Welcome your new Board members!!!

Welcome your new Board Members. Their term will start on September 1st 2014. They are invited to participate and will be announced at the Annual Board meeting on August 12th at Bravos. If you haven't signed up for the dinner yet, please do so. Voting wasn't taken place secondary to one nomination per position volunteered to run.

Stephanie Christian Lobley- Treasurer

My name is Stephanie Christian-Lobley. I am seeking a 2-year term as the treasurer for the Metro Milwaukee Nurse Practitioner organization. I currently work for the Department of Neurosurgery for Froedtert Health. I have been in this position since 2003. In the fall of 2013, I was recruited to start a neurosurgery program at Froedtert Health at Community Memorial. Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, I worked in the neuro-intensive care unit. I continue to work per diem in this role. I've published and presented at local national conferences to my peers on subjects such as Managing Subarachnoid Hemorrhages and Identifying Intracranial Hemorrhages: Causes and Treatment.

My interest in serving as treasurer is three-fold. First, I have experience serving as a board member for the Wisconsin League of Nursing, Milwaukee Black Nursing Association, and Milwaukee Area Technical College. Second, assisting with ongoing tallies of organizations net gains and losses will be beneficial. Third and most important, expanding local nurse practitioners collegiality as it relates to professional and personal growth is essential.

Jennifer (Jen) McMahon- Ce Committee
I started my medical career by working as a Certified Veterinary Technician at a local 24 hour Emergency Clinic. I worked in Veterinary Medicine for about 8 years. I'm a graduate from UW-Milwaukee's Direct Entry Masters program with a Clinical Nurse Specialist focus. I graduated from Marquette's Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program in May. I have experience as an ICU nurse, and currently work as a Staff RN at Froedtert's Emergency Department. I hold specialty certification as a Certified Emergency Nurse.
I have been a member of MMNP for several years, some years more actively than others. I believe that MMNP is not only a great way to meet other NPs in the Milwaukee area, but also a great way to share practice knowledge. Being fresh out of school, I believe I can bring an energy to continue to further knowledge.

Rebekah Carey- Program Chair

This is my submission as a candidate for Program Chair for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Nurse Practitioners.

I have been a nurse practitioner since 1998, with an emphasis on women's health care for the underserved population. In 2007, I was invited to develop a new BSN program at Wisconsin Lutheran College, where I am currently the Chair of the School of Nursing as well as Assistant Professor. I have been working part-time at Outreach Community Clinic (formerly Healthcare for the Homeless) since 2008.
I have been involved in developing continuing education programs, as well as presenting at such programs, throughout my nursing career. Assessment of the nurse's continuing educational needs is integral to successful implementation of such programs.
As a member of MMNP, I received a scholarship to assist with attaining the Doctor of Nursing Practice from The University of Alabama. The support and encouragement I received from MMNP during that time truly made a difference for me! I wish to show my appreciation for this support by serving on the MMNP board in the capacity of Program Chair.

Jessica Dekan- President

I have been a nurse for the past 12 years. My career starting in the ICU, where I worked for almost 4 years and then went to the NICU for 5 years. Once I became an FNP I worked as a float, covering in Employer Based Health clinics and Walk In Clinic. Now I have transitioned to full time in the Walk In Clinic, it's fast paced and you never know what will walk through the door. I feel all my years in critical care has helped prepare me for this environment. I have been a member of the Metro Milwaukee Nurse Practitioners since I was a student at Concordia University. The group helped me make connections with area NPs. Once I graduated I knew that I wanted to help give back to group, and I became a board member 2 years ago working on the Continuing Education Committee. This was a new committee at the time, and we have been able to work with area speakers to offer low cost, non-pharmaceutical sponsored continuing education events to the MMNP members. I have enjoyed my time on this committee and now would like to step up my involvement by running for president. I would like to make the group stronger, we are a large group of NPs and I think together we can be a strong voice in the Milwaukee area. I also want to be an active participant in developing new opportunities for networking and education.

Holly Schneider-CE committee

I have attached my resume for background and experience. I have been an NP for 5 years and have practiced in various settings most of which have surrounded family practice and internal medicine. I wish to hold a MMNP position to become more involved in the collaboration process with other NPs and eventually the political arena in hopes to push for independent practice laws. I feel membership and leadership within MMNP will help promote NP practice and association.
I can contribute my experience in various settings as an NP (Family practice, internal medicine, women's health, education, occupational health, and most recently employer sponsored on-site care). I also volunteer at a local free clinic on a weekly basis and have over 350 hours in total. I have leadership experience in my community as I sit on the operations committee for a local free clinic for the past 3 years, and recently graduated the West Bend chamber of commerce Leadership class. I am an educator and preceptor for FNP students for the past one year and ongoing. I work with a staffing agency that is looking to promote the NP workforce by supporting me and other NPs though continuing education, advocacy and promoting the public to understand the role.

Ashley Wessing-Secretary

Hi, I'm Ashley Wessing and I am hoping to be your next secretary of MMNP!

I am currently a NP in Heart Failure/Heart Transplant at St Luke's. I have been a member of MMNP for over two years. My involvement in MMNP started as an NP student a few years ago and has led me to wanting to contribute more not only to MMNP, but also to the community, my NP colleagues, and future NP's.

My goals as secretary and as a board member would be to get more NP's involved in MMNP, help maintain organization, ensure the group continues to be of benefit to NP's in the area, and help promote networking and development of professional relationships among members.

I am approachable, outgoing, and work well with other people. I have exceptional organizational skills and am dependable. I have previous experience being in leadership roles as I was the secretary of my professional student nurse association in college and was the chair of my unit's Nurse Coordinating Council for two years.

Professionally, I am an ANCC Cardiac Vascular Board Certified RN and am also a member of the Preventative Cardiovascular Nurse's Association.

Thanks for your time and I look forward to hopefully being your next MMNP secretary!

Mary Schneider- Continuing for another term on the MMNP CE committee. 

I am returning for a second year on the CME committee and am anxious to move forward with planning new events. I am a FNP, graduated from SLU in 2005 and work at both Marquette University Institute for NFP in the College of Nursing and as the NP for the Huiras Family Community Health Clinic (free clinic) at Columbia-St. Mary's Ozaukee.

I have been involved with acquiring continuing education credits for nurses through the WNP-CEAP since 2004 and have been working with the Medical College of Wisconsin Continuing Medical Education program for the last year. I am a nurse educator and the Assistant Director for Marquette University Institute for NFP where I have worn many hats including CE and event coordinator. I enjoy providing CE's for HCP's and am very glad that I can do this for the MMNP group. My goal for this next term is to continue providing quality programs that meet the needs of this group. With that said you will be seeing surveys coming to you via Survey Monkey periodically throughout the year. These surveys help us tailor upcoming CE events to the groups needs we greatly appreciate you taking time to complete these surveys. I am looking forward to another year.

Thanks Mary

Rita Gilpatrick- President Elect

Hi, I'm Rita Gilpatrick and interested in running for office with our dynamic group of NP's. The MMNP group has a strong position within the Milwaukee area. The group has a vested interest in maintaining and promoting practice knowledge within our profession. I've been a member of MMNP for the past 7 years, and would now like to take a more active role, as, President (elect). It's vital for MMNP to demonstrate strong commitment to our profession. Maintaining the MMNP viability through membership, open forum discussions and mingle/networking events will be on the top of my Agenda as President elect. Educational background: University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee - MSN Marian College of Nursing – BSN Professional Practice: I currently work for Optum Care Management/United HealthCare, for the past 8 years. I manage a team of NP's, we provide primary care for our residents in Long Term Care (LTC). As a NP and Clinical Service Manager of my team, it's my accountability and responsibility to ensure appropriate utilization of healthcare finances. Maintain and foster key working relationship in many skilled facilities. Support and navigate NP's in the clinical arena. Provide educational in-service based on Practice needs of the group. Challenge my team to think "outside the box" with critical clinical situations. I promote professional/Community involvement within my Team. Most importantly, I encourage everyone to find work/life balance. Prior to working as a NP, I spent 14 years at St. Luke's Medical Center as RN specializing in Critical Care, then attended Graduate School in 2000. I welcome the opportunity to become a bigger part of MMNP, active role in continued Excellence for our Profession.

Brenda Van Roosenbeek- President Ex-Officio

Please come to the Annual Board meeting and welcome our new board members and congratulation them on their new positions. As you can see, there is a lot of talent and expertise on the new Board. Let's continue our momentum and do great things for the future of MMNP.

Sincerely submitted,

Brenda Van Roosenbeek

MMNP acting President