NOBC Board Members Join 2026 AAN Fellows
The Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) proudly celebrates four of our board members who have been selected for induction into the American Academy of Nursing’s 2026 Class of Fellows. This prestigious recognition honors nurse leaders whose influence strengthens health policy, advances equity, and elevates the profession’s impact across communities and care systems. Their induction reflects not only their individual achievements, but also the collective ...
Read MoreAdvancing Nurse Governance Leadership: New Research Priorities for the Future
The field of nurse governance leadership has reached an important milestone. A newly published article by the co-leads of the NOBC Impact of Research Work Group, Lisa J. Sundean, PhD, MHA, RN, FAAN and Kimberly Cleveland, PhD, JD, MSN, RN, C-MBC, C-MPC, FAONL, establishes a set of research priorities designed to advance the science of nurse governance leadership and guide ...
Read MoreInside HEAL High School: Memorial Hermann’s Model for Developing Tomorrow’s Healthcare Talent
Across Houston, a new model for workforce development is taking shape—one that begins not in college or during onboarding, but in high school. Through the HEAL (Health Education and Learning) High School partnership between Aldine Independent School District, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Memorial Hermann, students are gaining unprecedented access to real healthcare environments, mentorship, industry-recognized certifications, college credit opportunities, and paid ...
Read MoreBelieving In Nursing Board Leadership: Kate Judge
Kate Judge, BA, FAAN, has devoted her career to elevating nursing and expanding the influence of nurse leaders in shaping healthier communities. Through her long tenure at the American Nurses Foundation, she helped spark national momentum for nurse representation in governance, ultimately becoming a founding member of the Nurses on Boards Coalition. Her work reflects a deep belief in nurses’ ...
Read MoreService Beyond the Bedside: How Nurses Are Leading Change Through Volunteerism
Nursing has always been rooted in compassion, care, and a commitment to improving lives. But for many nurses, that calling extends far beyond clinical settings—into communities around the world where their skills and leadership can create lasting impact. A powerful example of this spirit in action comes from a recent collaboration between nurses and International Esperanza Project (IEP), a nonprofit ...
Read MoreFounders and Emeritus Series: Where Are They Now? Donna Meyer
Donna Meyer, MSN, RN, ANEF, FAADN, FAAN, has spent her career advancing nursing education, leadership, advocacy, and governance. As CEO Emeritus of the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) and current President of the OADN Foundation, she continues to invest in the future of the profession through mentorship, strategic leadership, and national service. Her work reflects a deep commitment to ...
Read MoreFounders and Emeritus Series: Where Are They Now? Susan C. Reinhard, RN, PhD, FAAN
I am deeply grateful to all nurses who serve on boards because they are stepping up to make an impactful difference. Just as I describe nursing’s role in public policy, serving on a board is a nursing intervention at the societal level. I am fully committed to bringing more nurses into board service and supporting them to contribute significantly to ...
Read MoreImpact Starts Here: Nurses in Governance
Brad Phillips, DNP, MBA, CRNA, NEA-BC, FACHE, CHFP, CPHQ Vice Chair of Advanced Practice and Allied Health Professionals and Chief CRNA at MD Anderson Cancer Center, shares how his nursing and advanced practice leadership journey has shaped his impact in healthcare governance. Drawing on his experience overseeing complex clinical teams and serving on the Board of Directors for the American ...
Read MoreMarch 2026 Board Highlights
Each month, nurses from across the country share their board appointments and elections with the Nurses on Boards Coalition. Whether newly appointed or already serving, these leaders recently informed us of their roles, and we’re honored to highlight their contributions this month. Their expertise, community insight, and commitment strengthen the organizations they serve. Newly Appointed to Boards Jennifer Bath, DNP, RN, AGCNS-BC, CBIS, TCRN, CEN, ...
Read MoreHow Marian Shaughnessy Helped Launch a National Push for Nurses on Boards
[caption id="attachment_3752" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Michael Shaughnessy, Marian Shaughnessy and Joyce Fitzpatrick.[/caption] Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, Director of the Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy, shares the story of how Marian Shaughnessy’s pioneering inquiry into nurse representation on boards became a catalyst for the creation of the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC). Marian Shaughnessy was committed to increasing nurses’ influence in healthcare ...
Read MoreQ&A with Healing Politics: Empowering Nurses to Run and Lead
Nurses bring a perspective to governance that is grounded in care, advocacy, and real-world impact. In this Q&A series, we typically hear from nurse leaders who are shaping decisions that influence organizations, communities, and the profession through board service. In this feature, we hear about how nurses can use their skills and knowledge to influence differently – through elected office. ...
Read MoreWhy Startup Advisory Boards Need Nurses at the Table
Much of the conversation about nurses serving on boards often assumes traditional governance: hospital boards, nonprofit boards, or community boards. That framing overlooks where a growing share of consequential healthcare decisions are being made today—inside early-stage companies, long before products scale, capital is fully deployed, or care models are fixed. As a nurse executive and venture capital (VC) fund founder, ...
Read MoreLeadership Letter – The Power of Influence
As an executive leadership coach, I often hear leaders express frustration that their direct reports “don’t do as directed.” Even compassionate leaders assume clarity and repetition should be enough. It rarely is. Influence—not authority—is the true driver of behavior change. People choose to follow leaders they trust and believe in. Influence begins with relationships grounded in trust. Trust is built ...
Read MoreFebruary 2026 Board Appointment & Election Highlights
Each month, nurses across the country share their new board appointments and elections with the Nurses on Boards Coalition. These leaders bring essential expertise, community insight, and system level thinking to the organizations they serve. We’re proud to celebrate the nurses who reported new board roles this month. Newly Appointed to Boards Danielle Brochu, DNP, RN, CNEcl, NE-BC, GERO-BC, was ...
Read MoreCelebrating National Mentoring Month
As we celebrate National Mentoring Month, NOBC is excited to launch the new Mentoring for Success program in partnership with Humana, expanding opportunities for nurses to grow, lead, and thrive. Below is a reflection from Vernell DeWitty, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN, of Pourquois Diversity Consulting LLC and NOBC’s Leader of the Mentoring for Success Program. January is National Mentoring Month, ...
Read MoreFounders and Emeritus Series: Where Are They Now? Marla J. Weston, PhD, RN, FAAN
Both Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein have been attributed with saying, “A vision without execution is just a hallucination.” Throughout my career, I have focused on filling the gap between vision and execution. I have clearly seen the myriad of possibilities that nursing offers the world and have stepped in to build long-lasting structures to bridge the gap between that ...
Read MoreHumana Partners with Nurses on Boards Coalition to Mentor Future Nursing Leaders
Today, Humana announced a groundbreaking partnership with us to launch the Mentoring for Success program, aimed at guiding the next generation of nurses. Backed by an initial $110,000 gift from Humana, the program will begin in early 2026, matching 50 nursing students with experienced Humana nurses as mentors. Ongoing support of $90,000 annually will sustain the initiative. This this builds off the work of the Future of ...
Read MoreHonoring Newly Elected and Appointed Nurse Leaders
Nurse leadership momentum continues to build as 39 nurse leaders take on new board roles across healthcare, education, and community organizations. With 21 elected and 18 appointed, each brings expertise, lived experience, and a commitment to advancing better outcomes. We’re proud to highlight every nurse stepping into governance. Newly Appointed to Boards Annette Cannon, PhD, MA, RN, MSN, D-ABMDI, DF-AFN, ...
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The Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) represents national nursing and other organizations working to improve the health of communities through the service of nurses on boards and other bodies.