2022 Fall Summit

Marcus Henderson, MSN, RN, PhD Student
John Hopkins School of Nursing

Marcus D. Henderson, MSN, RN is currently a PhD student at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and Doctoral Fellow in the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program at the American Nurses Association. His research interests focus on adolescent mental health, suicide prevention, family health, and the social determinants of mental health. Mr. Henderson’s goal is to develop a program of research aimed toward improving mental health care and optimizing outcomes for marginalized youth and their families.

Mr. Henderson has professional experience working in community-based, acute psychiatric, and educational settings. Most recently, Mr. Henderson was a Lecturer in the Department of Family and Community Health at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, where he taught community health and psychiatric nursing in the undergraduate and accelerated BSN programs. He was also a charge nurse for child and adolescent services at Fairmount Behavioral Health System in Philadelphia, PA. Prior, Mr. Henderson served as the Co-Founder and the Executive Director of Up and Running Healthcare Solutions, a Philadelphia-based organization that provided case management with community health workers and other supportive services for men experiencing homelessness. His work on health for homeless individuals and community health workers was funded by the 2017 President’s Engagement Prize from the University of Pennsylvania.

For his work in the Philadelphia community, Mr. Henderson was recognized as a Community Champion for Positive Change by the Independence Blue Cross Foundation in 2018. Mr. Henderson served as a member of the consensus study committee at the National Academy of Medicine that authored The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. He is currently a member of the American Nurses Association Board of Directors, National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing, and the HOSA-Future Health Professionals Inc. Board of Directors. Mr. Henderson received a BSN and MSN in Health Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, and he also holds a certificate in Health Care Innovation from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

Todd Tartavoulle, DNS, APRN, CNS-BC
Associate Professor | Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing

Dr. Tartavoulle, Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing, has fifteen years of experience working in an academic health sciences center. He began at LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing in August 2007 and has taught courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level including critical care nursing, health assessment, perspectives in nursing, nursing research, proposal development, and evidence-based practice.

Dr. Tartavoulle is the primary investigator on several research studies including the effect of Advocacy Training on healthcare provider and nursing student attitudes on LGBTQ+ patients. Other research interest include, leadership, self-awareness, and communication among baccalaureate nursing students and predictors of quality of life, fatigue, and sexual dysfunction in the pulmonary hypertension population. He has presented his research findings at both local and national conferences.

Currently he is the secretary for Crescent Care Board, Federally Qualified Health Center, Board of Trustees. Dr. Tartavoulle is also the editor of the Southern Nursing Research Society’s Southern Connections Newsletter.

He has received several awards including being recognized as a Health Care Hero for New Orleans City Business, the recipient of the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association Award by the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, Nursing School Administrator of the Year by Louisiana State Nurses Association, and the Pace Setter award by the Southern Regional Education Board. Dr. Tartavoulle is also recognized by the National League for Nursing as having published the best article among all primary research articles published in 2021.

Dr. Tartavoulle received his BSN, MN, and DNS from Louisiana State University Health Science Center School of Nursing. He is also an Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Phyllis Whitehead, PhD, APRN/CNS, ACHPN, PMGT-BC, FNAP, FAAN
Carilion Clinic

Dr. Phyllis Whitehead is a clinical ethicist and clinical nurse specialist with the Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital (CRMH) Palliative Care Service and Associate Professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. She initiated the Palliative Medicine and Moral Distress Consult Services at CRMH. She is certified in pain management and as an advanced practice hospice and palliative care nurse.

Dr. Whitehead has done numerous presentations on pain and symptom management, opioid induced sedation, moral distress, and patients’ end of life preferences locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Her research interests include moral distress and improving communication with seriously ill patients and has been funded for numerous grants for her research.

She was a Board of Director member of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists and is now President of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists and President of the Virginia Foundation of Nurses. She was a member of the ANA Moral Resilience Advisory Committee. She is a founding member and Board of Director member of the Virginia Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. She was selected for Governor Ralph Northam’s Policy Council on Opioid and Substance Abuse this year.

In 2020 she was elected as a Distinguished Practitioner Fellow in the National Academy of Practice in Nursing. In 2021 she was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing as a Fellow. She is a graduate of Radford University where she earned her BSN and MSN and earned her doctorate degree at Virginia Tech.

Amy Bedsaul, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Amy serves as the Communications Lead for Open Payments in the Data Analytics Systems Group (DASG) in CMS’ Center for Program Integrity (CPI). She oversees the development of resources related to the program as well as stakeholder engagement. Through her role the team has developed working relationships with various groups in the healthcare community and expanded outreach of the Open Payments Program. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her dog, kayaking, and traveling with her husband.

Rachel Stevenson, Director of Government Affairs, American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)

Rachel Stevenson joined the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in June 2018 as the Director of Government Affairs. Rachel leads the Association’s daily advocacy efforts and works closely with Members of Congress, their staff, coalitions, and AACN membership to advance health and health care through a nursing lens. Rachel compliments these efforts as the Executive Director of the Nursing Community Coalition, which is convened by AACN. The Nursing Community Coalition is a 63 -member organization and represents a cross section of nursing education, practice, research, and regulation.

Prior to her arrival at AACN, Rachel spent eight years as a Legislative Director and Senior Legislative Assistant at Polsinelli and Wheat Government Relations, respectively. In those roles, she provided critical advice and advocacy on behalf of a wide-array of health care clients. Rachel also spent more than three years working on Capitol Hill and worked as a field organizer in Iowa.

Rachel holds a Bachelors of Arts from American University in Political Science and Interdisciplinary Studies in Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics and Government, as well as a Masters of Arts from John Hopkins University in Global Security Studies.

Rachel also teaches a course on the foundations of health systems and policy as an assistant adjunct professor at Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies.

Rick Bassett, MSN, RN, APRN, ACNS-BC, CCRN, FCNS
St. Luke’s Health System

Rick Bassett is an Adult Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist for St. Luke’s Health System (SLHS). He obtained his MSN from Idaho State University in 2009 and is certified as a Critical Care Nurse (CCRN) through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), board certified as an Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist through the American Nurses Credentialing Center, licensed as an Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Idaho and was recently inducted into the NACNS CNSI Fellowship.

Rick has led cohorts of Critical Care teams across the nation in practice and quality improvement programs with respect to ICU Delirium Recognition and Management, ICU Palliative Care/End of Life and Early ICU Mobility. He trained in clinical ethics at the University of Washington, is a Clinical Ethics Consultant for SLHS and member of the SLHS Ethics Committee for 30 years.

Rick currently serves as the NACNS Board Liaison for the NACNS Legislative and Regulatory Committee and the Finance Committee. He is Chair of the SLHS Institutional Review Board, an NACNS Northwest Affiliate Board member, an Idaho Health Continuum of Care Alliance (IHCCA) Board member, Chair the IHCCA Legislative and Policy Committee, Idaho representative on the National POLST Plenary Council and Chair the National POLST Technology Committee working with industry, State and National leaders to improve POLST processes. Mr. Bassett lectures nationally and has published on topics related to ethics, palliative care and critical care.

Sarah Taylor, DNP, MHR, AGCNS-BC, CEN
Bon Secours Mercy Health Mary Immaculate Hospital

Serving on the NACNS Fall Summit State Legislative Panel is my opportunity to help state affiliates realize their potential to align with the APRN consensus model by passing legislation allowing CNSs to work to their fullest potential and evaluate the impact of the APRN Compact within their own state.

Additionally, I can contribute to the learning of states without an affiliate in seeking to build one. NACNS is positioned to impact the goals and future of the state affiliates. I will contribute time, experience, and expertise to the panel to further the growth of the NACNS. This position allows me to remain active in advocacy for CNSs on a broad scale and to participate in organizational events and meetings with key stakeholders that I may not otherwise meet or collaborate with from outside this position.

I am endeavored to remain an active member of the NACNS, through legislative/regulatory work and there is much to learn about sustaining the work of the NACNS

Patricia K Tuite, PhD, RN, CCNS
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing

Patricia Tuite is a Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Coordinator of the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist Area of Concentration. Dr. Tuite is also the Director of the DNP Program.

Dr. Tuite teaches graduate nursing students in the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist program. She has been a clinical nurse specialist for 29 years. Dr. Tuite has experience teaching in academia as well as working as a critical care CNS. She still maintains a faculty practice in the UPMC health system at Presbyterian University Hospital. Dr. Tuite has a been a member of National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists for over 20 years and has served on the Marketing and Membership committees, and currently a member of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist Graduate Education Committee since 1999.

Dr. Tuite’s expertise is in critical care, primarily cardio-pulmonary, and quality and process improvement. She has mentored over 35 Doctor of Nursing Practice Students.

Jackeline Iseler, DNP, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, CNE
Michigan State University

Jackeline Iseler is an Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University College of Nursing, and Program Director of the Clinical Nurse Specialist Concentration in East Lansing, Michigan.

Dr. Iseler teaches graduate nursing students and the nursing students in the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist program. She was the first certified clinical nurse specialist at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the cardiovascular and in the adult transplant program. She has served as president of the Great Lakes Chapter of the International Transplant Nurses’ Society. And is currently serving as president of the Michigan Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists and a member of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist Graduate Education Committee since 2020. She serves on the Michigan Board of Nursing as the clinical nurse specialist representative. And is a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) through the National League for Nursing in 2019.

Dr. Iseler’s expertise is in the heart and lung transplant, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patient population, transitions of care, and quality and process improvement.

Danny Lee, PhD, APRN-BC, CNE
Southeastern Louisiana University

O. Danny Lee has over 25 years of nursing experience in a variety of settings and a range of positions from staff to mid-level leadership positions. Has worked in Nursing Academia for 20 years. Associate Professor at Southeastern Louisiana University since 2011.

An APRN / CNS and serves as a volunteer for multiple committees with NACNS. Has served in leadership positions for the Rho Zeta Chapter for the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing for the past 7 years. Has served in a number of positions on the Board of Directors for the American Association for Men in Nursing. Served 7 years on the Foundation Board for the American Association for Men in Nursing. Volunteer for the Men’s Health Caucus of the American Public Health Association. Teaches policy at the undergraduate, masters and DNP levels. Have served on a number of DNP and PhD Committees many focusing on policy analysis and advocacy. Assisted in the development of a data-driven model to facilitate policy analysis, which can be used for healthcare policy analysis.

Michelle Buck, MS, APRN, CNS
National Council of State Boards of Nursing

Michelle Buck is Senior Policy Advisor at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Michelle received a BSN from the University of Illinois at Chicago and earned a Master of Science in nursing degree from Rush University. She has been a registered nurse for over 30 years and practiced as a clinical nurse specialist in orthopedics for most of her career; she also was an instructor at Northern Illinois University School of Nursing. She served as the clinical nurse specialist representative on the inaugural Illinois Advanced Practice Nursing Board. She has published and presented on a variety of topics related to clinical practice, policy and nursing regulation.

Elizabeth Duxbury, DNP, RN, CNS, CCRN, ACNS-BC
Rochester General Hospital

Elizabeth Duxbury is the lead Clinical Nurse Specialist at Rochester General Hospital. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Keuka College then a Master of Science in Nursing from St. John Fisher College. She is a board certified Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist and Critical Care Nurse. She is a recent graduate with her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from The Pennsylvania State University. She continues to be a legislative and regulatory advocate expanding on her DNP work, which centered on optimizing the practice act towards full scope of CNS practice support.

As a clinical nurse specialist, Elizabeth has a lifelong goal to collaboratively improve patient care, professional nursing practice and the health care system. She provides expert and collaborative consultation, education, leadership and mentoring directed towards improving quality clinical care at the bedside as well as the profession of nursing. She has published and presented on numerous nursing related topics advocating to advance nursing practice. She thinks beyond the bedside, while never forgetting that patients are the highest priority. Elizabeth creatively inspires innovation for the implementation of clinical best practices, integration of political realities, utilization of practical strategies, identification of realistic timelines and achievable outcomes. She has influenced positive changes in nursing peer review, organizational policies, patient experience, and expanded participation in collaborative research. She works towards decreasing hospital acquired infections and complications with a focus on advocacy, patient education and evidence based practice.

Stephanie Schuldt, MN, APRN, ACNS-BC, NPD-BC, CCRN-K, CCNS

Stephanie Schuldt is a clinical nurse specialist that graduated with a Bachelor
of Science in Nursing from Michigan State University followed by a Master of
Nursing from the University of Washington with her focus on critical care and
nursing education. Stephanie is currently enrolled in the DNP program at
Aspen University. She is board certified Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist, Critical
Care Nurse Specialist and is board certified in Nursing Professional
Development. She has a passion for nursing and improving patient outcomes
in all settings.

As a clinical nurse specialist, Stephanie has the goal to improve patient
outcomes by developing efficient practices, minimize waste, all while reducing
overall cost of care. She provides expert and collaborative consultation,
education, leadership, and mentoring directed towards improving quality
clinical care at the bedside as well as the profession of nursing. She has
published and presented on numerous nursing related topics. Stephanie is
passionate regarding the future of advance practice nursing and in particular
the clinical nurse specialist role. She advocates to elevate the nursing practice
so that future clinical nurse specialists can practice to the full extent of their
license and education.

Susan Dresser, PhD, APRN-CNS, FCNS
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Susan Dresser became a certified Adult Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) after graduating from Duke University in 1989. At the bedside as an RN and as an APRN-CNS her clinical career has been dedicated to the care of acute and critically ill patients with cardiovascular disorders.

In 2000 Susan became one of the first CNSs in the state of Oklahoma to obtain prescriptive authority, hospital credentialing as an APRN, a Medicare health care provider unique identification number (now known as the National Provider Identifier Number or NPI), and began directly billing for APRN services provided. She has been actively involved in legislative efforts to advance the practice of APRNs at the state level since 1989, working collaboratively to achieve CNS title protection (1990) and to achieve full practice authority.

She is a past President and Secretary of the Oklahoma Affiliate of NACNS, a past Board member and Secretary for NACNS (2005-2010), and 2 term member and past Chair of the NACNS Legislative-Regulatory Committee. She is also a co-editor of the Clinical Nurse Specialist Toolkit: A Guide for the New CNS. Susan’s career transitioned to an academic role in 2014 when she accepted a faculty position in the Adult-Gerontology CNS (AGCNS) program at the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

In 2017 she was promoted to Director of the AGCNS program and under her leadership the program has demonstrated success in relevance (program goals accomplished annually), efficiency (managed within budget limitations), effectiveness (achieved all program objectives and 100% certification pass rates), impact (100% of graduates have filled open CNS positions within 6 months of graduation, and sustainability (the program continues to attract qualified applicants).

Dr. Dresser completed a PhD in nursing research in 2019 from the University of Kansas. Her dissertation explored factors that influence registered nurses’ ability to notice, interpret, and respond to acutely deteriorating hospitalized patients using a clinical judgment conceptual model.

Cherrie Pullium, DNP APRN ACNS-BC, FCNS
Texas A&M School of Nursing

Dr. Cherrie Pullium is a Clinical Associate Professor at Texas A & M University School of Nursing teaching evidence-based clinical management of the aging adult across programs.

She graduated from Texas Christian University in 2006 with a Master of Science in Nursing and is board certified as an Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist. She earned a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from The University of Alabama in 2018 and was awarded the Marietta P. Stanton Outstanding DNP Student Award.

Dr. Pullium is a Fellow of the CNS Institute and a tireless advocate for the CNS role. She currently serves NACNS on the board of directors and is also an active participant in numerous task forces and committees. Her CNS experience and continued practice are focused on the holistic clinical management of diverse adults with chronic illness in primary and long-term care settings.

Dr. Pullium is also associated with health equity initiatives at the local, state, and national level and currently serves on the board of Health For All Free Clinic in Bryan TX.

Jennifer Manning, DNS, ACNS-BC, CNE
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing

I earned a B.S.N. (2000), an M.S.N. (2007) as an Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist, and a D.N.S. (2014) from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing in New Orleans, LA.

I began my nursing career as a critical care nurse and transitioned to academia as a critical care faculty in 2008. Furthermore, I accepted the position of Associate Dean for Undergraduate Nursing Programs at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing in 2015. I teach undergraduate and graduate students.

I serve as the clinical researcher at a local Magnet hospital. In 2018, I was appointed to the Louisiana State Board of Nursing and in 2021, was elected to the board of directors for the National Association for Clinical Nurse Specialists. I was born and raised in Louisiana and married my high school sweetheart. We are blessed with three beautiful children.

Mitzi Saunders, PhD, APRN, CNS-C
University of Detroit Mercy

Mitzi M. Saunders, PhD, APRN, CNS-C is NACNS President-Elect and a Board Member for the past three years.

She was a former clinician specializing in internal medicine with prescriptive privileges at a level 1 trauma center in Detroit and is currently the program director for an AG-CNS program in Detroit, Michigan (University of Detroit Mercy).

Her scholarship interests center around elevating the CNS role to full practice authority and family caregiver science. Her most recent study was an NIH funded grant to identify the lived experience and health outcomes among widows who were caregivers for husbands with dementia. Her most recent publication was titled “Informing and Supporting the New CNS Prescriber.”

She is currently working on a variety of tasks for NACNS and a manuscript on a small study she conducted to test a new CNS Prescriber Competency tool she developed for CNS student prescriber competency.