The Indiana University School of Nursing board of advisors meets twice per year and serves to advise the dean and the IU School of Nursing on strategic decisions, long-term planning, and philanthropic goals.
Each member serves a three-year term.
Dr. Bambi McQuade-Jones, DNP, APRN, FNP-C is the President/CEO of Riggs Community Health Center in Lafayette Indiana. Prior to this appointment, Dr. McQuade-Jones was the founder, Chief Executive Officer and family practice Nurse Practitioner at a Lebanon, Ind.-based community health clinic; Lebanon, Ind.; a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow; and a Health IT Fellow for the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT.
As founder and CEO of the Boone County Community Clinic (BCCC), Dr. McQuade-Jones created a stand-alone 501(c)3 nurse-led community health center that served the vulnerable population including the uninsured, under-insured, and those Boone County residents with state-supported insurance. The BCCC's model of care was centered on utilizing evidence-based medicine and healthcare innovation to provide the highest quality care to every patient, every day, regardless of their ability to pay. The BCCC participated in Medicaid Meaningful Use and has partnered with the Purdue Regional Extension Center (Purdue Healthcare Advisors) to facilitate the accreditation process for NCQA-Patient Centered Medical Home recognition. During her tenure as medical director of the Boone County Jail, Dr. McQuade-Jones and the BCCC saved the county taxpayers a documented $1.3 million dollars over a four-year period through implementation of Electronic Health Records, protocols and policies to assure all inmates received proper medical care and assessment.
During her current tenure at Riggs Community Health Center, Dr. McQuade-Jones has been instrumental in reorganizing a Federally Qualified Health Center into and outstanding facility for excellence in healthcare focusing on quality care for the vulnerable and underserved. As an advocate for education, Dr. McQuade-Jones has implemented an innovative model of precepting nurse practitioner students with a two to one model. This model has enabled the amount of student nurse practitioner to double while allowing for peer-to-peer learning to take place at Riggs Community Health Center. Additionally, Dr. McQuade-Jones has built a nurse practitioner residency program with Federal Funding. The residency grant was designed to meet the unique needs of the Indiana rural and underserved population including many Hispanic/Latino individuals. The goal is to enable Nurse Practitioner (NP) graduates to practice in rural and underserved Indiana communities and provide quality comprehensive health services to a larger number of rural and underserved populations.
Julie Schnieders is the Vice President of St. Vincent Women’s Services North Region Indiana. She is responsible for the development and building of the St. Vincent Women’s Center in Carmel. The center provides comprehensive health services for women. The Women’s Center has everything for women in one building including breast care, heart health, bone health, OB\GYN practices including services for high-risk pregnancies, pelvic health and a Women’s Health boutique that specializes in DME for women. Ms. Schnieders is a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner who is still practicing and has a special interest in menopause and age-related issues faced by women.
Her career has spanned 40 years as a nurse and 28 years as a women’s health nurse practitioner. She received her MSN from IU in 1994 and undergraduate degree from Purdue in 1978. Julie was involved in the original core group who developed the Center for Hope, a city-wide program to treat women who have been sexually assaulted. She also developed a High-Risk breast program and was responsible for the 338-4HER series that provided access to women’s questions 24 hours per day. She is a frequent guest lecturer on a variety of women’s health topics throughout the state and country. Julie’s goal is to take care of women, as they spend most of their lives taking care of everyone else.
Karen Drenkard, PHD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN is currently a Sr Fellow at the AARP Public Policy Institute, having recently served as the Associate Dean, Clinical Practice and Community Engagement at George Washington University School of Nursing in Washington DC. She has additional executive level experience as a healthcare system chief nurse and the chief nurse of a patient education technology company.
Drenkard is the past Executive Director at the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the Magnet Recognition Program®, leading the Magnet ® program to a more outcomes-based accreditation program. She has had deep experience facilitating strategic planning efforts for multi-hospital health system nursing services, individual hospitals, school of nursing, and university Centers of Excellence. She facilitated the strategic planning process for the Friends of the National Institute for Nursing Research (FNINR) and a university nursing services academic/practice partnership. She is currently on faculty for the USCF Leadership Institute, teaching the workshop sessions on strategic planning for the fellows.
She is a Past-President of the Friends of the National Institute for Nursing Research (FNINR); executive board member (Secretary of the Board) of the American Academy of Nursing and serves as the board liaison to the Academy’s Institute for Nursing Leadership. She is a member of the Inova Alexandria Hospital Quality and Safety Committee. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and the National Academies of Practice.
Drenkard received her PhD in nursing administration, policy, and ethics from George Mason University, is a Wharton Nurse Executive Fellow, and a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow.
Ann Eskew, MSN, RN, PNP, attended IU School of Nursing where she received her BSN in 1978 and her MSN in 1982, including her PNP certificate in 1981. Her professional career spanned 43 years with clinical background in pediatric emergency department, pediatric intensive care, and neonatal intensive care.
She spent 26 years at St. Vincent Hospital in the staff development department for pediatrics, newborn and special care nursery. During that time, she developed curriculum and training for the special care nursery staff to level up their care to a Level III unit. She also educated team members in neonatal transport, working alongside the neonatologists. In 1995, she worked as the PNP for the St. Vincent Developmental Follow-up and Genetics Clinic and assisted the neonatologists in training staff in the Neonatal Resuscitation Program for hospitals across the state. In 2000, she became the Director of Nursing of the St. Vincent Rehabilitation Hospital. Ann was hired by IU Health, in 2005, to assist with the planning and opening of IU North Hospital as the advance practice nurse for Women and Children’s services. During her time at IU North, she held several leadership roles as Manager of the NICU, Director of Neonatal and Pediatric Services as well as the Interim Chief Nursing Officer during the 9-month hiring period. She left in 2013 and assumed the Service Line Administrator role for Developmental Pediatrics, General Peds, Peds Rehab, Peds Psychiatry, and the Pediatric Hospitalist group for the IUSOM and IUHP at Riley Hospital for Children.
Her career ended at IUH Bloomington as the Director of Women and Children’s Services, again involved with the planning and opening of the new hospital. Since retirement, Ann became a volunteer at Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, working under the Director of Homeowner Services as well as onsite for yearly Women Build. Ann received the Excellence in Nursing Award from IUSON in 2010, was named a Top 100 Alumni Legacy Leaders in 2014 during the School’s 100th anniversary and received the IU Bicentennial Medal in 2020 from IUSON. Since 2020, she has served on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the IUB School of Public Health. She is a member of AWHONN and NAPNAP.
Kimberly Harper, MS, RN, FAAN, has nearly 40 years of healthcare experience and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Indiana Center for Nursing, an organization that unites state-wide nursing education and practice leaders to effect change through one voice to ensure a high-quality nursing workforce that meets the needs of Indiana’s healthcare consumers. In her CEO role she also serves as the Nursing Co-Lead for the Indiana Action Coalition, which serves to implement the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing Report. In addition, Kimberly now serves as Chair Emeritus of the Board of Directors of the national Nurses on Boards Coalition, which unites over 25 national nursing organizations toward the achievement of the goal of improving the healthcare of our nation through the service of nurses on boards.
Prior to assuming her role as the first leader of the Indiana Center for Nursing, Kimberly served as Executive Director for Nursing 2000, which followed her ten-year stent as Vice President for Public Affairs and the Foundation for Wishard Health Services (now Eskenazi Health) in Indianapolis, Indiana. Kimberly began her nursing career at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana. Following various nursing practice and faculty positions at Deaconess, she joined Indiana University (IU) in Indianapolis in 1987. From that time, she served IU for 30 years in a variety of nursing, marketing and human resource senior leadership roles including her executive vice president roles in academic medicine.
Throughout her career, she has been active in many professional organizations, where she served in numerous leadership roles, including her leadership role with the Nurses on Boards Coalition. She has also served in the role of President of the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers as well as the President of the National Association for Health Care Recruitment. In addition, she is a National Association of Public Hospitals Fellow and has served on the Boards of Visiting Nurse Service Foundation, the Indiana Organization for Nursing Leadership, the Healthcare Advisory Board for Indiana FSSA, as well as serving on the Advisory Board of the Indiana Area Health Education Centers, and the Nursing Advisory Committee of the Indiana Center for Health Workforce Studies, just to name a few. Recently, she has served on the Governor’s Task Force for Healthcare Education, Pipeline and Training for Indiana. Kimberly serves on the Advisory Boards of numerous Schools of Nursing across Indiana as well as serving as a guest lecturer. She holds an adjunct faculty role with Case Western University. Kimberly was named the 2017 Distinguished Alum of the University of Southern Indiana as well as presented the Nursing Professionalism and Practice Award for her “Outstanding Professional Contributions and Excellence in the Practice, Science and Art of Nursing” by the Indiana State Nurses Association. In 2018 she was presented with the President’s Achievement Award upon delivering the Commencement Address at the University of Southern Indiana and has been inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing for her national and international work.
Elizabeth Linden, DNP, RN, NE-BC is chief nursing officer for IU Health Methodist and University hospitals, leading nursing operations and strategy through strong relationships, positive team member engagement and the promotion of an environment of compassion for children and their families.
Linden has nearly two decades of nursing and leadership experience, with integral roles with women’s health, adult services, cancer genetics and community outreach. An accomplished, insightful leader, Linden has a knack for supporting and guiding people through complex situations and competing priorities.
She holds a bachelor’s in nursing, a master’s in nursing administration and a doctorate in nursing practice from Indiana University School of Nursing and is an active member of the American Organization for Nurse Leadership and the American Nurses Association. Linden also serves on the board of Chaucie’s Place, where she works to support the end of child sexual abuse and teen suicide.
Elizabeth Madigan, PhD, RN, FAAN is the Chief Executive Officer of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She assumed the position in November 2017 following a 21-year period as a tenured professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Ohio. Her clinical background and her program of research focused on home health care. During her time at Case Western, she led the global health initiatives for the school of nursing including leading the WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centre for Home Care Nursing. She has provided consultation in multiple countries for home care and aging care in the community. In 2021, she was recognized as one of the top 100 women in global health for the Year of the Nurse and Midwife. She is a graduate of Wright State University, Dayton Ohio (BSN), The Ohio State University (MS in nursing) and Case Western Reserve (PhD), a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, Fellow Ad Eundem, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and proud member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
Eric Newsom, RN, MSHI decided to switch his career to nursing and graduated with his BSN from IU School of Nursing in 2009. His first bedside nursing position was on the neuro critical care unit at IU Health Methodist Hospital.
Eric completed his master's in healthcare informatics at IUPUI in 2013 and transitioned his career to the IT business division at IU Health as a Clinical Application Analyst where he led system implementations across the state. He worked a few weekend shifts from time to time in the neuro critical care unit to keep in touch with patient care.
Newsom journeyed West in Summer of 2017 and is currently employed by Kaiser Permanente as a staff nurse at its Los Angeles Medical Center in the Neuro & Intensive Critical Unit. In 2020, he was elected to be a member of the bargaining team responsible for negotiating a new contract for the hospital’s nurses represented by the California Nurses Association.
Joining the IU School of Nursing Alumni Association board in 2009, Eric served as President from 2015 until fall 2017 and was active in leading the board’s ‘rebranding’ initiative.
Prior to his nursing career, Eric worked in market research and IT consulting supporting clients at the former Chicago Board of Trade. His first degree was in English/French teaching from the University of Indianapolis in 1988.
Chad Priest, JD, MSN, RN, FAAN is Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross – Indiana where he leads a team of over 3,500 volunteers and staff from 45 offices throughout Indiana and portions of Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois dedicated to alleviating human suffering and supporting resilient communities.
Chad is also Adjunct Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine and co-founder of the Disaster Medicine Fellowship Program. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. His research and scholarship interests include international disaster risk reduction, healthcare emergency management, crisis leadership and community resilience to disasters and crisis events. He is a frequent international speaker on issues related to healthcare system and community resilience.
Prior to assuming leadership of the Indiana Region of the American Red Cross, Priest served as Assistant Dean for Operations & Community Partnerships at the Indiana University School of Nursing where he also founded and directed the interdisciplinary Social Network Health Research Laboratory. Previously Chad was Chief Executive Officer of The MESH Coalition, an innovative public-private partnership that enables healthcare providers to effectively respond to emergency events and remain viable through recovery. Chad formerly practiced as an attorney at the law firm of Faegre Baker Daniels practicing public health and healthcare law in the Indianapolis and Washington, D.C. offices. Chad served on active duty as an officer in the United States Air Force with the 89th Medical Group, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. He received his undergraduate degree in nursing from Indiana University, his Master of Science degree in Community Health Nursing from Indiana University and his law degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC. He is married to Caitlin Finnegan-Priest and has three children, Emerson, Nora, and Eli.
Cheryl G. Sullivan PhD, CAE, FAAN serves on the Indiana University Foundation Board of Directors, the New York University John Brademas Center Advisory Council, and the Cancer Policy Institute Advisory Board. She has an extensive background in federal and state public policy development and non-profit association administration.
Dr. Sullivan is the former CEO of the American Academy of Nursing where she led the promotion of evidence-based innovations in health care delivery and launched the Institute for Nursing Leadership to place nurses on national and gubernatorial boards. Sullivan formerly served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy to former U.S. Senator Evan Bayh and played a central staff role in the development of significant health care-related legislation including the Children’s Health Care Quality Act. As Vice Chancellor for External Affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Sullivan provided leadership in government relations garnering statewide support for substantial new funding for biomedical research. Appointed the Cabinet Secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Sullivan was the principal advisor on social service policy and led the creation of the national Collaboration Project and statewide Step Ahead process to improve children’s services by linking federal and state resources to local planning councils.
Sullivan earned her PhD in Environmental Science from Indiana University, Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Maryland, and Certificate for Senior Executives in State and Local Government from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) by the American Society of Association Executives and an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.
Virginia A. Caine, MD Dr. Caine is director of the Marion County Health Department and associate professor at Indiana University School of Medicine. Prior to her appointment at IU, she was assistant professor of medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She earned her MD from the State University of New York, Upstate Medical School, Syracuse, took her residency in internal medicine at the University of Cincinnati, and then completed a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Washington in Seattle. Other professional commitments include serving on numerous expert panels and served as the Internal Medicine Section Chair of the National Medical Association (NMA); in 1999, she was selected by NMA as Internist of the Year. Caine is also a board member of the National Association of City and County Health Officials, Bright Futures for Women Steering Committee, Fairbanks Institute (Life Sciences), Board of Directors; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Advisory Committee for Common Ground: Transforming Public Health Information and Member, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Leadership for Healthy Communities National Advisory Council. She was recognized as one of 25 influential women in Indianapolis in the June 1999 special supplement to Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ). In addition, Caine was honored as one of IBJ's 2002 HealthCare Heroes as the physician winner and in September 2004, Caine received the Doris H. Merritt Service to Nursing Award at the 12th Annual IUSON Gala. Dr. Caine is past president of the American Public Health Public Association, the nation’s oldest and largest public health organization.
John E. Dewey, MBAR John Dewey, MBAR is a financial advisor with Edward Jones and formerly a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. A former small business owner and executive director in healthcare, Dewey graduated with a BA in Business, French and Economics from Doane College in 1991 and an MBA from Bellarmine University in 2010. His expertise in small business start-up, healthcare planning and administration allows for a consultative approach with his clients and organizations. His financial practice is focused on helping women address the problems and concerns they face when navigating a life transition. Dewey currently sits on the Board of Director for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis and is past Chairperson for the 2012 East Central Indiana Heart Walk. He is an active member of the Indianapolis Rotary club and Rainmakers. Past board experiences include the National Kidney Foundation of Kentucky, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Wabash County, and the Wabash County Council on Aging.
Melora Ferren, MSN, RN-BC Melora Ferren is the Vice President/Associate Chief Nurse Executive at Indiana University Health, a healthcare system of 17 facilities. Her nursing career spans 25 years with a clinical background in the emergency department, critical care transport, and leadership. She has a master’s degree in nursing education. She has presented internationally on leadership and nursing education. Melora is board certified in Nursing Professional Development, a member of AONL, ANPD, and Sigma Theta Tau.
Anita Harden, RN, MSN, MBA Anita Harden is president and CEO, Interim Executives, LLP, and retired president Community Hospital East. Harden was with Community Health Network for over 35 years and became president of Community Hospital East in April 2004 after serving as interim president for five months. Prior to her role as president of Community Hospital East, Harden was vice president of behavioral health for Community Health Network. She taught at the Indiana University School of Nursing for several years where she currently holds an adjunct associate professorship appointment with the university. She formerly served as the interim executive director of the Madame Walker Theatre Center. Harden is active in the Indianapolis community as a volunteer and board member for many nonprofit and community organizations, including Citizen’s Energy Group, Rotary Foundation, Christian Theological Seminary, and the Indianapolis Zoological Society. She is a nursing graduate of Indiana University, where she also received her Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Business Administration degrees. Harden was named one of the Top 100 Alumni Legacy Leaders in 2014 during the School’s 100th anniversary and has received the Spirit of Philanthropy Award from IUPUI in 2018.
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