Plenary Speakers

All session times are in Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7)

Opening Plenary Session

Friday, 28 March 2025

1:00-2:15 p.m. (1300-1415)

Sponsored by

Thriving Together: Enhancing Work Environments With Internationally Educated Nurses

Join us as we explore strategies and practices that help Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) successfully integrate into your nursing team and contribute effectively. Expert panelists will share insights on enhancing job satisfaction, promoting interprofessional collaboration, and implementing standards that support well-being and career development for IENs. The panel will discuss methods for implementing inclusive practices and leveraging the global expertise of IENs to improve patient care and outcomes.

Moderator

Stacy Maitha, BSN, RN

Stacy Maitha

BSN, RN

Stacy Maitha is an accomplished registered nurse and Director of Clinical Services at Interstaff, Inc., where she leads teams focused on credentialing, nurse development, training, and clinical success. With over a decade of experience, Stacy has pioneered Interstaff’s international nurse training program, impacting hundreds of nurses in four African countries as they prepare for US practice. Her career includes transformative roles, such as Clinical Nurse Manager at Interstaff, enhancing recruitment and compliance processes, and managing emergency operations at IU Health Bloomington Hospital, where she contributed to strategic planning and quality improvement.

Stacy’s leadership extends to public health, leading program management and violence prevention initiatives at Eskenazi Health, securing substantial grants. She holds a BSN from Colorado Technical University, an ASN from Ivy Tech, and has served as Indiana State President for the Emergency Nurses Association. Proficient in Kiswahili, Stacy remains committed to advancing nursing and empowering healthcare professionals globally.

Panelists

Yennely Moss, BSN, RN

Yennely Moss

BSN, RN

Yennely Moss brings 19 years of diverse nursing experience across settings such as hospitals, long-term care, hospice, med-surg, orthopedics, primary care, home health, and emergency care. Originally trained in Costa Rica, Yennely immigrated to the United States with Interstaff, Inc.'s sponsorship in 2018. After completing her contract in 2021, she joined Interstaff’s clinical team as a full-time Nurse Development Manager. In this role, she oversees the clinical preparation of international nurses, including NCLEX prep, clinical webinars, and virtual training programs.

Yennely is passionate about holistic, patient-centered care and strives to stay current by working part-time in her local emergency department. She is an active member of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) and holds certification as a National Electrocardiogram Technician.

Jasper Erwin Tolarba, DNP, RN, CNE, CGNC, FACHE, FFNMRCSI, FAAN

Jasper Erwin Tolarba

DNP, RN, CNE, CGNC, FACHE, FFNMRCSI, FAAN

Jasper Erwin Tolarba is the inaugural Beatrice Hofstadter White Endowed Chair for Nursing Practice, Education, Research, and Innovation at Nuvance Health and Sacred Heart University. Formerly the first foreign-educated nurse to become Director at CGFNS International, Dr. Tolarba managed credential evaluations and policy development for international nurses migrating to the US, Canada, and New Zealand. His clinical leadership includes roles as Clinical Manager at Aya Healthcare, Nursing Director at Tufts Medical Center, and Patient Services Manager at Yale New Haven Hospital. A 2019-2020 Fulbright Fellow to Jordan, he conducted national research on nursing education.

Originally from the Philippines, Dr. Tolarba earned his BSN and master's degree in education before migrating to the US, where he completed an MSN at Xavier University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice at Yale University. Currently pursuing an EdD in Nursing Education at Columbia University, he is also Founder and President of the Society of Internationally Educated Nurses in North America (SIENNA).

Marissa Gamero, BSN, RN

Marissa Gamero

BSN, RN

Marissa Gamero is the Director of RN Operations at Banner Health. Marissa attended Arizona State University for her BSN. She celebrated 20 years in the profession of nursing in 2024. Her clinical background is neonatal intensive care nursing and leadership. In 2020, she was promoted into the Director role for RN Operations. Marissa is a Top 10% leader at Banner Health. She leads the corporate team that oversees workforce development solutions and innovation, international talent recruitment, the RN refresher program, and the new graduate RN hiring and leadership for Banner Health, which spans six states. The New Graduate RN Residency Program at Banner Health is one of, if not the largest, new graduate residency in the world with ANCC accreditation, with the highest distinction since 2018.

Marissa’s passion centers on helping nurses be successful in the profession. She speaks locally and nationally on these topics. Additionally, Marissa serves on multiple academic advisory councils. She is an advocate for Hispanic/Latinos/Latinx peoples as well as a mentor for women in leadership.

Kuldeep Singh, RN

Kuldeep Singh

Kuldeep Singh is a registered nurse at Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix (BUMCP), with nearly 18 years of experience. Originally from India, Kuldeep moved to the United States in 2019 and has since engaged actively in his profession and community. He received the DAISY Award twice from his patients at BUMCP and serves as a Magnet Ambassador.

Kuldeep is also active with the Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA), serving as Director-at-Large from 2022 to 2024, and he currently sits on the Political Action Committee Board. Additionally, he is on the Education Chair Committee of the Arizona Indian Nurses Association and has taught as a Clinical Instructor at Arizona State University. Kuldeep is pursuing a master’s degree in nursing education at ASU, supported by a Department of Labor grant, and volunteers with the American Red Cross.

Presentation of Healthy Work Environment Awards

The Academic and Clinical Healthy Work Environment Awards will be presented during the opening plenary session.

Plenary Session 2

Saturday, 29 March 2025

9:00-9:45 a.m. (0900-0945)

Addressing Incivility in Academia With CREW (Civility, Respect, and Employee Wellness Council) — Our Journey Towards a Healthier Work Environment

In the years following COVID-19, the Gonzaga Department of Nursing experienced low levels of morale and increased reports of incivility, resulting in significant staff and faculty turnover and student dissatisfaction. With the support of leadership, we began a journey towards identifying the issues, garnering resources, and developing the Civility, Respect, and Employee Wellness (CREW) Council. Through the work of CREW, Departmental Norms were created, an incivility reporting portal put in place, and a more inclusive departmental structure designed. It has been two years since we started to address issues of incivility and we are beginning to see the rewards.

Academic Healthy Work Environment Award Recipient

Susan Edwards, MSN, RN, CHSE, PCCN

Susan Edwards

MSN, RN, CHSE, PCCN

Gonzaga University School of Health Sciences

Susan Edwards is a Lecturer in Gonzaga’s School of Health Sciences Department of Nursing and the Director of the Resource and Simulation Center (RSC). She has served as the director of the RSC for seven years with the responsibility for all skills and simulation instruction for upper division nursing students.

Ms. Edwards received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Intercollegiate School of Nursing - Eastern Washington University in 1984 and her master’s degree in nursing education from Gonzaga University in 2017. She became a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator in 2018, is a member of the Society of Simulation in Healthcare and the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning, and actively promotes best practices in simulation.

Plenary Session 3

Saturday, 29 March 2025

2:15-3:00 p.m. (1415-1500)

Advancing Healthy Work Environments for Nurses Through Integrative Health Interventions

An organizational well-being survey at a community hospital indicated that clinical nurses reported increased stress and anxiety compared to other staff members. Improving nurses' working environments is essential to supporting their well-being and resiliency as well as to retaining the workforce. Holistic Clinical Nurse Specialists (HCNS) collaborated with nursing and administrative leadership to create a healing space and scheduling system to provide holistic support. A proof-of-concept study suggests that providing integrative modalities during patient-care shifts positively influences well-being when access is made available. The impact of providing patient care coverage to support nurses' ability to utilize resources for stress reduction contributes to the study's large effects sizes.

Clinical Healthy Work Environment Award Recipient

Northwell Health, Northern Westchester Hospital

Clinical Recipient - NWH Integrative Health Team

Susan Balamaci, MSN, RN, AHN-BC, RN-BC, LMT, BCTMB

Susan Balamaci

MSN, RN, AHN-BC, RN-BC, LMT, BCTMB

Susan Balamaci has integrated complementary therapies into nursing practice at Northern Westchester Hospital for 15 years. Susan is a board-certified clinical holistic nurse, holistic nurse educator, licensed massage therapist, and Reiki Master. She has extensive experience serving oncology, medical-surgical, palliative care, hospice, and behavioral health patient populations. Susan finds joy in providing Reiki, gentle touch, acupressure, aromatherapy, guided breathing, and clinical mindfulness meditation to help patients and staff reduce stress and build resiliency.

Susan earned her MSN in Nursing Education from Sacred Heart University, her BSN in Nursing from Pace University, and a BA in Psychology from SUNY, Purchase College. As a leader in Northern Westchester Hospital's Integrative Health Department, Susan has conducted holistic nursing research on the assessment of patient comfort and co-created a valid and reliable behavioral comfort assessment tool for the adult acute care population, entitled the Faces, Affect and Body (FAB) Comfort Assessment.

Bree-Joseph

Bree Joseph

MSN, RN, HNB-BC

Bree Joseph is a master's-prepared nurse educator and a board-certified holistic nurse serving as the Clinical Program Manager of the Integrative Health Department at Northern Westchester Hospital. With a strong commitment to holistic care, she leads initiatives to enhance patient well-being and support healthcare professionals. Bree is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a focus on the care of populations at Quinnipiac University.

Closing Plenary Session

Sunday, 30 March 2025

10:50-11:50 a.m. (1050-1150)

Finding Florence (not Nightingale): Infusing Self-Care Throughout Your Career

This presentation will delve the audience into interactive storytelling and a close, personal example of how we can live in a space of self-care, community care, and compassionate care throughout our careers.

Tim Cunningham, DrPH, RN, FAAN

Tim Cunningham

RN, FAAN

Tim Cunningham is an international keynote speaker, award-winning author, and the Executive Director of Clowns Without Borders. Formerly the Co-Chief Well-Being Officer at Emory Healthcare and faculty at Emory University’s School of Nursing, Tim has dedicated his career to structural and systemic well-being for healthcare professionals, university staff, and community members. With a background in emergency nursing, he has authored three books on nurse well-being and a children’s book on resilience, focusing on practicing compassion in challenging environments.

Tim's first passion was in the performing arts, working as an actor for nearly a decade in theater, dance, and acrobatics before joining Clowns Without Borders in 2003. This organization sends artists into crisis zones worldwide to bring laughter and play to those in need; Tim has performed in over 20 countries with them. Inspired by his experience in a pediatric ward in pre-earthquake Haiti, he pursued nursing, graduating from the University of Virginia School of Nursing in 2009 and working in emergency and trauma care at UVA Health and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Tim completed his Doctorate of Public Health at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in 2016.