Meet the Advisory Committee

Dr. Arrell is an active member of ANA Minnesota and works in a pediatric NICU.  She is also the THRIVE project leader for her employer, the Mayo Clinic.

As Press Ganey’s Associate Chief Nursing Officer and Partner, Strategic Consulting, Dr. Mary Jo Assi is responsible for leading strategies to achieve nursing and caregiver excellence by delivering compassionate connected care, strengthening caregiver resilience and engagement, and improving the health care practice and work environment, within a framework of high reliability and safety.

During her more than 35 years of nursing experience, she has worked as a clinician, nurse educator, advanced practice registered nurse and nurse executive.  More recently, Mary Jo held the position of Director of Professional Practice and Magnet Program Director for ten years in both community hospital and academic medical center settings, and during that period was appointed to the Commission on Magnet Recognition-a position she held for six years.  

As the Vice President for Nursing Practice and Innovation at the American Nurses Association, she led several groundbreaking nursing initiatives at the national level, including the creation and launch of the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation Grand Challenge, a social movement aimed at improving the health of the nation’s 4.0 million nurses, and the development of position statements and white papers focused on critical issues for nursing including workplace violence, incivility and bullying, nurse fatigue, and optimal staffing for safe patient care. Mary Jo was appointed as a fellow to the American Academy of Nursing in 2016.

Rajitha Bommakanti, BSN, RN, NBC-HWC, is a UM Appeals Nurse at Emory Healthcare and a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach whose work is dedicated to advancing the well-being of patients, nurses, and communities. She integrates evidence-based lifestyle medicine and health coaching to help individuals make sustainable behavior changes that improve health and well-being. As a Faith Community Nurse, she also provides wellness coaching and health education through community outreach and health fairs.

Rajitha is passionate about promoting nurse well-being through education, peer support, and leadership. At Emory Healthcare, she serves as a Peer Supporter, Wellbeing Champion, Stress First Aid Ambassador, and Certified Cognitive-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) Instructor. She regularly presents wellness programs for nurses through professional organizations and has led research and quality improvement initiatives focused on reducing stress and improving well-being.

Rajitha's work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and featured by Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation. Rajitha believes that lasting change begins with small, intentional steps and is committed to helping others thrive both personally and professionally. Her mission is to create a culture where caring for ourselves is recognized as an essential part of caring for others. 

John Erman Morales-Obidos, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, NPDA-BC, CCRN, PCCN, CV-BC, is a doctorally prepared nurse executive, nursing professional development leader, and internationally educated nurse with more than 19 years of progressive experience across academic medical centers, clinical practice, and higher education. As Program Director of Nursing Professional Development at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, he leads strategic initiatives in nursing education, nurse residency, mentorship, professional nursing practice, academic partnerships, evidence-based practice and innovation, emergency resuscitation programs, and Age-Friendly Health System implementation to strengthen workforce capability and improve patient outcomes.

A recognized advocate for nursing excellence and equitable professional development, Dr. Morales-Obidos has presented nationally and internationally on nursing education, clinical practice, and leadership innovation. He serves as Education Committee Chair of the Philippine Nurses Association of New York, where he has led the development of statewide ANCC-accredited educational programs and co-founded the ACHIEVE Network. This national initiative amplifies the voices and contributions of internationally educated nurses.

His work is grounded in advancing healthy work environments, lifelong learning, evidence-based leadership, and inclusive workforce development. Through collaboration, innovation, and mentorship, Dr. Morales-Obidos is committed to empowering nurses to thrive while advancing the quality, safety, and future of healthcare.

Lisa Ertle, MSN, APN, FNP-C, is a nurse practitioner in private practice at Prime Endocrinology, LLC, in New Jersey.

A dedicated advocate for nurse wellness and preventive care, she has been an active member of Healthy Nurse Healthy NJ since 2017 and has served as Team Lead since 2020. In this leadership role, she collaborates with colleagues across the state to advance initiatives that support the mental, physical, and spiritual well-being of nurses through statewide unity walks, educational lectures, and wellness-focused outreach. Lisa is passionate about fostering resilience, community, and healthier lifestyles within the nursing profession.

Kristen Gilmore, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, NE-BC, NC-BC, is a registered nurse at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and serves as the inaugural Program Manager for Nurse Well-Being, supporting Jefferson Bucks, Frankford, Einstein Montgomery, and Torresdale campuses. Prior to assuming this role, she held a variety of nursing leadership positions and provided direct patient care in emergency medicine, where she developed a deep passion for supporting the well-being and resilience of healthcare professionals.

A graduate of Holy Family University and Walden University, Kristen has dedicated her career to advancing the health, well-being, and professional fulfillment of nurses and healthcare teams. She currently serves as President-Elect of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) and is the former Chair of ENA's National Wellness Committee.

As a Certified SMART (Stress Management and Resiliency Training) Healthcare Practitioner through the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Kristen delivers evidence-based well-being education throughout the Jefferson Health System. Her work focuses on fostering resilience, reducing burnout, and creating supportive work environments for clinicians.
Kristen has presented nationally and internationally for organizations including the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing, the Emergency Nurses Association, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, and the Herbert Benson, MD, Course in Mind Body Medicine at Harvard Medical School's Benson-Henry Institute.

She is also a published author, having co-authored a recent article in the Journal of Emergency Nursing examining the impact of gratitude in the workplace. In addition, Kristen has shared her expertise in healthcare well-being through multiple podcast appearances, highlighting innovative strategies to support clinician resilience and professional well-being.

Dr. Debora Hess is a Clinical Strategy and Practice Lead for Human under the office of the Chief Nursing Officer.  She has had over 35 years of experience in various positions within nursing homes, hospitals (medical and surgical floors, as well as Pediatric ICU and PACU) and has been Director of Nursing over several Medicare Certified and private pay home care companies.  

Recently as clinician, nurse educator and nurse management leader, her work has focused on strategies to provide clinical and quality excellence to all aspects of the private pay portion of Humana’s organization ensuring compliance with Federal and State regulations as well as CHAP Standards.  Her current focus is to lead the enterprise-wide mission to improve the health and well-being of the nursing population. She is excited to partner with the American Nurses Association through the ANA Foundation and the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation Initiative and to join the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation Advisory Committee.  

Debora has been instrumental in developing Humana’s Nurses Mentor Nurses program that pairs mentors and mentees to work together to develop leadership skills and to further their own growth and development.  She also works closely with experienced Nurse Ambassadors and supports newly hired nurses through the Nightingale Outreach Program to ensure nurses feel connected, engaged, and empowered to have their voice and opinions heard.  

Debora is an RN, licensed in Connecticut, New York, and Texas, and holds a PhD in Organization and Management with a specialization in Leadership, MSN degree from the University of Rochester NY, and has a certification in Certified Professional Healthcare Quality, and is Care Management Certified.

Dr. Heidi Holtz is a nurse leader and nurse scientist conducting research designed to promote a healthy work environment, support nurses’ well-being, and improve patient outcomes by creating models of high-quality patient care in critical care settings.

Dr. Holtz was a research fellow at Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. As a postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Holtz collaborated with and was mentored by experts in the field of researching moral resilience and moral distress in healthcare. She has special interest in researching the construct of moral resilience and applying that research to develop innovative approaches to foster moral resilience in healthcare environments. D

r. Holtz’s observations of nurses’ adversity, along with her own experiences as a nurse led to her aspirations to support nurses in building resiliency and fostering a safe environment to practice. Dr. Holtz’s current research is focused on providing interventions to support nurses healing and overall well-being following moral injury and trauma experienced during the COVID pandemic. Her goals include supporting nurses and healthcare clinicians and empowering them to be able to maintain their professional identity, protect themselves and their well-being, and prevent the frequency of burnout.

Nickia Jackson, MSN, RN, is the Founder and CEO of CT Nurse Wellness™, recognized by the ANA Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation™ program through a national #healthynurse Spotlight feature and inclusion in the 2025 Annual Report, published in American Nurse Journal. Her appointment to the HNHN Advisory Committee extends a relationship grounded in shared mission: translating nurse well-being from a values statement into a measurable organizational strategy.

With more than 25 years of direct clinical experience spanning surgical ICU, trauma, post-anesthesia care, patient safety, and performance improvement at Yale New Haven Health System, Nickia brings a frontline perspective informed by years of observing the early indicators of burnout that standard workforce metrics consistently fail to capture. That experience drove the development of BEEMS™ Workforce Vital Signs Model, a five-pillar measurement system targeting Belonging, Energy, Exhaustion and Recovery, Meaning and Purpose, and Psychological Safety, domains that intersect directly with HNHN’s six wellness priorities, giving nursing leaders real-time data to act before disengagement becomes a retention crisis.

Through CT Nurse Wellness™, Nickia partners with health systems and nursing leaders to operationalize well-being at the organizational level. She is the architect of the CT Nurse Wellness Summit™, an annual ANCC-accredited continuing education event co-sponsored by Quinnipiac University School of Nursing, where she also earned her MSN. A sought-after keynote speaker with engagements across Connecticut and nationally, she holds MBSR Foundations certification from Brown University School of Professional Studies. Nickia is an active member of the American Nurses Association and the Connecticut Nurses Association.

Moselle Jules, MSN, RN, is a registered nurse at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and ANA NextGen Ambassador dedicated to advancing the nursing profession through leadership, education, and advocacy. As a recent graduate from the Drexel University Nursing Education Program, she is passionate about empowering the next generation of nurses. Believing that healthy nurses provide the highest quality care, Moselle is committed to prioritizing wellness alongside clinical practice, professional service, and lifelong learning. 

Dr. Linda Kim, PhD, MSN, RN, PHN, CPHQ, CGNC, FADLN, FAAN is an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Global Nursing and Health (CGNH) at the University of Texas at Austin, School of Nursing. She currently serves as both Principal Investigator and co-investigator on a range of collaborative research projects focused on advancing health equity, well-being, and resilience across populations, including healthcare workers. These projects include a NIMH-funded R01 study examining the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and social determinants of health (SDOH) on neuroinflammation and depression.

Dr. Kim received her BSN from the University of Southern California (USC), MSN and PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She completed her post-doctoral training in evidence-based quality improvement methods and implementation science through the Veterans Administration Quality Scholars (VAQS) Program and health services research training through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and UCLA School of Public Health.

Dr. Alyssa King has been a nurse for over a decade. Dr. King currently serves as the Accredited Provider Program Director at CEUFast, Inc., and teaches as pediatric adjunct faculty at the University of South Florida.

Dr. King is passionate about the educational development, career advancement, and mental well-being of all nurses, including both practicing and future nurses. Dr. King joined the USF College of Nursing as an adjunct faculty member for the Undergraduate BSN Program in the Summer of 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past six years, she has taught numerous didactic and clinical courses, primarily in the specialties of pediatrics and obstetrics. In late 2021, Dr. King became a certified nurse educator (CNE).

Dr. King has been a lifelong lover of nursing, learning, and writing. At CEUFast, Inc., Dr. King blends all of her loves as she authors as well as plans, develops, implements, and evaluates continuing education enduring material for licensure renewal for nurses across the country. Her professional areas of focus include neonatology, pediatrics, psychiatry, mental health and well-being, and obstetrics. Over her past five years at CEUFast, Inc., Dr. King has made it her mission to provide the highest-quality, evidence-based continuing education that meets all states’ requirements and is also timely, relevant, and actionable at the bedside for busy, hard-working nurses.

While working bedside as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. King discovered her passion for psychiatry and mental health. Dr. King completed the post-masters psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) graduate certificate program at the University of Miami in December 2022.

Dr. King is dual-certified as both a primary care pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) and a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). In February 2025, she took her mental health training one step further by pursuing certification specifically in perinatal mental health. This additional education and clinical training have further informed Dr. King about how best to care for our mental health and ignited a flame within her to advocate specifically for the mental wellness of nurses. Dr. King currently serves as an advisory board member for the new Florida Center for Nursing’s Well-Being Advisory Board (FCN-WAB).

Dr. Bridget A. Leonard, DNP, MSN, MBA-HCM, RN, CRRN, NEA-BC, CNE®pv is an award-winning nursing executive, educator, author, and motivational speaker with more than 30 years of experience transforming lives, leading teams, and advancing healthcare excellence. Known to many as “Dr. B,” she has built a distinguished career from CNA to Chief Nursing Officer, leading with purpose, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to empowering others.

Dr. Leonard is a board-certified nurse executive, Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse, and Certified Academic Practical/Vocational Nurse Educator whose professional journey spans bedside care, executive leadership, academia, and professional governance. She has served in hospital, rehabilitation, hospice, and long-term care settings, bringing strategic insight, clinical expertise, and compassionate leadership to every role.

A former Chief Nursing Officer of a freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospital, she helped lead the organization to two Magnet designations, a distinction reflecting excellence in nursing practice and patient care. A passionate educator and mentor, Dr. Leonard serves as nursing faculty, shaping the next generation of nurses through practical wisdom, high standards, and authentic leadership. She is the Immediate Past President of the American Nurses Association–Michigan and remains deeply committed to professional advocacy, mentorship, and nursing excellence.

Dr. Leonard is the author of Be Powerful On Purpose and the visionary behind the “Be Powerful On Purpose” movement, a personal and professional empowerment brand rooted in intentional living, confidence, and impact. Through her speaking, writing, and mentorship, she inspires others to lead boldly, live intentionally, and make every moment matter.

Dr. Bernadette Melnyk is Vice President for Health Promotion and Chief Wellness Officer (CWO) for The Ohio State University. She also is the Helene Fuld Health Trust Professor of Evidence-based Practice, Founder of Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for Evidence-based Practice and Fromer Dean, the College of Nursing, Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the College of Medicine.  

Dr. Melnyk is globally recognized for her expertise and work in mental health, evidence-based practice, clinician health and well-being, and intervention research as well as her innovative approaches to population health and wellness.  She has received numerous national and international awards and is a frequent invited keynote speaker at professional conferences throughout the U.S. and globe.  

Dr. Melnyk has over $36 million dollars of sponsored funding, is an editor of eight books, and has authored over 590 publications.  In her role as Chief Wellness Officer at Ohio State, which was the first CWO role at an institution of higher learning in the U.S., she spearheads population health and well-being for 40,000 faculty and staff, and 66,000 students.  

Dr. Melnyk served a term on the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the National Advisory Council for the National Institute of Nursing Research, and the behavioral health standing committee for the National Quality Forum. She is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Nursing, the National Academies of Practice, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.  She also is a current member of the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-being and Resilience, Editor-in-Chief of the journal Worldviews on Evidence-based Nursing and is Chair of the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. 

Lisa Deffenbaugh Nguyen, MS, CAE is the Executive Director of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), an organization that provides leadership to promote psychiatric-mental health nurses, improve mental health care for culturally diverse individuals, families, groups, and communities, and shape health policy for the delivery of mental health services.  With membership inclusive of PMH nurses at all levels and in different settings, APNA champions psychiatric-mental health nursing and mental health care through the development of positions on key issues, the dissemination of current knowledge and developments in PMH nursing, and collaboration with stakeholders to promote advances in recovery-focused assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of persons with mental health disorders.

Lisa Nguyen assumed the role of APNA Executive Director in January 2020 after more than 12 years with APNA, most recently as Associate Executive Director, Operations.  She graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Music, holds a Master of Science Degree in Forensic Psychology from Tiffin University, and is a Certified Association Executive through the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

Stephanie A. Nolan, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC currently serves as Vice President of Nursing and Patient Services at NYU Langone Health Brooklyn and brings to the American Nurses Association Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation advisory board a deep and longstanding passion for advancing the health and well-being of nurses and nurse leaders. Throughout her career, she has championed initiatives that support resilience, engagement, and professional fulfillment in nursing leadership and frontline care teams.

A passionate advocate for the health and well-being of nurses and nurse leaders, Dr. Nolan collaborated with the American Nurses Association’s Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation® using the  HealthyNurse® Survey to identify health behaviors of nurse leaders and opportunities to improve their health. Her continued research has focused extensively on resilience, well-being, and healthy work environments, exploring how professional demands, workplace culture, and personal health behaviors affect nurse leaders’ well-being.

Dr. Nolan has also contributed to the advancement of healthy work environments, ensuring that nurses and nurse leaders are supported not only as caregivers, but as individuals whose health and well-being are essential to high-quality patient care and a sustainable nursing workforce. Her appointment to the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation advisory board reflects her unwavering commitment to ensuring that nurses and nurse leaders own health and well-being remain an essential conversation to the future of healthcare.

Cynthia Peterson, PhD, RN, NE-BC, CCRN-K is a Nurse Scientist at Baystate Medical Center, and an Assistant Nurse Manager and Nurse Scientist at The University of Vermont Medical Center. She completed her PhD in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her professional areas of focus are nursing leadership, well-being and resilience programming, evidence-based practice program development, and global health service-learning to enhance cultural humility among nurses. She recently completed the Nurse Coach program through the Integrative Nurse Coach Academy.

Dr. Neal Reeves is an accomplished nursing leader, educator, and clinician whose career reflects a deep commitment to advancing healthcare practice, policy, and education.

He earned his Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in May 2018 and currently serves as an Associate Professor and Assistant Director of Graduate Programs in the College of Nursing. In this role, he coordinates the Nursing Administration master’s program and teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels, offering courses in Healthcare Informatics, Healthcare Economics, Healthcare Law and Policy, Personnel and Organizational Leadership, Evidence-based Practice, and Acute Care.

Dr. Reeves began his nursing career in the ICU and Emergency Department, specializing in surgical trauma and cardiovascular surgery. His clinical expertise expanded further during his service in the Army Reserves at Landstuhl, Germany, where he cared for trauma patients and deepened his understanding of global healthcare systems. These experiences shaped his belief in the transformative power of education and the importance of meeting students where they are to foster both personal and professional growth.

His transition into Nursing Informatics opened doors to industry and international work, exposing him to diverse healthcare environments and reinforcing his passion for teaching. Over the years, he has mentored BSN Honors students, chaired master’s theses, and guided emerging nurse leaders through rigorous academic and professional development.

Beyond academia, Dr. Reeves is an active advocate for the nursing profession. He serves as the Health Policy Chair and Membership Assembly Representative for the Arkansas Nurses Association, contributing to statewide initiatives focused on workplace violence prevention, safe staffing, and equitable pay for nurses. His professional experience spans hospital and industry roles, and he has published and presented nationally and internationally on informatics, education, and the business of healthcare.

Dr. Reeves’ career reflects a blend of clinical excellence, policy engagement, and educational leadership, grounded in a commitment to improving healthcare systems and empowering the next generation of nurses.

Evan Thoman currently serves as the Chief Well-Being Officer for Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, GA. In this role, he leads the Office of Well-Being, focusing on fostering a culture that promotes both individual resilience and organizational well-being. His work is centered on addressing systemic challenges, improving communication, and creating healthier workplace environments.

Throughout his career, Evan has developed and led well-being programs for leading organizations in the federal government, healthcare, and non-profit sectors. His work has earned him numerous awards and distinctions, including Excellence in Worksite Wellness, Fit-Friendly Worksite, Worksite Innovation Award, and Best and Brightest in Wellness.

Evan holds a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science and a Master of Science in Organizational Training and Development from Marshall University. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) through the Project Management Institute (PMI) and a Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP) through the National Wellness Institute (NWI). Additionally, Evan is pursuing his Ph.D. in Healthcare Leadership, furthering his commitment to advancing organizational well-being through evidence-based research and strategic leadership.  Evan currently serves as co-chair for the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation Advisory Committee.