Tidewater AACN - Speakers

TONKA WILLIAMS

Tonka Williams, DNP, MHA, RN, CMSRN

As President-elect of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), I am a mission-driven nursing leader committed to advancing the practice, voice, and well-being of acute and critical care nurses nationwide. With more than two decades of experience across complex care settings, I have dedicated my career to championing healthy work environments, promoting health equity, and shaping systems that empower nurses to thrive. I am passionate about building cultures where belonging, bold leadership, and clinical excellence come together to transform patient outcomes and elevate our profession. Guided by purpose and fueled by the power of us, I strive to inspire, advocate, and lead with authenticity—ensuring every nurse feels seen, supported, and equipped to make a lasting impact.

KALI DAYTON

Kali Dayton, DNP, AGACNP

At Dayton ICU Consulting, my focus is on transforming intensive care units with the "Awake and Walking ICU” model to master the ABCDEF Bundle, evidenced by successful programs across 14 ICUs. Our team's dedication to patient safety and acute care has significantly enhanced patient outcomes and staff efficiency, a testament to our commitment to excellence in healthcare. Leading over 30 educational programs, we've empowered staff with the skills to improve ICU experiences for patients and caregivers alike.

Beyond our direct impact on medical centers, my role as a podcast host extends my reach in advocating for ICU advancements and patient support. We've created a platform for sharing critical knowledge and experiences through 170+ podcast episodes, further establishing our expertise in the critical care field. This dual engagement in practical application and thought leadership underscores my mission to drive continuous improvement in critical care practices.

MARY KAY BADER

Mary Kay Bader, CCRN, CNRN, SCRN, CCNS, FNCS, FAHA, FCCM

Mary Kay Bader has over 40 years of experience with an emphasis in neuroscience/ICU. She is currently employed as a neuroscience/critical care clinical nurse specialist working with teams developing clinical protocols and integrating technology into the care of the neuro, stroke, and ICU patient populations at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo CA. Ms. Bader has lectured nationally and internationally on neuro and critical care topics. She has over 70 publications, including 4 books. Mary Kay was honored in 2026 by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses with the AACN Pioneering Spirit Award– a lifetime achievement award honoring contributions to the field of critical care nursing and as a Fellow of the AHA in 2009 (FAHA), NCS in October 2013 (FNCS), and SCCM in January 2023 (FCCM). Mary Kay currently sits on the Board of Directors for the World Federation of Critical Care Nurses/Secretary of WFCCN. She is also a Past President of the Neurocritical Care Society (2019-2020) and of AANN (2013-2014). She served as a member of 2014 NCS/ESICM Multimodality Monitoring Guidelines and the 2019-2022 AHA/NCS Post Cardiac Arrest Guidelines.

STEPHEN RAMSEY

Stephen Ramsey PT, DPT, CCS

Stephen Ramsey is a board-certified cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapist with over a decade of experience in critical care rehabilitation and mechanical circulatory support. He is the lead author of the Ramsey Protocol for femoral IABP ambulation and the 2024 ELSO Guideline for Early Rehabilitation and Mobilization of Adult Patients on ECMO. He serves as adjunct faculty in Mercer University's Physician Assistant Program, teaching point-of-care ultrasound, and is the founder of The POCUS PT, a consulting and education brand focused on diagnostic ultrasound and critical care practice. He speaks regularly at conferences nationally and internationally on critical care rehabilitation, mechanical circulatory support, and point-of-care ultrasound. Across his clinical, teaching, and consulting work, his focus is the same: to make physiology more visible to healthcare providers.

MARIAN ALTMAN

Marian Altman Ph.D, RN, CNS-BC, CCRN, FAAN

Dr. Marian Altman is a Supervisor and Clinical Practice Specialist with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), where she serves as lead faculty for the Clinical Scene Investigator (CSI) Academy—a nurse innovation and leadership development program. With more than 40 years of nursing experience and over three decades in advanced practice, Dr. Altman has served in diverse critical care settings, including Transplant, Cardiac Surgery ICU, Coronary ICU, and Progressive Care. She is a respected speaker who presents nationally and locally on a wide range of topics, and her scholarly contributions include numerous peer-reviewed articles and textbook chapters. Dr. Altman has been deeply engaged with AACN, serving in multiple volunteer leadership roles, including as a member of the AACN National Board of Directors from 2006 to 2009. Her contributions have been recognized with several honors, including AACN’s Circle of Excellence Award in 2012 for her work advancing nursing specialty certification. Dr. Altman’s doctoral research, which earned the Borlick Nursing Research Award, applied a biobehavioral framework to study moral distress in critical care nurses—reflecting her ongoing commitment to improving the nursing profession and supporting the well-being of clinicians.

SARAH SOLIS

Sarah A. Solis, DNP, AGACNP-BC

Sarah is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital and serves as System Director of the OhioHealth Critical Care Recovery Clinic (CCRC), the first post-ICU recovery program within the OhioHealth system. With expertise spanning critical care, post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), ICU survivorship, and advanced practice provider leadership, Dr. Solis has led numerous system-wide quality improvement and innovation initiatives focused on improving outcomes for critically ill patients and their families.

A passionate advocate for multidisciplinary collaboration, she has developed programs that bridge inpatient and outpatient care, advancing recovery and resilience following critical illness. Dr. Solis is actively engaged in research examining the experiences of ICU survivors, contributes to national collaboratives focused on post-critical illness recovery, and mentors APPs in leadership and professional development. She is committed to advancing the role of advanced practice providers through innovation, scholarship, and transformational healthcare leadership.

TAYLER TILLAGE

Tayler Tillage, Pharm.D, BCPS, BCCCP

Dr. Tayler Tillage, is a Senior Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Critical Care at Sentara Leigh Hospital. She began her critical care career at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA, after earning her doctoral degree from Shenandoah University and completing a PGY-1 Clinical Pharmacy Residency. In January 2022, she and her family returned to the Virginia Beach area. Her professional passions include critical care practice, clinical peer education, medication safety, and system policy development. Outside of work, she can often be found at OrangeTheory Fitness, at the beach, or on the ball field with her boys.

JAMIE HOLLAND

Jamie Holland DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, AGCNS-BC

Dr. Jamie Holland, Associate Professor and Director of Regent University School of Nursing, is a DNP, Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Adult Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialist. Holland has a strong clinical practice, and maintains State-level leadership appointments that contribute to policy change, in addition to her academic background. Her nursing experience spans psychiatric mental health, pediatrics, cardiac, operative, and geriatric patient populations. She is passionate student success, mental health awareness in nursing, the profession of nursing, social determinants of health, and making a difference in our most vulnerable populations.

DANNY HOLLAND

Danny Holland Ph.D., LPC (VA), LCMHC (NC), LMHC (HI), NCC, BC-TMH, ACS

Dr. Danny Holland, Associate Professor at Regent University in the School of Psychology & Counseling, holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia as well as other states. Holland has served professions, school divisions, and other entities as a subject matter expert on interpersonal communication and dynamics. He is a published author and nationally sought-after speaker on topics related to mental health, relational dynamics, and personal and group dynamics. His passion is to bring wellness to individuals and communities that is efficient and effective.

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