Voice of the President | January 2026
As I begin my tenure as AONL president, I am deeply honored to represent the voice of nurse leaders. We step into this moment together at a time of both profound challenge but also extraordinary possibility. We continue to navigate unprecedented workforce pressures, evolving care delivery models and the urgent need to strengthen the trust of the communities we serve. Yet, amid this complexity, one truth remains constant: nurse leaders are uniquely positioned to guide health care toward resilience, equity and excellence.
From as early as I can remember, I knew I wanted to be a nurse. Growing up as the second child in a family of 11, I witnessed firsthand the profound impact nurses had on our lives and our community. Three women, in particular, inspired my path: the midwife who came to our home to deliver many of my siblings, the public health nurse who served tirelessly in our local clinic and my aunt, whose dedication to nursing left a lasting impression on me. In our community, physicians were few and far between, but these nurses were always present, providing care, comfort and hope. That vision has brought me to this moment where you have entrusted me with the privilege to serve as your board president for the next two years.
From as early as I can remember, I knew I wanted to be a nurse鈥 as the second child in a family of 11, I witnessed firsthand the profound impact nurses had on our lives and our community鈥 nurses were always present, providing care, comfort and hope.
My nursing journey began at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, where I learned the fundamentals of compassionate care, creativity, advocacy and teamwork. Those early years taught me that nursing is both an art and a science, a calling that demands technical skill, emotional intelligence and a deep commitment to service and people. I also learned the power of the professional organization, serving in leadership roles as a student and as a registered nurse to influence practice and give voice to the profession, and those delivering care.
After immigrating to the United States, I joined Bronx-Lebanon Hospital, and soon after, Yale-New Haven Hospital, where I have spent the majority of my career. My career has spanned working as a staff nurse to a nurse executive, from medical-surgical, pediatrics, intensive care and perioperative service to hospital and system-level leadership. Each step brought new challenges and opportunities to learn, grow, lead, innovate, transform and advocate for patients, staff and the community.
My participation and leadership in professional organizations have been a cornerstone of my continuing professional growth. As a founding member of our local Association of periOperative Registered Nurses chapter and leadership in the Southern Connecticut Chapter of the National Black Nurses Association, During my early years, I had the opportunity to be mentored by pioneering leaders in nursing, engage in numerous initiatives, serve on committees and share best practices at national meetings. Those experiences led me to become a member of AONL, where it became clear to me that this organization would provide a place for continuing growth in my leadership journey. Over time, I became more involved, serving on committees and supporting whenever there was an opportunity for me to do so. Mentorship from some of AONL鈥檚 finest leaders further ignited my commitment to engage as deeply as possible in advancing our profession. I strongly believe in our collective impact, the power of our voices, our influence and our unity. I believe in the mission and vision that guides us: Expert and Influential Leadership Advancing Care for All. My commitment as president is to represent, advocate and elevate all our voices, grounding our work in the strategic framework and priorities of AONL.
Today鈥檚 challenges are significant and varied: a changing health care environment and meeting workforce needs, in addition to stresses on health systems, teams, organizations and access to care. At the same time, hospitals and health systems face mounting financial pressures, especially in our rural areas where access to care is becoming a crisis. These realities underscore the urgency of our collective leadership because it is during these times that we as leaders will need to continue finding new and innovative ways to deliver care to all.
Of course, I do not lead alone. I want to thank outgoing AONL Board President Deborah Zimmermann for her leadership and her willingness to mentor me during my two years as president-elect. I also want to recognize the efforts of AONL鈥檚 Board of Directors, CEO Claire Zangerle and staff 鈥 all of whom are focused on empowering our members to meet their many challenges.
杏吧原创 this issue
Our strength lies in collaboration; progress is made when we come together. The innovative partnership between AONL and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) highlights the importance of creating a shared vision to strengthen the continuum of nursing education and practice. By bridging the gap between classroom and bedside, we can create a pipeline of talent that is competent and prepared to meet the evolving needs of patients and the communities we serve.
In this issue of Voice, authors explore the importance of academic-practice partnerships (APPs) that create systems to support nurse education and development, preparing future nurses for practice and leadership. Susan Corbridge and Julibeth Lauren discuss the importance of the ongoing AACN-AONL collaboration and share key insights from the AACN-AONL Academic鈥揚ractice Partnership Playbook: From Shared Vision to Action, which presents a compelling case for APPs to shape the future of nursing education and practice. Noreen Bernard interviews Carrie McDermott about her experience as the former corporate director of academic-practice integration and partnerships at Emory. Jeff Hudson-Covolo and colleagues discuss the 鈥渟chool in a box鈥 program that has expanded nurse education to a designated RN shortage area in California. Lastly, Victoria Niederhauser and colleagues share the success of the University of Tennessee Medical Center and East Tennessee Children鈥檚 Hospital Scholars Programs, which are helping prepare the next generation of nurses.
As a health care leader I have seen the power of academic-practice partnerships, whether it is partnering to create a pathway for underrepresented high school students, building strategic frameworks, or providing funding and human resources to expand and engage the nursing workforce.
AONL will continue to serve as a convener, a catalyst and a champion for the profession. Together, we will ensure nursing leadership is not only heard but indeed heeded, shaping a future where nurses thrive and patients receive the highest quality of care. As we embark on this journey, I encourage each of you to lend your voice, your vision and your leadership. The challenges before us are real, but so is our collective power. Let us lead with courage, clarity and conviction 鈥 for our teams, our patients, our students, our communities and the future of nursing.