meetings with congressional staffs, multiple continuing education opportunities and other experiential training to build confidence and leadership skills among participants.
Here are the 2015 emerging leaders, who are participating in the program.
1. Jennifer Vanderlaan,MPH, MSN, RN, lives in Decatur, Ga., and is the owner of an educational website, Birthing Naturally, for expectant parents, childbirth educators and doulas. She's been in the nursing field for more than six years and is currently enrolled in a PhD program at Atlanta-based Emory University.
2. Courtney Howard Weekley, MSN, APRN, RNC-OB, ACNS-BC, from Lexington, Ky., works as a clinical nurse specialist in maternal care services. She earned a Master of Science degree in nursing from the University of Kentucky in Lexington. She has been in nursing for more than eight years.
3. Jessica L. McNeil, MSN, RNC-OB, lives in Carrollton, Texas, and serves as a clinical educator at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor at Baylor University in the Louise Herrington School of Nursing in Dallas.
4. Shelly Lopez Gray, MSN, RNC-MNN, IBCLC, of Baytown, Texas, works as a clinical nurse coordinator at Houston-based Texas Children's Pavilion for Women. She also works for Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital as a maternal-newborn nurse. She is the author of a popular blog called "Adventures of a Labor Nurse" and is currently studying for a doctorate in nursing practice from Phoenix-based Grand Canyon University.
5. Stacy McNall, RN, MSN, CLC, lives in Janesville, Wis., and is the director of the Family Birth Center at St. Mary's Janesville (Wis.) Hospital where she manages a team of 18 clinicians. She earned her Master of Science in nursing at the University of Phoenix and is also a certified lactation consultant.
6. Tracy Whitman, BSN, RN, of Scranton, Pa., is a charge nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at Scranton-based Moses Taylor Hospital and an obstetrical clinical instructor at State College-based Pennsylvania State University. She has been in nursing practice for more than eight years and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in nursing from Philadelphia-based Drexel University.
7. Sandra J. Edson, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, from Williston, Vt., serves as a clinical nurse educator for the labor and delivery department at Burlington-based University of Vermont Medical Center. She has been working the obstetrics nursing field more than nine years and received her Master of Science in nursing from Northfield, Vt.-based Norwich University.
8. Lori-Ann Satran, RN, BSN, MS-L, IBLCE, lives in Phoneix and currently works as a nurse manager in the OB couplet care/lactation services department at Honorhealth Scottsdale (Ariz.) Shea Medical Center. She has been working in the maternal nursing sector for more than 23 years. Ms. Satran received her master's degree in leadership from Phoenix-based Grand Canyon University.
9. Laurie Collins, BSN, RNC-MNN, from Miami, is employed at Miami-based Baptist Health South Florida in the Mother Baby/Women's Services Unit. She currently serves on the Quality Council, Diabetic Resource and Mock Code Pink Drill Team. She acquired her Registered Nurse, Maternal Newborn Nursing certification and is currently studying for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant boards.
10. Annette Penn, BSN, RNC, of White Lake, Mich., is an administrative nurse manager at Henry Ford West Bloomfield (Mich.) Hospital in the birthing center. She was nominated for the Clara Ford Award for Nursing Excellence and has been in the nursing field for more than 18 years.
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