Romnick B. Aguilar is the chief nursing officer of San Pedro Jose Amante Emergency Hospital, and health system development officer for the city government of San Pedro, Province of Laguna, in the Philippines. In addition to leading the hospital’s nursing operations, he coordinates a patient referral and hospital financial assistance program for disadvantaged patients in San Pedro. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he served as the hospital’s infection prevention and control…
Allan K. Anderson is the nurse officer in charge of the Mtimbira Health Center in the Malinyi district, located in the Morogoro region of Tanzania. In this role, he supervises the provision of nursing services to hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients, ensuring all services meet Ministry of Health guidelines. Allan collaborates with stakeholders to monitor utilization of health services among people living with HIV, utilization of reproductive health services among all…
Lizett Bell, MSN, APRN, is an advanced practice nurse, health planner and public health policy specialist in Belize. As deputy director of Hospital Services and Allied Health and the chief nursing officer, she is responsible for workforce planning, policy and regulatory framework for nursing practice and education, and provides technical advice regarding nursing to the government. Her background includes 14 years with the Ministry of Health and Wellness in management,…
Lindsey Harris, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, FAAN, is a legislative fellow in the office of Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL 14), a family nurse practitioner at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Medicine, and an Assistant Professor at the UAB School of Nursing. Her areas of focus include health care disparities, access to care, mental health and nursing advocacy, among others. Lindsey was the first person of color to serve as…
Ashley Kovacs, BSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, is a clinical nurse in women’s health at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, where she advocates for women and their unborn children. At Cleveland Clinic, she has served as nurse preceptor, charge nurse, assistant manager and perioperative lead. Her 20-year nursing career includes labor and delivery bedside nurse at Parkland Memorial Hospital, and assistant nurse manager in labor and delivery at UT Southwestern Medical Center,…
Cecelia C. Kpangbala-Flomo is a nurse with more than 15 years of experience leading health regulatory body and nursing/midwifery education and practice in Liberia. She has worked as a nurse educator and curriculum developer for public health and nursing/midwifery programs and currently directs policy formulation and comprehensive administrative activities at the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery. In addition, she is a faculty member of the West African Postgraduate College…
Tran Thuy Khan Linh leads the Nursing School at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, where she has implemented numerous academic and research-based improvements for the nursing staff, and forged links with international organizations. She is a strong advocate for nursing research led by nurses, a major change for Vietnam where most research is led by medical doctors. Linh’s research centers on competency-based curricula, clinical…
Huynh Hong Thuy Phuong is senior lecturer specializing in nursing research, cardiovascular nursing and critical care nursing within the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Technology at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. She is also a senior member of the faculty’s research team. A dedicated educator, Dr. Phuong serves as clinical instructor on the Intensive Care Unit and Cardio Intensive Care Unit at…
Nguyen Thi Thuong is an enterostomal therapy nurse specializing in wound care for orthopedics patients at the University Medical Center in Vietnam. Prior to that, she spent nearly 10 years caring for stoma patients the GI Department. Nguyen is co-founder of the Vietnam Stoma Association and participates in teaching programs on stoma care and wound management throughout the country. She earned her BSN and MSN from the University of Medicine…
Lydel Wright, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, has an extensive background working across the health care continuum in roles that range from hands-on clinical practice to executive leadership. As a health care influencer, he promotes discussions on key industry trends and challenges, and has help craft health care policies as a member of the Florida Board of Nursing. In his advisory role for the Horatio Alger Association, he developed the first venture…
Burama Badjie is the administrator of Bansang Hospital, part of the Ministry of Health in the Gambia. He began his nursing career more than 25 years ago as a bedside nurse and joined Bansang Hospital in 2014. Before becoming administrator, he worked as principal nursing officer and head of Clinical Services. Burama is a seasoned national trainer, leading courses including Integrated Management of Childhood Illness; Emergency Maternal, Neonatal and Child…
Fatoumata Bah is nurse-midwife in the Gambia. She worked for many years as a perioperative nurse, then later worked in pediatrics. Fatoumata also worked as a midwife in one of the major health centers in the greater Banjul area (Faji-kunda Health centre). At this facility, she delivered reproductive health services at both base and outreach clinics. In 2005, she moved to academia where she educated registered nurses and midwives at…
Chancy Banda is a registered nurse and midwife who serves as the district nursing and midwifery officer for the Nsanje District Council, part of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in Malawi. In this role, she oversees the implementation of nursing and midwifery services and serves as district quality management coordinator. Chancy works to improve the quality of maternal, newborn and child health care through mentoring health care…
Tabu Chirwa-Gonani is a registered nurse midwife in Malawi with more than 18 years of experience. Currently, she heads the nursing department at Mulanje Mission Hospital, a faith-based health facility in Southern Malawi, where she is responsible for nursing care and quality improvement (QI) programs. A passionate QI advocate, Tabu leads a hospital-wide, standard-based accreditation program as part of Malawi`s Quality Management Directorate. Under her leadership, the hospital`s QI scores…
Francoise Chantal Melanie is a registered nurse and midwife in the Seychelles with 27 years of community health experience. Currently, she works at the National Youth Health Centre as a Nurse Manager within the Ministry of Health in the area of sexual reproductive health and rights. Francoise is a passionate advocate for marginalized and at-risk populations at the community, national, regional, and international levels. She is also a committed HIV…
Getrude Mwambui is a registered nurse and midwife and health leader in Kenya. She currently serves as a senior nursing officer at Mariakani Sub County Hospital, where she coordinates nursing services and leads the newly established Oncology Department. Gertrude is focused on provision of high-quality nursing services, health promotion and advocacy, health equity, community strategy advocacy in non-communicable diseases (NCD) care and control, and health workforce capacity building. Getrude began…
Lydia Kakungulu Namutebi is a midwife, nurse and a public health specialist in adolescent health care and health services in Uganda. She currently serves as a coordinator for sexual reproductive health at the Mukono District Local Government in Uganda. Lydia is a strong advocate for adolescent health and reproductive health rights. She advocates for adolescents’ physical and emotional wellbeing, the right for adolescents to remain free from unwanted pregnancies, unsafe…
Olivia Ogoma is a registered nurse and midwife in Kenya. As a nurse leader, she is currently serving as chair of the County National Nurses Association and a member of the National Executive Council. Additionally, she is a program officer coordinating child and adolescent health services at the sub-county level. Olivia served as a research coordinator in the Kenya Medical Training Centre, helping to educate Kenya Regional Community Health Nurse…
Patricia Obiajulu Onianwa is Director of Nursing Services at the University College Hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria. She began her nursing career in 1986 as a staff nurse and midwife focused on improving quality and safety outcomes for patient populations. Over the next 24 years, she rose from direct care nurse to nurse administrator in the Department of Clinical Nursing. Patricia’s leadership focuses on empowering frontline nurses to provide safe, high-quality…
Chala Sadi is a health educator and communication expert in the Federal Ministry of Health in Ethiopia, where he designs social, and behavior change strategies and helps set national guidelines. Chala began his midwife career in 2004 at Nedjo Hospital in West Oromia. Later, he joined the Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs, working to increase the number of institutional deliveries among the refugee population. His background includes more than…
Tereza Baley is a senior nursing leader in the Federal Ministry of Health in Ethiopia. She currently serves as Ethiopia’s national nursing education and training coordinator. She began her nursing career in 1985 in Gambella, where she helped establish family planning services in a remote region of the country. For 26 years, she worked in the Black Lion Specialized Hospital in positions that included staff nurse, anesthetic nurse, and critical…
Gezashign D. Kassa is a national nursing and midwifery service coordinator in Ethiopia. She currently serves as coordinator of the hospital reform care team in the clinical service directorate at the Federal Ministry of Health in Ethiopia. In addition, she chairs a national working group on nursing and midwifery care, which developed a reference manual and other tools to improve quality of care nationwide. She is also a member of…
Joseph Jatta is a nurse and public health expert in The Gambia. He currently serves as a senior research officer at the Directorate of Health Research in The Gambia’s Ministry of Health. He is focused on community service, health care advocacy, and health equity. He is a strong advocate for women’s reproductive health rights. Over his decade in the health care field, Joseph has also co-founded and led Grace Home-Based…
Judy Khanyola is a registered nurse and midwife and nursing leader in Africa. She currently serves as chair of the Center for Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda. With more than 25 years of experience in clinical nursing and education programs, Judy aims to transform nursing and midwifery education and leadership. She is secretary of AFREhealth, the convening body for health education and research…
Patrick N. Kpanyen is a nurse, epidemiologist, and public servant in Liberia. He currently serves as deputy director general for administration at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia. He provides oversight to safeguard and protect public health. Patrick has helped oversee the nation’s COVID-19 response. With more than 20 years of experience leading health-related organizations, as well as training and research institutions, Patrick has served as a faculty member…
Thokozire Lipato is a registered nurse and midwife and expert in midwifery practice, education, and health policy in Malawi. She currently serves as a district consultant for the United Nations Joint Program on Health Systems Strengthening, which aims to create equitable health and nutrition outcomes. She also heads the Midwifery Department at Mulanje Mission College of Nursing and Midwifery. Over 20 years, Thokozire has worked to improve midwifery standards and…
Simangaliso Mafa is a nursing leader and community and maternal child health leader in Zimbabwe. He currently serves the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health as a community health officer in the Zvimba Rural District Council. He a board member of the Premier Medical Aid Society and CrossBoarder Health Solutions and belongs to the Institute of Directors Zimbabwe. Simangaliso is the immediate past president of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association and has served…
Omar Manjang is a director of nursing and midwifery services in The Gambia. Omar currently serves the Gambia’s Ministry of Health, where he supervises and manages the nursing workforce and excels at facilitating career development and leadership opportunities. He also coordinates and implements the policies, plans, and budgets of the Nursing and Midwifery Services. Omar earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of Benin in Nigeria, where…
Lucy Mkutumula is a registered nurse and midwife and health leader in Malawi. She currently serves as the deputy director of nursing and midwifery services on the senior management team for Malawi’s Ministry of Health. She oversees hospital and community-based nursing and midwifery programs and leads policy reviews and the development of guidelines. She is also interim chairperson of the institutional integrity committee for the Ministry of Health, which aims…
Mary Consolata Ishepe Nandili is a registered nurse and midwife and a health leader in Kenya. She currently serves as director of nursing and midwifery services at Kenya’s Ministry of Health, where she has worked for more than 30 years. Working with the United Nations, the World Bank, and other donor partners, Mary coordinated the Health Sector Support Project. She provides consultancy services on health-related projects internationally, including work in…
Nyangi Philemon Ngomu is a registered nurse and health leader in South Africa. He currently serves as the national professional officer for the Africa regional office of the World Health Organization, where he coordinates medical services and medical evacuations. He previously worked as a South Africa-based regional nursing advisor for a program on global nursing capacity-building run by ICAP, an entity created by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health…
Francisca Okafor is a registered nurse and midwife in Nigeria. She currently serves as the director of nursing (chief nursing officer) in the nursing division of the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja, where she advises the government on nursing issues and creates and oversees nursing policies and programs across Nigeria’s 58 federal tertiary hospitals. She also represents the Ministry of Health on the Board of Nursing and Midwifery Council.…
Dolorence Wakida is a nurse educator, mentor, and leader in Uganda. She currently serves as the executive corporate director of a consultancy firm that supports health training institutions in Uganda. Dolorence has been an institutional health administrator and manager for more than 30 years. Dolorence has implemented multiple international surveys, studies, and initiatives on nurse education, the nursing labor market, and nursing recruitment. She chairs the Faculty of Education at…
Benjamin Yamusah is a nursing leader in Ghana. He currently serves as the Chief Nursing Officer of the Chereponi Government Hospital, where he provides leadership for ward managers and contributes to the development, implementation, and monitoring of standards,policies, and procedures for the delivery of high-quality nursing care. Benjamin has worked as a bedside nurse in surgical, medical, and pediatric wards and often acted an interim medical superintendent. Benjamin earned a…
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