Job Position and Professional Responsibilities:

In my role as a Transplant and LVAD Nurse Educator, I develop, implement, and evaluate education for nurses and patients across advanced heart failure and solid organ transplantation. I design orientation and competency-based education, update policies and procedures, and create clinical teaching materials. I collaborate with physicians, APPs, coordinators, and allied health professionals to standardize best practices, support quality improvement, and maintain regulatory readiness. By integrating clinical expertise, education, and leadership, I advance professional practice, improve patient outcomes, and foster a culture of continuous learning within the transplant and LVAD programs.

Describe your qualifications for this role, and include past ANNA leadership positions:

Over the past 30 years, I have built a comprehensive career in nephrology nursing, with experience in hemodialysis, kidney transplantation, living kidney and liver donation, and nursing education. Educating nurses and patients, and engaging and inspiring colleagues, has been a consistent focus of my practice. I have maintained certification as a Certified Nephrology Nurse (CNN) since 2005 and as a Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator (CCTC) since 2008.

I have held leadership and committee roles that strengthened my strategic, collaborative, and organizational skills, including service on the Southeastern Kidney Council – ESRD Network 6 Board of Directors and the UNOS Transplant Coordinator Committee. I am an active member of ANNA and the International Transplant Nursing Society (ITNS) and a recognized nephrology speaker at local, regional, and national levels.

My ANNA involvement began in 1997 and includes service as Cardinal Chapter Secretary and Treasurer; Conferences Planning Committee member; Transplant Specialty Practice Network (SPN) Education Advisor and Leader; SPN Chair; and ANNA representative to the CMS/HRSA Kidney Donation & Transplant Initiative: ETCLC Collaborative (2021–2025). I also serve as a Nephrology Nursing Journal (NNJ) manuscript reviewer and author.

These experiences demonstrate my commitment to advancing nephrology nursing and position me to support ANNA’s strategic vision, member engagement, and sustainable growth.

Describe your role in three ANNA projects/activities which support(ed) ANNA’s mission, goals, and objectives:

As a member of the ANNA Conferences Planning Committee (2015–2019), I helped design national conference programming by identifying priority topics, recruiting speakers, and structuring sessions that addressed current evidence, regulatory changes, and practice challenges across the nephrology and transplant continuum. I supported development of high-quality, evidence-based education; integrated policy and ethical content to strengthen advocacy; promoted networking through interactive sessions; and participated in abstract review and program evaluation to ensure scientific rigor.

As Transplant Specialty Practice Network (SPN) Leader (2019–2024) and SPN Chair (2025–2026), I have worked to build a strong community of practice through webinars, discussions, and resource development focused on transplant care. In these roles, I help identify and elevate practice and policy issues affecting transplant patients and nurses, and foster networking, mentorship, and collaboration among members. As National SPN Chair, I collaborated with nephrology nurses across all practice settings to facilitate educational opportunities at both the local and national levels. I convened monthly meetings and served as an ongoing resource to support program development, knowledge sharing, and member engagement.

As co-author of the Transplant chapter in the 7th and 8th editions of the Core Curriculum for Nephrology Nursing, I contributed comprehensive, evidence-based content that supports foundational and advanced learning in transplant care and integrates current research, guidelines, and best practices.

Across these roles, I have consistently advanced ANNA’s mission by strengthening education, advocacy, networking, and science for nephrology nurses.