Speaker Series

Health policy is a powerful tool for change, but it’s only effective if it’s accessible to everyone. In this presentation, Giselle Gerardi and Jessica Packer explore the unique collaboration between a nurse policy expert and an instructional designer to build a curriculum that meets rigorous WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards.

Giselle Gerardi, PhD, RN Dr. Giselle Gerardi is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Stony Brook University School of Nursing. With a clinical focus on perinatal health, her research advances health promotion, disease prevention, and perinatal health equity among Latine populations in the United States. Her work also emphasizes health policy education and nurse engagement in policy processes to address structural determinants of health. She received the 2025 Nassau-Suffolk Excellence in Nursing Award for Education and was a Stony Brook Presidential Award finalist for “Nurturing a Welcoming, Inclusive Campus Culture.” She serves as Vice President of American Nurses Association-New York and as a New York State Membership Assembly Representative, contributing to statewide nursing policy and advocacy initiatives.

Jessica Packer, MS is an Instructional Designer for the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching at Stony Brook University. Her primary role is to support faculty in developing effective, engaging, and accessible learning experiences, with meaningful incorporation of technology, ensuring inclusivity and active learning in course design. In her former role as an English teacher, she also influenced departmental direction through innovative and evidence-based pedagogical practices to increase engagement, develop practical policies, and create strong, student-centered curriculum promoting critical and creative thinking leading to the development of agency.

https://www.stonybrook.edu/celt/

https://pauljadam.com/bookmarklets.html

https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/

https://asuo-ai-labs.streamlit.app/Image_Accessibility

At this month’s Café, Anne Greenwald, MS, RN and Inge H Taylor, MSNM, RN guide exploration of Re-evaluation Counseling: a peer-based process that helps people recognize how past distress can shape present reactions and learn ways to release those patterns so clearer thinking, connection, and purposeful action can emerge. It is a tool used to help one heal from past hurts - if we can heal ourselves, we can heal the society of the many hurts of oppression (ie. the climate emergency, racism, classism, anti-Jewish sentiment, oppression against LGBTQ, and all the 'isms'. They have been using this practice for 25 years and have been sharing some of the concepts with nursing students for some time. In alignment with the mission of Sustaining All Life / United to End Racism to address injustice through awareness, relationship-building, and action, rooted in mutual listening and role-sharing, RC emphasizes psychologically safe spaces where individuals are heard without judgment and can reflect, re-evaluate, and move forward with intention. Participants may recognize parallels between RC and the World Café Method that anchors the NPEC. The models both provide structured listening, shared reflection, and the belief that collective wisdom emerges when people feel safe enough to speak honestly and be fully present.

Anne has worked as a nurse for 40 years in many different roles and settings from hospital, community health, teaching and school nursing. She has been using the tools of Re-evaluation Counseling to teach nurses listening and counseling skills for the benefit of improving their lives, taking leadership, and and healing from our emotional hurts for many years.

Inge is a Nurse Midwife who works at a community clinic for 25 years, doing women’s health and prenatal care. She also teaches BSN students maternity and OB care at San Diego State University.

Out of respect for the confidentiality practice embedded in ReEvaluation Counseling, we followed the request of Anne and Inge and did not record this session. If you are curious about their affiliate, you can watch this Introduction video from Sustaining All Life / United to End Racism. If you would like to connect with the speakers, please reach out to nursepolicycafe@gmail.com and we will facilitate that for you.

Kenna Lee will discuss her personal journey from clinical nurse to public health program and policy specialist, using a ladder of engagement framework to provide examples of her involvement in climate change at different levels of nursing practice.

Kenna is the Climate Change Program and Policy Specialist for California Department of Public Health Office of Health Equity, which addresses cross-cutting issues related to climate change and health, and provides a forum for communication, coordination, and education across agencies and with stakeholders, particularly local health departments.

She is also the author of A Million Tiny Things: A Mother's Urgent Search for Hope in a Changing Climate 

In their presentation, Arsham and Javeria will explore how systems thinking helps us see the bigger picture, and understand not just individual problems, but how their hidden (and often overlooked) connections shape outcomes. We will discuss how using systems thinking, we can craft policies that are more coherent, effective, and sustainable. 

Practice with us!

Distinctions = identity <> other (what is and what is not)

Systems = part <> whole (zoom in / zoom out)

Relationships = action <> reaction (distinguish relationships)

Perspectives = view <> point (what we see depends on where we  are looking from)

Arsham Maqbool Bari is a Fulbright Scholar and public policy professional with experience in international development, gender rights, and program evaluation. A graduate of Cornell University’s MPA program, she is passionate about community-centered approaches and has worked closely with vulnerable groups, including gender and religious minorities. With over four years of experience linking policy, law, and advocacy across global contexts, Arsham applies systems thinking to reimagine how policy is designed and implemented. Through data analysis, systems modeling, and stakeholder engagement, she works to create equitable and sustainable policy solutions.

Javeria Kamran is a Fulbright Scholar and recent Master of Public Administration graduate from Cornell University, where she specialized in Environmental Policy and City & Regional Planning and earned a certificate in Systems Thinking, Modeling, and Leadership. She is interested in how systems thinking can help uncover why policies succeed or fail and how more coherent and inclusive systems can be built. Her work spans research, programme design, and evaluation focused on climate resilience, gender equity, and social impact across South Asia and East Africa.

Nurses are uniquely positioned for board service, yet remain vastly underrepresented in these influential spaces. Serving on boards, councils, and commissions is one of the most powerful ways nurses can apply policy entrepreneurship: using insight, evidence, and influence to drive change. NPEs possess the same competencies that make effective board members—strategic thinking, systems awareness, ethical grounding, and the ability to connect policy to practice. The nursing process itself parallels governance responsibilities: assessment aligns with environmental scanning; diagnosis with issue prioritization; planning with strategic goal-setting; implementation with policy enactment; and evaluation with governance oversight. These transferable skills equip nurses to navigate complex systems, balance competing interests, and advocate for equity-driven solutions. However, preparedness for board service requires deliberate cultivation of leadership and policy literacy. Nurses must understand governance structures, financing, and organizational dynamics to influence policy from within. Organizations like the Nurses on Boards Coalition offer tools to build this capacity by preparing nurses to lead at institutional, national, and global levels. As policy entrepreneurs, nurses can bring forward the lived realities of patients and communities, translating frontline wisdom into governance action. Board service is an act of strategic advocacy, ensuring that nursing’s values shape policies that determine the health of people and the planet.

Kimberly J Harper, MS, RN, FAAN is one of the nurse leaders who created the Nurses on Boards Coalition in 2014 and remains highly involved in the dissemination of that work through public speaking, both nationally and internationally, authoring articles, book chapters, and more. She is prepared to guide us through the concepts of the extension of nurse leadership through board service and appointments and provide a multitude of resources available for preparing nurses to serve our communities in these very important roles.

Nurses are lifelong learners, but too often our professional development happens reactively rather than strategically. Just as we use the nursing process to guide patient care, we can also use it to design a personal and professional development plan—one that identifies where we are now, where we want to go, and the skills and experiences we need to get there.

In today’s rapidly evolving health and policy landscape, being intentional about our growth is essential if we want to step confidently into roles as thought leaders and full partners in healthcare reform. This session will explore how nurses can leverage novel approaches to adult learning, including emerging AI tools like Google’s Notebook LM, to organize knowledge, track progress, and accelerate skill-building.

The NPE Community's own Michael J Poláček, DNP, RN-RET will walk us through just how simple it can be to get started! Together, we’ll reimagine what it means to chart your own development plan—blending nursing frameworks with cutting-edge technology—to help you grow as a Nurse Policy Entrepreneur and leader in shaping the future of health.

Power, Policy, and Presence

Nurses bring unique and essential perspectives to board service, making them powerful contributors to governance and decision-making across health systems, community organizations, and beyond. As the largest segment of the healthcare workforce, nurses have firsthand knowledge of patient care, population health, workforce challenges, and the social determinants of health. This front-line experience positions nurses to advocate for equitable, people-centered policies that align with the mission and values of many organizations. Despite their qualifications, nurses remain underrepresented on boards. Increasing nurse participation in boardrooms helps shift this imbalance and brings a critical systems-thinking lens to strategic decisions. Board service also provides professional development opportunities for nurses, enhancing their leadership capacity, visibility, and ability to influence change at a broader level. From hospital boards to school boards, nonprofit organizations, public health agencies, and corporate settings, nurses can offer insight into workforce development, patient safety, health equity, and care innovation. Ultimately, when nurses serve on boards, they not only elevate their profession but also advance health outcomes and community well-being. Their inclusion in these spaces is not just beneficial — it's essential for designing systems that truly work for the people they serve.

Dr. Satyanarayana Chandragiri is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist, an immigrant, and a proud Naturalized US citizen since 2010. He has had over 35-years career at both the private and public sector, International, state and community levels. His perspective on issues like mental health, veteran care, teen suicide, and education were molded by “on-the-ground” experience and deep knowledge. In serving as an elected Salem Keizer School Board Director and past Board Chair between 2020-2021, he has been an activist, a public servant, and a voice for all our children, families, communities, veterans, and patients. In addition, he serves in various Community boards including Peace Plaza Board and Marion County Mental Health Advisory committee.

There may be more to mentoring, both being a mentor and a mentee, than you may think. There are various kinds of mentors, and responsibilities for both mentors and mentees. This session will cover some of the current common approaches or best practices in mentoring (do you have a step-ahead mentor? do you have a mentor outside your workplace?), as well as one's leadership development network and it's importance for how you find and work with mentors. In addition, Liz will talk about the role of a sponsor which is not widely known in the nursing profession.  

Elizabeth A. Madigan, PhD, RN, is a global nursing consultant. From 2017-2023, she was the Chief Executive Officer of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Prior to her position at Sigma, she was a Professor of Nursing and Head of the WHO/PAHO Collaborating Center at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Ohio. She was actively involved in both the WHO Global Network for Nursing and Midwifery and the Pan American Nursing and Midwifery Collaborating Centers. During this time. Madigan provided consultation and leadership development on home care nursing globally, including funded projects on Healthy Aging in the Caribbean. In 2021, she was recognized as one of the top 100 women in global health and is Fellow, American Academy of Nursing; Fellow of the Academy of Associate Degree Nursing; Fellow Ad Eundem, Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland; and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing, UK. She is a certified Global Nursing Consultant through ICN/CGFNS. She is also a credentialed executive coach. Her clinical and administrative background is in home health care. She has research expertise in outcomes-based measurement of home health care services. Using a health services research approach, she focused on the relationships between agency structure and processes of care and patient outcomes. She has been funded by the US government and private foundations for her research and serves as a consultant on a number of research projects in home health care. She worked as a home health care nurse and agency administrator earlier in her career and currently provides clinical care at a local free clinic.

NPEC Meet-Up @ ICN Congress in Helsinki, Finland!

Several NPEC members attended the ICN Congress this month - listen to their experiences on-the-ground in Helsinki, Finland reflecting on session insights, in-person meetups, and tips to get the most out of conferences. At this month's Café, we kept the dialogue going and explored how nurses can influence social structures and global policy aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and WHO’s strategic priorities for nursing - and how we must use systems thinking to be best prepared. Historically, nursing has been undervalued in policy arenas. Despite our unmatched proximity to witnessing the human condition we remain underrepresented in decision-making spaces. This professional invisibility reinforces the myth that we are not “policy people.” Yet, our silence comes at a cost. Drawing from Cabrera’s Systems Thinking, nurses must see beyond the bedside and recognize the interconnected structures influencing our patients' lives. To understand how best to be prepared to do so, we must change the way we think about the ideal versus real truths about policy making. As NPEC continues to explore the role of the Nurse Policy Entrepreneur, this presented rich ground for reflection on how NPEC participants can activate their leadership and advocacy across boundaries, sustaining momentum as a community shaping a more equitable world while balancing complex realities and continuous adaptation.

Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory reminds us that belief in our capacity to effect change is essential for action. Nurses are already change agents — every shift, we make critical decisions that impact lives. Legislative advocacy is simply an extension of that power. Housing policy is health policy. Immigration reform is health reform. To change outcomes, we must engage upstream — at the legislative level. With the right support, practice, and mentorship, we can — and must — believe in our capacity to lead policy change. You don’t have to do everything. But you can do something. Because if we wait until we feel powerful to act, we never will. It is through action that power is built. At this Café, Rhiannon discussed the value of working with nurses as legislative advocates!

Rhiannon Morales (nee Ripley) is a dedicated legislative aide with over five years of experience in the California State Legislature. While earning her bachelor’s in economics, she was an active student leader advocating for affordable housing, food security, and the student voice with the campus administration. After graduation, Rhiannon served with AmeriCorps, City Year Sacramento, mentoring seventh graders and supporting educators. She joined the State Senate in 2019, where she worked in Senator Anthony J. Portantino's office, tackling diverse issues, from microplastics in water to enhancing worker benefits such as unemployment insurance for striking workers. Now pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration at CSU Sacramento, Rhiannon aims to help make the California Dream a reality for marginalized communities. She is eager and passionate to be involved in the fight to protect and strengthen the working class as a legislative aide with UFCW Western States Council.

In order to maintain a safe and brave space for group mentorship, where there are no wrong questions as we learn from each other, we will not be sharing this month's Café recording. If you were an attendee of this session, a private link has been shared with you, but please maintain the respect of the space and do not circulate it. Thank you for understanding.

Lincoln Gombedza, RNLD, is a Learning Disability Nurse at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, and a member of the Florence Nightingale Foundation Innovation and Entrepreneurship SMEs. He is an award-winning nurse, recognised for his pioneering work in healthcare innovation, AI integration, and digital technology adoption. As a Keele University graduate and a Rising Leader, he also served on the BMJ Future Health Committee and as Regional Hub Lead for the UK with the Nursing Now Challenge. His contributions have been widely recognized, including being named one of the 75 Faces of Keele, featured in the FNF's 90th-anniversary celebrations, and attending King Charles III's Coronation. Lincoln played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing telehealth solutions benefitting over 10,000 patients. His AI expertise focuses on patient care management and predictive analytics, collaborating with leading organizations such as NHS Digital Decision-Making Council and CHIME International. Lincoln is a sought-after speaker at events like Digital Health Rewired and is deeply committed to empowering nurses as citizen developers, democratizing technology, and fostering multidisciplinary innovation to transform global healthcare.

Nurses are natural problem-solvers, advocates, and leaders, but how do we take those strengths and channel them into meaningful policy change? This month at the Café, we explored this concept together—what it means to identify as a Nurse Policy Entrepreneur (NPE) and how we can use our voices to drive healthcare reform. Whether you're already engaged in policy or just beginning to think about your role in shaping change, this conversation is for you. 

In order to maintain a safe and brave space for group mentorship, where there are no wrong questions as we learn from each other, we will not be sharing this month's Café recording, as there was not a presenter who had previously given consent to share in posts. If you were an attendee of this session, a private link has been shared with you, but please maintain the respect of the space and do not circulate it. Thank you for understanding.

In an increasingly complex landscape, nurses are uniquely positioned to lead with diplomacy, fostering collaboration, advocacy, and meaningful change. As trusted professionals with firsthand knowledge of patient care and systemic challenges, nurses serve as essential bridges between policymakers, administrators, and patients. 

Diplomatic leadership in nursing requires strong communication skills, cultural competence, and the ability to navigate diverse perspectives to drive policy and practice improvements. Whether engaging in legislative discussions, negotiating healthcare reforms, or advocating for patient-centered policies, nurses who lead with diplomacy can influence decision-making while maintaining professional integrity and fostering mutual respect.

This month’s discussion will explore how nurses can cultivate diplomatic leadership, engage in constructive dialogue, and build alliances to advance healthcare initiatives. By embracing diplomacy, nurses can not only enhance patient outcomes but also shape the future of the profession and the broader healthcare system through thoughtful, strategic engagement.

In order to maintain a safe and brave space for group mentorship, where there are no wrong questions as we learn from each other, we will not be sharing this month's Café recording, as there was not a presenter who had previously given consent to share in posts. If you were an attendee of this session, a private link has been shared with you, but please maintain the respect of the space and do not circulate it. Thank you for understanding.

Alice Benjamin, MSN, ACNS-BC, FNP-C, widely known as Nurse Alice, is a seasoned healthcare professional and media trailblazer with over 25 years of experience in cardiovascular care, critical care, and emergency medicine. As a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist, she has transitioned from bedside to broadcast, leveraging her expertise to inform the public, shape health policy, and redefine the perception of nursing.

Alice is the founder of AskNurseAlice.com, a trusted health and wellness platform, and MediaRX, a multi-media firm empowering healthcare professionals to amplify their voices. As a NBC medical correspondent and host of the Ask Nurse Alice Podcast, she simplifies complex health topics for diverse audiences while advocating for patient empowerment and health equity.

Alice is also the author of the debut book, Nurses in Media: From Bedside to Broadcast (coming March 2025), which explores how nurses can harness media to educate, advocate, and influence change. Many of the lessons she shares in her presentation are embedded in this insightful guide.

Alice will share how she uses media as a powerful tool to educate, influence policy, and elevate the nursing profession. Her insights demonstrate how nurses can lead transformative change, combining clinical expertise with media and advocacy to make a lasting impact on healthcare.

Dr Jasmine Bonder, DNP, MSN, ACNP-BC, RN is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Head of Clinical Care at Aidaly, focused on training  and paying family caregivers to deliver high-quality home care.  With her clinical expertise, she works to improve patient outcomes by optimizing clinical operations, medical reimbursement, and care delivery models. Jasmine is an angel investor and mentor for healthcare startups, offering valuable insights into the future of healthcare innovation. Through her work, she is shaping the next generation of healthcare solutions while ensuring  best possible care.

Did you know that this year there will be 64+ elections around the world? Half of the world have gone (or will go) to the ballot boxes this year. Nurses interested in influencing health-in-all-policy MUST understand these election implications, and collaborate to inform year-round change with our unique and caring lens. Watch this recent regional symposium presentation on how the Café helps nurses to drive upstream change that addresses Social Determinants of Health. 

We have an EXCITING new development: Introducing the NPE Global Cafés!

Over the course of the past several months, the NPE Café has gained awareness and interest from nurses and other healthcare professional collaborators from around the world. There are thousands of engagements from all continents, indicating broad interest for this kind of policy engagement! This is leading to new connections, and we want to facilitate that for all Café participants. Please join us in adding a post to this interactive map to share who and where you are, and your experiences and evolution as Nurse Policy Entrepreneurs. We walk through this process, providing information about our recent connections, and opening up a discussion about strategic planning for 2025.

Laura D. Rosenthal, DNP, ACNP, FAANP  is a Clinical Professor and Senior Assistant Dean of Academic Operations at the University of Colorado, College of Nursing.  Since becoming an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in 2006, Laura has been increasingly involved with advocacy and policy for the nursing profession.  She served on the board of the Colorado Nurses Association (CNA) for 10 years in the roles of Region Director, Vice President, President-Elect, and President.  She was also the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Colorado State Representative from 2018-2020. She has been active providing testimony regarding nurse practitioner prescriptive authority at the state level and enjoys meeting with legislators on both the state and federal levels regarding full scope of practice and nurse safety.  

Vanessa Forsythe RN, MSN is a retired school nurse. She serves the Leadership Council of the California Nurses for Environmental Health and Justice, as well Co-Chairs their Policy Committee. She is passionate about pesticide reform and a just transition from fossil fuels to electrification for improved air quality. She is also a member of the Sierra Club, Climate Health Now, Clean Earth 4 Kids, and Vote4Climate&Health. Her long-time, active political advocacy for healthy policies exemplifies how nurses can civically engage to improve their communities.

Laurie Benson, Executive Director of the Nurses on Boards Coalition, 501(c)(3) public charity whose mission is to improve health in communities across the nation through the service of nurses on boards, commissions and appointments.

She has also served as CEO Advisor on complex leadership issues including board governance, strategy, business growth, innovation, high performance teams, human resources and succession planning. Ms. Benson has served on seven Corporate Boards in the Technology, Finance, Insurance, Manufacturing and Services industries.

Dr Beaman Ed.D., MSN, CNE, RN PMH-BC, RNC-AWHC, CMA (AAMA) is the Chief Nurse Administrator of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Aspen University. The daughter of a U. S. diplomat, Chester Beaman, she lived in Beirut Lebanon, Cairo and Port Said, Egypt, Manila, Philippines; Damascus, Syria; Athens, Greece; Rome, Italy; Lija, Malta; and Nice, France. Learning diplomacy from her parents, Dr. Beaman has used diplomacy to advocate for improvements in patient care and community safety. She will discuss some case studies of how to use diplomatic techniques to further your causes! 

Lynn Rapsilber, DNP, ANP-BC, APRN, FAANP  Dr. Rapsilberis the founder and CEO of NP Business Consultants, LLC, specializing in reimbursement for nurse practitioners and healthcare providers. She also co-founded the National Nurse Practitioner Entrepreneur Network (NNPEN) empowering NPs with business education and support, and owns NP Wellness Care, LLC, providing essential healthcare services. Dr. Rapsilber shared her experience successfully advocating for APRNs to achieve full authority to practice in Connecticut.   

Grace Kistner, RN, PDTNc, MMHA, BSBA, BSN, CCRN, CSSLHPM presented at the Association of Public Health Nurses 2024 annual conference. The theme was "Empowering Public Health Nurses for Policy Change through Advocacy". Grace is an independent thought-leader who innovates to serve populations and uplift the nursing profession globally. In health care and promotion since 2007, she has gained expertise as a critical care nurse, served in leadership positions, and provided training and consulting in global health. Her curated lifelong learning and cross-sector certification is enhanced by a background in business and entrepreneurship, with advocacy in environmental health and justice focus. In all of her efforts, Grace applies the culmination of her experiences to underscore the value of nurses as leaders and full partners driving change for Health in All Policies. 

Michael Polacek, DNP, RN-RET, PMH-BC presented at the SONSIEL (Society of Nurse Scientists, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, and Leaders) parallel event for the 68th annual UN Committee on the Status of Women. Michael has served on the boards of directors of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Oregon Chapter, the National and State American Psychiatric Nurses Association, and the Mid-Valley Suicide Prevention Coalition’s Steering Committee. 

Dan K. Morhaim, MD brings a unique perspective: Physician, state legislator, academic, author, and consultant. This presentation will help nurses understand the ins and outs of politics and policymaking, emphasizing how to get your voice heard. Dan brings an informative and entertaining speaking style, mixing factual material and personal stories. Discussion, with Q&A, will follow, so attendees will have an opportunity to participate.

Zach Moss is a former consultant with experience working with the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. Zach has both a professional background in policy as a former staff member for Oregon’s Senator Wyden as well as a Master’s degree in public policy. He also hosts the Zach Moss Show podcast. For questions contact Zach at zachbmoss@gmail.com. 

Lobbyists David Evans and Laurie Julian from Evans & Associates, LLC, a national governmental and public affairs lobbying firm, will discuss the role of a lobbyist and give some insight into how to promote a policy within the legislative environment effectively. Since its founding in the early 90’s, Evans & Associates has become one of Connecticut’s premier government and public affairs firms. We serve national and international corporations, trade groups, nonprofit associations, and coalition clients. At the same time, the team offers public affairs services, grassroots organizing, crisis management, association consulting, and business development.

Holly Shaw, Ph.D. RN is active in the United Nations NGO community where she facilitated the affiliation between the UN and Sigma Theta Tau International, the Honor Society of Nursing. She currently represents the International Council of Nurses (ICN), a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations, representing the more than 16 million nurses worldwide, and the Nightingale Initiative for Global Health. Dr. Shaw contributes to the American Journal of Nursing and is the author of peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters. She is an invited lecturer at universities, medical centers, and community-based organizations in the US, and many global settings, including the People’s Republic of China, Uganda, Israel, Jordan, India, and Cambodia, where she is consulting on several projects with the Ministry of Health and Education. 

Leah Ward is a nurse practitioner who shares her experiences preparing and presenting testimony at a state legislator committee on health care. Testifying to government decision-making entities is a powerful nursing practice to address knowledge deficits when developing and implementing public policy. 

Dr. Satya Chandragiri has had over 35 years of distinguished career at both the private and public sectors and at the community level. His perspective on issues like mental health, veteran care, teen suicide, and education was molded by “on-the-ground” experience and deep knowledge. In serving as an elected official, he has been an activist, a public servant, and a voice for all our children, families, communities, veterans, and patients. Personal experience of being raised in a family where his mother experienced schizophrenia, and dementia and other close family members have suffered from schizophrenia and died by suicide or gone missing due to severe mental illness and lack of access to care. Dr. Chandragiri spoke about the critical role of nurses in informing policymakers at the local, regional, state, national, and international levels because of their unique perspectives as direct caregivers and decision-makers.

Denyc Boles has served as a community advocate and policy-maker in Oregon at the community and state level. She is currently working in a hospital coordinating community relations, and has worked the Boys and Girls Club, and Greater Salem Youth Life. In politics, Denyc served as a county commissioner, chief of staff for a state legislator, then in the state house and senate. She gave an overview of how state legislation works and how to best become engaged with the legislative process to effectively advocate for policies.