Committees work together as a group and serve the overall function of the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN).
Much of AAACN’s work is accomplished through short-term groups such as task forces, longer-term opportunities are available through AAACN Committees.
Advocacy
Purpose
To address legislative issues, nurses must be aware of the power we have as respected professionals to influence health care policy. Our goal is to encourage nurses to take advantage of the power we have in numbers and influence to affect the shaping of health care policy and to become politically active in the legislative process.
Responsibilities
- Review legislative information from external sources and communicate pertinent information to AAACN members via ViewPoint and the AAACN website.
- Recommend legislative priorities to the Board of Directors for AAACN involvement.
- Review and suggest action on nursing issues from other specialty nursing organizations.
- Recommend and develop position statements on legislative issues affecting AAACN and ambulatory care patients.
- Filter and process information on pertinent ambulatory care/telehealth legislative issues.
- Encourage involvement in nursing legislation action groups.
Initiatives
View AAACN's advocacy initiatives.
Members
Rebecca Newman, MS, RN, CPN
Past Chair
Kae Livsey, PhD, MPH, RN
Committee Members:
Debralee Quinn, MSN, RN-BC, CNN, CH-GCN, CCM
Diane Sprankle, MHA, MSN, RN, NE-BC
Sabrina Sumner, RN, CMSRN
Susan Webber, RN, BSN, MSN, CPN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN
Leondra Weiss, MN, RN, C-EFM, AMB-BC
Board Liaison
Greg Kopp, MN, MHA, AMB-BC, CENP
Rebecca Newman, MS, RN, CPN
Emeritus Advisory Board Committee
Purpose
The Committee is comprised of former AAACN Board of Director members and will function as a non-decision-making consultant to the Board of Directors (BOD) of AAAACN on strategic initiatives that are being vetted or requested by Committee members or the BOD. Requests may be a result of dynamic disruptors found through environmental scanning of the broader nursing community, changes in reimbursement for care, and other challenges or risk factors facing the nursing profession nationally.
Objectives
- Provide historical and institutional knowledge to the BOD on strategic initiatives, growth opportunities, potential professional relationships, and advice on engaging with external entities and organizations.
- Develop and maintain a process to evaluate requests from the BOD ensuring alignment with strategic initiatives and project prioritization.
- Make recommendations to the BOD on association growth opportunities, feasibility of implementation, cost benefit of projects; and identification of problem(s) to be solved/resources needed to move forward or sunset recommendation.
Members
Committee Members
Chair: Anne Jessie, DNP, RN
Co-Chair: Rachel Start, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Deena Gilland, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Eileen Esposito, DNP, RN, AMB-BC, DipACLM, CPHQ
Judy Dawson-Jones, MPH, BSN, RN
Kristene Kemp Grayem, MSN, APRN, AMB-BC
Kathleen Martinez, MSN, RN, CPN, CIC
Kathy Mertens, DNP, MN, MPH, RN
Nancy May, DNP, FAAN, NEA-BC, RN, FAONL, AMB-BC
Wanda Richards, PhD, MPA, MSM, BSN, CAPT (Ret)
Inclusion and Belonging
Purpose
AAACN has long prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), actively reshaping our governance to mirror the diverse environments we serve. The first step was establishing the DEI Committee, which has now evolved into the Inclusion and Belonging Committee.
This change reflects a proactive focus on fostering inclusion and belonging within our membership and promoting inclusive workplaces, while still upholding DEI values. The committee collaborates across our organization to drive initiatives aligned with our culture, profession, and vision for the future.
DEIB Resources
Access AAACN's DEIB resources.
Members
Chair
Stephanie Peeples, BSN, RN
Past Chair
Gloria Okorley, BSN, RN, AMB-BC
Board Liaison
Amy Cadoret, MHA, MSN, NEA-BC, AMB-BC
Committee Members
Diana Alemar, DNP, RN, AMB-BC, NPD-BC, NEA-BC, CNL
Catherine Davis, BSN, MPS, RN, CRRN
Laura Herrera, MSN, RN, AMB-BC
Tanya Merritt, DNP, RN, NEA-BC
Quyen Phan, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Betsy Punderson, MSN, RN, AMB-BC
Kim Regis, DNP, RN, PNP-BC
Stacy Riel Rigiero, BSN, RN, AMB-BC
Tolulope Thomas, MBA, MSN, RN
Jenny Uguru, DNP, RN, AMB-BC, CLC, GRN
Stephanie Peeples, BSN, RNNominating Committee
Purpose
The Nominating Committee plays an integral role in selecting the future leaders of AAACN. Committee members identify, invite, and nominate current, qualified AAACN members as candidates to run for elected offices and oversee the annual election and any special election processes.
Qualifications
- Active AAACN member with broad organizational experience (e.g. served on SIGs, committees, task forces) to provide committee members with general knowledge of members who are active within AAACN.
- Possess skills to identify leadership qualities in individuals; willing to encourage and motivate members to run for office.
- Able to attend the Annual Conference, which kicks off the committee’s work for the year. Other activities take place via conference call and email.
- Comfortable with time commitment: Nominating Committee positions generally require 20-30 hours annually. On occasion, additional time may be required for special projects. The Nominating Committee plays an integral role in selecting the future leaders of AAACN.
- The Nominating Committee members identify, invite, and nominate current, qualified AAACN members as candidates to run for elected offices and oversee the annual election and any special election processes.
Membership
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Cynthia L. Murray, BN-RN, AMB-BC, LNC |
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Edtrina Moss, PhD, RN, AMB-BC, NE-BC, CLSSGB Chair |
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Jessica Polk, DrPH, MPH, BSN, RN |
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Patrick Turpin, MSN, CNS Member |
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Amy Cadoret, MHA, MSN, NEA-BC, AMB-BC Board Liaison |
Program Planning
Purpose
The committee’s primary purpose is to review oral and poster abstracts submitted to select qualified presenters to speak or present posters on desired topics at the conference. The Education Director assists in all aspects of conference planning and assists as needed.
Monthly conference calls, and email correspondence is estimated to take 1 hour per week during Conference planning (July-October).
During Conference planning, committee members spend additional time reviewing abstracts, selecting and confirming presenters, and participating in additional conference calls. Time commitment during peak Conference planning times is two hours per week.
The national office Conference manager plans the logistics of the meeting site and participates in implementation of conference activities. Marketing of the conference, attendee registration, and preparation of materials are done by the national office.
Members
Chairperson, 2025-2026
Patricia J. Hughes, DNP, RN, NE-BC
Chair-Elect, 2025-2026
Brandy Williamson, BSN, RN, CPN
Immediate Past Chair:
Leslie Giddens Robinson, DNP, MSN, RN
Committee Members
Racquel Ballinger, DNP, RN, PHN, NE-BC, AMB-BC
Jami Falk, MS, RN-BSN, CNML
Mari Ann Lewis, MSN-Ed, AMB-BC, NPD-BC
Laurel Lynn More, MS, RN, NPD-BC, CPN
Denise A. Moultrie, EdD, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CNOR, CCNS
Board Liaison
Amy Cadoret, MHA, MSN, NEA-BC, AMB-BC
Education Director:
Trisha Mims, PhD, MBA, HCM, RN
Publications
Purpose
The AAACN Publications Committee plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of ambulatory care nursing through its oversight and strategic guidance of AAACN publications. These publications are essential resources that drive excellence in clinical and administrative management, support certification preparation, strengthen orientation and preceptor programs, and facilitate the development of nurse residency programs. By contributing to the creation and refinement of these resources, the committee helps advance the professional growth of ambulatory care nurses.
Committee members are responsible for managing publication timelines, recommending authors and writing groups, monitoring production progress, and proposing new publications to the AAACN Board. They work closely with writing and revision task forces in an advisory role, ensuring smooth collaboration and progress without directly revising or writing content. Their contributions help ensure that AAACN publications remain relevant, high-quality, and impactful for the nursing community.
Members
Chairperson
Leslie Pihlstrom, RN, BN
Chair-Elect
Sherrie Bragg, DNP, BS, RN, AMB-BC, NEA-BC, CLSSGB
Board Liaison
Julie Alban, DNP, MPH, AMB- BC
Members
Jeby Abraham, RN, BSN, MSN
Billie Lynn Allard, MS, RN, FAAN, FAONL
Laura Anderson, BSN, RN, AMB-BC
Angela Appiah, PhD, DNP, MPH, RN, COA, FAACM
Gloria Bunn, BSN, RN, CPN, NPD-BC
Caroline Coburn, DNP, MS, APRN, ANP-BC
Lisa Duncan, DNP, MBA, RN, AMB-BC, CIC, NEA-BC
Roxanne Kuroski, MSN, RN, AMB-BC
Jackie Nikpour, PhD, RN
Ray Snider, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC
Cara Spencer, PhD, RN, FNP-BC
Amy Stacey, MSN, RN, AMB-BC
Jenny Uguru, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, AMB-BC, CLC, GRN
Leslie Pihlstrom, RN
Research
Purpose
The Research Committee strengthens AAACN’s commitment to evidence‑based practice by building the infrastructure needed to support impactful ambulatory care research. Founded by the organization’s Nurse Scientist, the committee sets research priorities, manages grants and awards, and cultivates partnerships that advance the science of ambulatory care nursing. Through this work, research remains a key driver of AAACN’s mission and vision.
View AAACN's Research Resources.
Membership
Chair
Kristen Shear, PhD, MSN, RN
Chair-Elect
Debbie Burger, PhD, RN
Past Chair
AAACN Nurse Scientist Margo Halm, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Members
Angela Appiah, PhD, DPN, MPH, RN, COA, FAACM
Debbie Burger, PhD, RN
Elizabeth Fritz, PhD, RN, NPDA-BC, EBP-C
Jene Hurlbut, RN, MSN, MS, PhD, CNE
Chrystal Lewis, PhD, RN
Kathy Mertens, DNP, MN, MPH, RN
Donnya Mogensen, PhD, RN, NPD-BC, ACM
Edtrina Moss, PhD, RN, AMB-BC, NE-BC, CLSSGB
Jessica Varghese, PhD, RN
Ad Hoc Member
Na Lim Heo, MDiv, MSN, RN
Board Liaison
Lisa Duncan, DNP, MBA, RN, AMB-BC, CIC, NEA-BC
Kristen Shear, PhD, MSN, RN
Margo Halm, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN