MS, RN, PMGT‑BC, NPD‑BC

Alisha is an Enterprise Director of Nursing Education and Professional Development at Advocate Health, where she leads large‑scale initiatives to advance clinical education, regulatory competency, and professional growth across a multi‑state system. With a background spanning acute care clinical nurse specialist practice, adjunct faculty teaching, and progressive leadership in nursing professional development, she is known as a dynamic leader, strategic influencer, and recognized change agent. Her work focuses on evidence‑based education, innovative approaches to navigating practice change, and meaningful interdisciplinary partnership, and she remains an active mentor and contributor within professional organizations such as ANPD.

DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, AOCNP, EBP-C

Carla is the Associate Director for Evidence-Based Practice at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. She is an advanced practice nurse with extensive experience in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, critical care, and oncology. She has over two decades of progressive clinical and leadership experience and previously served as an inpatient medical director. Dr. Patel is nationally published and recognized for her work in enhanced recovery after surgery, quality improvement, and advanced practice provider leadership, with a strong commitment to evidence-based practice, mentorship, and professional advocacy at the state and national levels.

PhD, MPH, RN, HNB‑BC, NPD‑BC, SGAHN, FADLN

Grissel is Vice President of Professional Development, Research, and Magnet at Stanford Health Care, where she leads systemwide strategies for workforce development, nursing research, and the integration of Watson Caring Science. She also serves as Section Chief for Nursing Research in Primary Care and Population Health and Instructor of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. An internationally recognized leader in Caring Science, she has advanced professional practice and research capacity across the U.S., Latin America, and Europe. Her honors include the ACNL DAISY Nurse Leader Award and the Silicon Valley Business Journal Latino Leadership Award.

PhD, RN, CPN, CNE

Marni is a Nurse Scientist with over 20 years of nursing experience. She serves as the Corporate Nurse Scientist at Shriners Children’s, leading systemwide initiatives to advance nursing research and evidence-based practice. Her scholarly work focuses on secondary traumatic stress, resilience, and workforce well-being in nursing. She has published in peer-reviewed journals, contributed to textbooks, and presented nationally and internationally, with a strong commitment to strengthening nursing excellence.

MSN, APRN, APNP, ACNS-BC

MaryAnn is a board certified Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and transformational healthcare leader. She is currently serving as the Enterprise Director of Nursing Excellence & Practice for Advocate Health.   MaryAnn’s current work portfolio includes clinical practice transformation, evidence-based practice integration, and CNS workforce optimization across a six state span.  Throughout her careers she has served in a variety of leadership roles, ranging from Director of Advanced Practice, Director of EBP, Research & Innovation, and System-level Associate Chief Nursing Officer. MaryAnn is a highly accomplished advanced practice leader with a proven track record for building robust CNS workforces that span health systems, disrupt the status quo, drive evidence-based practice, and transform healthcare.  She is a trailblazer in building cultures of inquiry and has experience in developing a successful Evidence-Based Practice Program and Fellowship at a midwestern academic medical center. MaryAnn’s impact spans beyond the walls of formal health systems.  She is the current Chairperson for the Wisconsin Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Legislative & Regulatory Committee, and played a pivotal role in the 2025 passage of the APRN Modernization Act in Wisconsin.  MaryAnn holds an elected position on the Wisconsin Public Healthcare Policy Council where she is driving policy change and raising issues of concern and priority for nursing professionals at all levels. 

MSN, RN, CNS

I am a clinical nurse specialist with experience in clinical outcomes improvement, population health, and healthcare delivery innovation. I completed my BSN and adult health CNS MSN at Indiana University. I am currently working as a clinical nurse specialist at Bloomington Hospital Adult Academic Health Center with oversight of 2 inpatient units, including a medical observation unit and an acuity adaptable acute care unit with a current clinical focus of inpatient sepsis identification and management. During my career, I have collaborated on the development of alternative payment models for maternity and end stage renal disease populations. Additionally, I have led quality improvement and evidence-based practice initiatives in pediatric and critical care inpatient settings, including hospital acquired infection reduction, inpatient care management models, and community and emergency department acute stroke response.

Parker serves as the Nursing Professional Development Manager for the IU Health North Region–Critical Access Service Area, where he leads education, professional governance, competency management, and professional development initiatives, utilizing evidence-based practice to enhance care delivery in rural communities. He draws on his background in critical care nursing and leadership experience managing both Emergency Department and Medical-Surgical units to effectively engage nurses and support clinical excellence and educational growth. Parker earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ball State University in 2015 and has spent his nursing career within the IU Health system. His current work focuses on researching and improving trauma response and trauma care in rural healthcare settings. Parker was awarded the IU Health System Values Leadership Award in the Nursing category in 2025. Outside of work, Parker enjoys spending time at home with his wife and three young children.

DNP, MSN, RN‑BC, NEA‑BC

Tricia is the Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Ambulatory Care, Professional Practice, and Care Continuum at Stanford Health Care, bringing 26 years of nursing experience, including two decades as an Advanced Practice Provider and Clinical Nurse Specialist. She is ANCC board certified as a Nurse Executive Advanced and has played a key leadership role in Stanford Health Care’s major achievements, including its 5th Magnet Designation with Distinction, Vizient Top Performer status, Leapfrog “A” Safety Grade, and U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll recognition. Dr. Britt is a founding board member and past president of the Alpha Alpha Lambda At‑Large Sigma Chapter and has presented nationally and internationally on innovations in evidence‑based practice. She has served as adjunct faculty, contributed to professional organizations such as ACNL and AAACN, and supports national nursing scholarship through advisory board roles. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, traveling, live music, reading, and spending time with her husband, daughters, and two labradors.