President
Dr. Patricia Sayers, DNP, RN – Pemberton, NJ
Pat was awarded a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Leadership Track; an MSN from the University of Texas, Galveston (Child Health Specialist), and BSN from the University of Miami. Clinically, she has served patients at the bedside and student nurses within university classrooms. Engagement as a Eucharistic Minister, CCD instructor, Blue Army Rosary team leader, Pro-life marcher, Catholic Nurse witness during governmental hearings, prayer group member, and lector during a High Mass for Health Care Workers, St.Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City are recognizer by her as her greatest honors. Pat is the International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-Social Assistants (CICIAMS), Vatican City’s NGO Representative to the United Nations and Chair of the 2022 CICIAMS XXI World Congress. At this time, her primary goal is to assist members in assuming emerging Catholic Nursing leadership roles essential to the health and well-being of individuals, families, communities, and nations.
Term: July 1, 2022 until March 31, 2025
President Elect
Bonnie Blachly, MN, BSN, RN, CEOLD- Everett, WA
Bonnie’s Catholic faith is the mainstay and compass that guides her life and career as a nurse. She works actively in the parish as a Parish nurse along with being a participant and occasional leader in the Sacred Story Program known as “Forty Weeks.” Bonnie has a Master of Nursing degree from the University of Washington, Bothell along with her background in Gerontology where she served as a staff nurse, Director of Clinical Education, Director of Nursing and Nursing Home Administrator. After leaving those positions, she started a Consulting Business and has added a new arm to business as a Certified End-of-Life Doula. Bonnie strives to help all people to see the value and dignity in the dying process.
Term: April 22, 2024 until March 31, 2025 when she assumes the role of the President of NACN-USA.
Corresponding Secretary
Theresa Newlin MSN, APRN, ANP-BC – Kosse, Tx.
Theresa was awarded a Post Master’s Nurse Practitioner Certificate from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C; a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Incarnate Word College (now The University of the Incarnate Word), SA, Tx; and a Bachelor of Arts in Native America Studies, Art, and Philosophy from Incarnate Word College, SA, Tx. Her over 40 year career as a RN has spanned inpatient, ambulatory, emergency, home health, hospice, internal medicine and primary care settings, and as a Nurse Practitioner has served in both leadership and executive health care positions. She has served with the Indian Health Services, the Civil Service and as an Active Duty Army Nurse Corps officer, and deployed to Desert Storm, retiring from the US Army as a LTC after 28 years of service. She held board certifications as an Enterostomal Therapist and as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Theresa currently holds an active board certification as an Adult Nurse Practitioner. She recently retired from serving as an Adult Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care with the Veterans Affairs. Theresa has served as a Eucharistic Minister and Religious Education instructor throughout her civilian and military careers. She is an active member of the Military Council of Catholic Women and the NACN-USA. Theresa wants to share her life saving Catholic faith by encouraging daily prayer and returning to our rich Catholic heritage. She is currently learning about fertility awareness education and restorative reproductive medical services across the life span so she can increase awareness of this life affirming alternative with other Catholic nurses.
Term: April 22, 2024 until March 31, 2025
Treasurer
Anne T. Reeser, DNP, MSN, APRN-BC – Saint Johns, FL
Recording Secretary
Susanne Staiano, MSN, RN, CSN – Petersburg, NJ
Sue was awarded an MSN from the University of Pennsylvania in Nursing Administration. She has worked as a clinical instructor, supervisor and staff nurse in the specialty areas of Pediatrics, Pediatric Rehab and School Nursing.
Term: July 1, 2023 until March 31, 2026
Region 1 – Regional Director
Jaime Shepard BTh, LPN – DePew, NY
Jamie has a Bachelor of Arts in Theology with a concentration in Sacred Scripture and Human Life Issues from Franciscan University. He is an active member of the NACN-USA since 2017 with frequent participation in the NACN-USA events. He is also an active member of National Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (NALPN). Jamie works in the areas of Behavior Health, Pediatric Nursing, School Nursing, Summer Camp Nursing, Dementia Care, Home Care Nursing, Parish Nursing, and Nursing Care of differently abled persons. Jamie has held the position of Medical Director of a Summer Family Camp. He is the Eucharistic Congress Chairperson for NACN – USA. NACN-USA is one of the sponsors for National Eucharist Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jamie is involved in Pro-Life ministry, often going to Washington, DC for the March for Life and encouraging others to do so. He serves on the core committee for the annual Faith and Sharing Retreat and has been the Nurse for Faith and Sharing retreat weekends. Jamie is also an active member of the Cursillo Movement which he participates in at the local and national level. He participates in weekly Adoration at St. Mother Theresa Parish, his home parish.
For NACN-USA, this position serves as a liaison between the Board of Directors and members in the following states: Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Term: April 22, 2024 until March 31, 2025
Region 2 – Regional Director
Judith Boyle, DNP, RN – Baltimore, MD
Judith Boyle retired November 2022 as an associate professor at the Community College of Baltimore County after teaching nursing for 10 years. She has an interest in the topics of compassion fatigue, ethics, suffering, and human dignity. She has served as a nurse in the areas of emergency, trauma, critical care, perioperative, home health, school nursing, community health and nursing education. She obtained her Executive DNP from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in 2018. For her scholarly project, she obtained a certification as a Compassion Fatigue Professional through the International Association of Trauma Professionals (IATP) and provided compassion fatigue resiliency training to emergency nurses. She also received a certificate in Bioethics from the National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC) in Philadelphia and became a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) in 2018. Most recently she has been teaching NFP for the Three to Get Married program in Bethesda Maryland.
For NACN-USA, the regional director serves as a liaison between the Board of Directors and members in the following states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C. (including liaison with the Archdiocese of the Military Services (AMS) office in D.C.).
Term: April 22, 2024 until March 31, 2026
Region 3 – Regional Director
Zachary L. McAllister, BS, MSN, RN, CNL – Canton, MI
Zachary is a Catholic Nurse presently working at Madonna University as an assistant professor in their Nursing program. His previous nursing experience includes both medical surgical nursing and psychiatric nursing. For NACN-USA he serves as a liaison between the Board of Directors and members in the following states: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky.
Term: January 11, 2024 until March 31, 2025
Region 4 – Regional Director
Linda Lopp, MSN/Ed, RN – Citra, FL
Linda works as a nurse educator. For NACN-USA she serves as a liaison between the Board of Directors and members in the following states: Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico.
Term: July 1, 2022 until March 31, 2026
Region 5 – Regional Director
Sylvia Suarez-Ponce, MAPS, BS-HCL, RN, CIC – DePlaines, IL
Sylvia was awarded a Master’s of Art degree in Pastoral Studies in 2022. She is board certified in epidemiology and infection prevention and control. Sylvia is employed at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital as MRSA/MDRO Coordinator, Infection Prevention and Control. For NACN-USA, she serves as a liaison between the Board of Directors and members in the following states: Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Kansas.
Term: July 1, 2023 until March 31, 2025
Region 6 – Regional Director
Rosalinda Jimenez, EdD, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC – Lubbock, TX
Rosalinda is an Assistant Professor of Graduate & APRN Studies. She practices as a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. For NACN-USA she serves as a liaison between the Board of Directors and members in the following states: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi.
Term: July 1, 2022 until March 31, 2026
Region 7 – Regional Director
Position to be Announced/Appointed
For NACN-USA, he serves as a liaison between the Board of Directors and members in the following states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming.
Region 8 – Regional Director
Kimberly S. Wohead, MSN, BSN, RN (ret)- Prescott, AZ
Kimberly is a wife of 32 years, mother of one(1) son and a recently retired nurse. Kimberly received her Baccalaureate in Nursing from Grand Canyon University, Phoenix Arizona in 1999. Kimberly received her Masters in Nursing Leadership in 2021 from Sacred Heart University Fairfield, Connecticut. Kimberly has worked in many different areas of nursing (Level 1 /Level 2 Trauma ER, ICU, Genetics Oncology Nursing, Occupational Health Nursing) she has most certainly found her home in Nursing Leadership and Politics. She was the founder and executive director of the National Nursing Advocacy Alliance (NNAA) from 2021 until 2023, which advocated for changes in nursing regulatory.
For NACN-USA, she serves as a liaison between the Board of Directors and members in the following states: Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico.
Term: July 1, 2022 until March 31, 2025
Region 9 – Regional Director
Position to be Announced/Appointed
For NACN-USA, they serve as liaison between the Board of Directors and members in the following states: Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands & American Samoa.
Priest Chaplain
Reverend Michael G. Whyte -West Simsbury, CT
Appointed on July 31, 2013 by the Most Reverend R. Daniel Conlon, Bishop of Joliet, NACN’s Episcopal Advisor, with the acknowledgement and approval of the Most Reverend Henry J. Mansell, Archbishop of Hartford, and at the recommendation of the NACN-USA Board of Directors.
Immediate Past President
Ellen Gianoli, BSN, MA, RN – Palo Cedro, CA
Ellen is a seasoned Catholic nurse with a variety of experiences that span staff nurse, charge nurse, public health nurse, department head, hospital educator and college nursing educator. She understands the concerns of nurses to remain morally sound within the intensely changing healthcare environment. Ellen has been the NACN-USA Pacific Regional Director since June 2017, reaching out to nurses on the Pacific Coast all the way to the Northern Mariana Islands. She has taken part in International Healthcare Conferences held by the Dicastery for Integral Human Development at the Vatican, as well as other conferences both in Rome and in the U.S. Ellen firmly believes that our international presence through CICIAMS is essential to keeping a voice for good on the world stage.
Term: July 2020 until June 2022
Bylaws
Chair: Bonnie Blachly, MN, BSN, RN, CEOLD- Everett, WA
This committee reviews the Articles of the Association and the ByLaws, annually. The review of these items are to recommend revision and/or addition(s). Following review by the NACN-USA Board of Directors, changes are recommended and approved by the NACN-USA Membership.
Membership & Elections
Chair: Susanne Staiano, MSN, RN, CSN – Petersburg, NJ
This committee promotes and sustains membership, liaisons with nursing schools and national student nursing meetings, seeks and reviews applications to determine volunteer interest for a committee membership or elected position. Oversees the annual elections.
Ethics & Spirituality
Chair: Judith Boyle, DNP, RN – Baltimore, MD
This committee assures that NACN-USA maintains fidelity to the teachings of the Catholic Church and the directives of the Holy Pontiff. It acts in an advisory role to the membership and BOD related to spiritual and ethical issues that provide information and insight to nurses and other healthcare providers fostering acts of spirituality in their role of caregiver to influence the healing ministry of the person and outcomes of those in their care.
Communications
Chair: Kimberly S. Wohead, MSN, BSN, RN (ret) – Prescott, AZ
This committee works with the President and Board of Directors to:
- Maintain NACN-USA Website
- Newsletter/Publications
- Social Media (X, Facebook, YouTube, etc.)
Awards & Scholarships
Chair: Kathryn “Katie” Grauerholz, MSN, ANP-BC – San Diego, CA
Katie has more than twenty years of experience as a board certified Adult Nurse Practitioner specializing in preventive medicine, weight management, professional education, hospice, and perinatal loss. She earned her undergraduate degree in nursing from San Diego State University and a graduate degree in nursing from the University of San Diego. She authored several articles on pregnancy loss grief and workplace resilience published in peer-reviewed healthcare journals. Katie is passionate about providing faith affirming, compassionate care.
This committee publicizes the awards and scholarships of the Association, establishes written/electronic protocol for review and selection of eligible applicants for all awards offered by the Association and provides the names of the selected awardees to the President/Board of Directors for final approval.
Education, Practice & Research
Chair: Judy Dusek, DNP, M.Ed, MSN, APRN, CNS, CMSRN, ACNS-BC
Kansas
This committee works with the President and Board of Directors to determine appropriate educational offerings, practice and research topics and agendas for meetings of the Board of Directors and Association. Develops goals and objectives of any educational offerings of the Association and seeks continuing education credits. Identifies and makes available a list of appropriate, current resources, upcoming conferences and workshops and speakers names and expertise. Develops standardized practice resources to assist nurses and other health care providers to provide Christian care (e.g. Bereavement/Grief Training Programs and Resources, Ministry to Homebound etc.). Participated in the 2017 Summit Blue Ribbon Panel Work Groups:
- Bereavement Program – Alma Abuelouf, BSN, RN & Jeanine Gaudet, RN
- Drug: Pre-Birth to Pre-Death – Diana Ruzicka, RN, MSN, MA, MA, CNS-BC & Jill Zolfo, BSN, RN
- Military Service & Veterans Suicide Prevention – Patricia Sayers, DNP, RN & Ellen Gianoli, BSN, PHN, RN
- Healing and Fitness – Pat Sayers, DNP, RN & Peg Olson, RN, BSN
- Speakers Bureau – Judy Dusek, DNP, M.Ed, MSN, APRN, CNS, CMSRN, ACNS-BC
Archives & History Ad Hoc
Chair: Cheryl Hettman, PhD, RN
Pennsylvania
This committee works with the President and the Board of Directors archiving key documents and recording the history of the organization. Local & Regional Council with historical information are encouraged to contact Dr. Cheryl Hettman at CatholicNurses@NACN-USA.org