chapter officers
Dewi Brown - DeVeaux, DNP, BS, RN-ONC --President
Kellie Bryant, DNP, WHNP, CHSE --- 2nd Vice President
Kimberley Ennis, DNP, APRN-BC, RN --- 1st Vice-President
Dr. Brown-DeVeaux is a Director of Nursing at NYU Langone Health. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Yale University, M.S., from New York University, BSN from Molloy College and BS from Stony Brook University. She has over 16 years of professional nursing experience as a leader, educator, consultant, policy specialist and clinician.
Kimberley Ennis, DNP, APRN-BC, RN --- 1st Vice-President
Kellie Bryant, DNP, WHNP, CHSE --- 2nd Vice President
Kimberley Ennis, DNP, APRN-BC, RN --- 1st Vice-President
Dr. Ennis is a mentor, leader, clinician and visionary thinker with over 16 years of experience in healthcare. She earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees from State University of New York at Buffalo, and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Yale University which focused on leadership and policy. She is currently a Senior Director of Nursing at The Mount Sinai Health System.
Kellie Bryant, DNP, WHNP, CHSE --- 2nd Vice President
Kellie Bryant, DNP, WHNP, CHSE --- 2nd Vice President
Kellie Bryant, DNP, WHNP, CHSE --- 2nd Vice President
Dr. Bryant has over 20 years of teaching experiences and 11 years as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. She received her doctorate of nursing practice in nursing education from Case Western Reserve University, and MS and BS from Stony Brook University. She is currently the Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs & Simulation and Associate Professor at Columbia University School of Nursing.
Julius Johnson III, DNP, RN, FNP-BC ---Immediate Past President
Sheldon D. Fields PhD, RN, FNP-BC, AACRN, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN ---Past Founding President & Parliamentarian
Kellie Bryant, DNP, WHNP, CHSE --- 2nd Vice President
Dr. Johnson has been a RN for 15 years and is home-based primary care/high intensity transitional care expert. He received his Doctor of Nursing Practice from The University of Miami (The U!!!), and his BS and MS in nursing from Binghamton University. He is currently a FNP Program Director and Assistant Professor of nursing at Long Island
Dr. Johnson has been a RN for 15 years and is home-based primary care/high intensity transitional care expert. He received his Doctor of Nursing Practice from The University of Miami (The U!!!), and his BS and MS in nursing from Binghamton University. He is currently a FNP Program Director and Assistant Professor of nursing at Long Island University-Brooklyn, practicing in house calls, and the co-founder of DrNurses.com
Sheldon D. Fields PhD, RN, FNP-BC, AACRN, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN ---Past Founding President & Parliamentarian
Sheldon D. Fields PhD, RN, FNP-BC, AACRN, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN ---Past Founding President & Parliamentarian
Sheldon D. Fields PhD, RN, FNP-BC, AACRN, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN ---Past Founding President & Parliamentarian
Dr. Fields is the Immediate Past Founding Chapter President, & National 1st Vice-President and has been a RN for 30 years and is an HIV/AIDS prevention research expert. He received his PhD in nursing science from the University of Pennsylvania, and his BS and MS in nursing from Binghamton University. He is the founder and President of h
Dr. Fields is the Immediate Past Founding Chapter President, & National 1st Vice-President and has been a RN for 30 years and is an HIV/AIDS prevention research expert. He received his PhD in nursing science from the University of Pennsylvania, and his BS and MS in nursing from Binghamton University. He is the founder and President of his own healthcare consultant firm known as "The S.D.F Group, LLC" http://www.thesdfgrp.com/about.html
J’Adore Larosa-Mattis, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC --- Recording Secretary
Sheldon D. Fields PhD, RN, FNP-BC, AACRN, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN ---Past Founding President & Parliamentarian
Sheldon D. Fields PhD, RN, FNP-BC, AACRN, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN ---Past Founding President & Parliamentarian
J’Adore Larosa-Mattis has been an RN for 7 years. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nursing from Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus. He is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and currently works as a Family Nurse Practitioner at the Mount Sinai Health System. His belief that discrimination and disparity of any k
J’Adore Larosa-Mattis has been an RN for 7 years. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nursing from Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus. He is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and currently works as a Family Nurse Practitioner at the Mount Sinai Health System. His belief that discrimination and disparity of any kind do not belong in healthcare propels him to be a patient advocate and an active change agent to help eradicate preventable illnesses in the community.
Betty Boyle-Duke, DNP, CPNP, RN --- Corresponding Secretary
Betty Boyle-Duke, DNP, CPNP, RN --- Corresponding Secretary
Betty Boyle-Duke, DNP, CPNP, RN --- Corresponding Secretary
Dr. Boyle-Duke is a nurse practitioner specializing in Pediatric and Adolescent Primary care for over 20 years. She completed her nursing education at Simmons College (now University) and earned a terminal degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice at New York
University in 2015. As a clinician, she recently worked at the NYC Department of Health
Dr. Boyle-Duke is a nurse practitioner specializing in Pediatric and Adolescent Primary care for over 20 years. She completed her nursing education at Simmons College (now University) and earned a terminal degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice at New York
University in 2015. As a clinician, she recently worked at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene providing technical support and health services to NYC high school students. Most recently, during the height of COVID, her efforts shifted to helping with the NYC Health Department’s pandemic response among residents with
developmental disabilities who lived in NYC congregate care facilities. Currently she is the Associate Director of Nursing at Barnard College in Manhattan. She also teaches at Long Island University’s School of Nursing, since 2019 in the graduate program. Dr. Boyle-Duke holds a multitude of professional organization memberships, co-authored textbook chapters and has presented her scholarly efforts at Allied Health conferences. She currently serves as the chapter’s Corresponding Secretary and as lead for the chapter’s ANA Project Firstline IPC Grant.
Kayla Preston, RN --- Treasurer
Betty Boyle-Duke, DNP, CPNP, RN --- Corresponding Secretary
Betty Boyle-Duke, DNP, CPNP, RN --- Corresponding Secretary
Kayla Preston is a second career nurse with a bachelor’s degree in Health Administration Public Policy & Public Health focus from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She has been passionate about serving diverse communities from her career in human services, assisting with special-needs youth, homelessness prevention, & substance
Kayla Preston is a second career nurse with a bachelor’s degree in Health Administration Public Policy & Public Health focus from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She has been passionate about serving diverse communities from her career in human services, assisting with special-needs youth, homelessness prevention, & substance abuse prevention for seven years. Upon moving to New York in 2013, Kayla became aware of the disparities in Maternal Health amongst Black women and chose to enter the field of nursing to better advocate for women’s health. She became a Registered Nurse in 2019 working in community health for Maternal & Pediatric care with a significant role in preventative treatment. Kayla works to educate and empower her patients on a daily basis, is fluent in Spanish and loves what she does! She currently serves on the Board of Directors for a special-needs school in Brooklyn, is the secretary for the Maternal Health Committee of GNYCBNA, and is the current Treasurer for the Greater New York City Black Nurses Association.
Monique McKnight-Meacham, MSN, RN-BC --- Historian
Betty Boyle-Duke, DNP, CPNP, RN --- Corresponding Secretary
Monique McKnight-Meacham, MSN, RN-BC --- Historian
Monique McKnight-Meacham is the Clinical Nurse Education Manager for the Mount Sinai Health System Ambulatory Care Network. She obtained her MSN-Ed in 2010 and MSN in Advanced Clinical Management and Leadership from Columbia University in 2023. She is an expert in Nursing Education and is passionate about mentoring nurses and nursing stud
Monique McKnight-Meacham is the Clinical Nurse Education Manager for the Mount Sinai Health System Ambulatory Care Network. She obtained her MSN-Ed in 2010 and MSN in Advanced Clinical Management and Leadership from Columbia University in 2023. She is an expert in Nursing Education and is passionate about mentoring nurses and nursing students. She is a member of several organizations including Greater New York City Black Nurses Association and Chi Eta Phi, Incorporated. In 2020 Monique received the Clinical Nurse of the Year Award from Greater New York City Black Nurses Association for her dedication to caring for patients and families during the pandemic.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Layla Qaabidh PhD, RN --- Director at Large
Adenike Okeowo, DNP, CHNP, FNP-C --- Director at Large
Adenike Okeowo, DNP, CHNP, FNP-C --- Director at Large
Dr. Qaabidh has over 20 years of nursing experience which includes clinical practice in Med-Surg, ICU, and Emergency Medicine. She entered into academia 15 years ago and worked as Assistant Professor at many local colleges. She received her BS in Nursing from New York University, Masters in Nursing Education from Mercy College and a
Dr. Qaabidh has over 20 years of nursing experience which includes clinical practice in Med-Surg, ICU, and Emergency Medicine. She entered into academia 15 years ago and worked as Assistant Professor at many local colleges. She received her BS in Nursing from New York University, Masters in Nursing Education from Mercy College and a PhD in Nursing from CUNY Graduate Center. Dr. Qaabidh will also be completing her Post Masters Degree in Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner program from Drexel University in August 2021. Dr. Qaabidh is the President of the Omicron Chi Chi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc. and VP of the Association of Black Women in Higher Education. She is also a member of: ANA Education Committee, Nurses on Boards, Zeta Omega At Large and the Delta Zeta Chapters of Sigma Theta Tau International, and the Emergency Nurses Association. Dr. Qaabidh is currently the Dean of the School of Nursing at Monroe College located in Bronx, NY.
Adenike Okeowo, DNP, CHNP, FNP-C --- Director at Large
Adenike Okeowo, DNP, CHNP, FNP-C --- Director at Large
Adenike Okeowo, DNP, CHNP, FNP-C --- Director at Large
Dr. Okeowo has 13 years of nursing experience and is currently a cardiology nurse practitioner at Mount Sinai Morningside. She started out as an LPN in 2009 after graduating high school and worked her way to obtaining her Associate Degree in nursing in 2012 from Union County College. For much of this time, she worked in nursing home
Dr. Okeowo has 13 years of nursing experience and is currently a cardiology nurse practitioner at Mount Sinai Morningside. She started out as an LPN in 2009 after graduating high school and worked her way to obtaining her Associate Degree in nursing in 2012 from Union County College. For much of this time, she worked in nursing homes until receiving her BSN in 2014 from the College of Staten Island. She worked on a Medical-Surgical Unit, the Emergency Department and MICU Stepdown until becoming a community health/ family nurse practitioner where she obtained her master’s degree in 2017 and then Doctorate in Nursing Practice degree in 2019 both from Binghamton University. She served as a community health research assistant and was involved in multiple projects and research publications exploring ways to reverse cardiovascular disease where she won the excellence in community health nursing award.
Dr. Okeowo has practiced in various settings of cardiology including: General cardiology, Electrophysiology, and most recently in Heart failure. She is passionate about the prevention and management of cardiac disease as well as educating and empowering her patients and other healthcare providers.
Hilda Nkansah, DNP, RN, FNP-BC --- Director at Large
Adenike Okeowo, DNP, CHNP, FNP-C --- Director at Large
Nyomi Gibson, BS, SN ---Undergraduate Director at Large
Dr. Hilda Nkansah is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner who works in the
primary care spectrum at Mount Sinai Health System. Dr. Hilda Nkansah earned a Bachelor of
Science in Nursing from Temple University, a Masters Family Nurse Practitioner degree from
Long Island University's Brooklyn campus, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degr
Dr. Hilda Nkansah is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner who works in the
primary care spectrum at Mount Sinai Health System. Dr. Hilda Nkansah earned a Bachelor of
Science in Nursing from Temple University, a Masters Family Nurse Practitioner degree from
Long Island University's Brooklyn campus, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Stony Brook University. She has experience in acute cardiology, obstetrics and gynecology,
anticoagulation, and occupational health. Dr. Hilda Nkansah has served as an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing at Long Island University- Brooklyn Campus and Columbia University. She was the past Vice President of the Sigma Theta Tau Upsilon Chapter and is now the Membership Engagement Chair. Dr. Hilda Nkansah is an executive board member of the Greater New York City Black Nurses Association, where she is currently a Director at Large. In
2022, she received the NBNA's Under 40 Award. Her prior and ongoing volunteer work has
focused on eliminating health inequities among underprivileged populations in Ghana, West Africa and Haiti. She is motivated by a great desire and commitment to continue reducing global
health disparities and professionally educating/mentoring nursing students and new nurses.
Nyomi Gibson, BS, SN ---Undergraduate Director at Large
Adenike Okeowo, DNP, CHNP, FNP-C --- Director at Large
Nyomi Gibson, BS, SN ---Undergraduate Director at Large
Nyomi Gibson received her Bachelors of Science in Biology from St. John's University and is currently in school for her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Molloy University. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. As a future nurse, Nyomi desires to eliminate maternal health disparities amongst the African American community.
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
J’Adore Larosa-Mattis, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC --- PR/Social Media Chair
Talitha Douglas, BS(N), RN --- Programming and Community Service Chair
Talitha Douglas, BS(N), RN --- Programming and Community Service Chair
J’Adore Larosa-Mattis has been an RN for 7 years. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nursing from Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus. He is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and currently works as a Family Nurse Practitioner at the Mount Sinai Health System. His belief that discrimination and disparity of any k
J’Adore Larosa-Mattis has been an RN for 7 years. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nursing from Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus. He is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and currently works as a Family Nurse Practitioner at the Mount Sinai Health System. His belief that discrimination and disparity of any kind do not belong in healthcare propels him to be a patient advocate and an active change agent to help eradicate preventable illnesses in the community.
Talitha Douglas, BS(N), RN --- Programming and Community Service Chair
Talitha Douglas, BS(N), RN --- Programming and Community Service Chair
Talitha Douglas, BS(N), RN --- Programming and Community Service Chair
Talitha Douglas is a Registered Nurse at Montefiore Medical Center currently working in the Operating Room. She has worked previously in Med-Surg Telemetry, various vaccination clinics, and school nursing. Talitha has a passion to promote health and wellness to her community. She completed her BS degree in Nursing at Long Island Univ
Talitha Douglas is a Registered Nurse at Montefiore Medical Center currently working in the Operating Room. She has worked previously in Med-Surg Telemetry, various vaccination clinics, and school nursing. Talitha has a passion to promote health and wellness to her community. She completed her BS degree in Nursing at Long Island University - Brooklyn. Additionally, she is a member of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Incorporated and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.
Akia Blandon, DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-C --- Scholarship & Awards Chair
Talitha Douglas, BS(N), RN --- Programming and Community Service Chair
Akia Blandon, DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-C --- Scholarship & Awards Chair
Dr. Akia Sheema Blandon began working in the healthcare industry in 1993 as a Nurse Attendant in Long Island, New York while pursuing her nursing license. She persevered and excelled in nursing while raising her five exceptional children! She is an Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and a Doctor of Nursing Practice. She is the Preside
Dr. Akia Sheema Blandon began working in the healthcare industry in 1993 as a Nurse Attendant in Long Island, New York while pursuing her nursing license. She persevered and excelled in nursing while raising her five exceptional children! She is an Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and a Doctor of Nursing Practice. She is the President and CEO of New Beginnings HealthCare, PLLC. Akia also works as an NP for Essen, providing urgent and primary care throughout the tri-state area. She also serves as an Associate professor and Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Helene Fuld College of Nursing since 2014.
Dr. Blandon is the Assistant Regional Director for the Northeast Region, Inc. of Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc., whose mission is Service for Humanity. She is also the Sorority's National Technology Chairperson.
She recently published her memoir entitled "Triumphant… My Journey, His call"
Caroline Austin-Mattison, DNP, RN, FNP-BC --- Health Policy Chair
Caroline Austin-Mattison, DNP, RN, FNP-BC --- Health Policy Chair
Akia Blandon, DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-C --- Scholarship & Awards Chair
Dr. Caroline Austin-Mattison is Director of Advanced Practice Nursing at Mount Sinai Hospital and an adjunct professor at Pace University. Dr. Austin-Mattison is a certified family nurse practitioner with over 20 years of nursing experience and is passionate about improving cardiovascular health and health literacy especially in under
Dr. Caroline Austin-Mattison is Director of Advanced Practice Nursing at Mount Sinai Hospital and an adjunct professor at Pace University. Dr. Austin-Mattison is a certified family nurse practitioner with over 20 years of nursing experience and is passionate about improving cardiovascular health and health literacy especially in underserved communities. Dr. Austin- Mattison serves on the National Black Nurses Association Health Policy Committee. Her focus is on on primary prevention, screening and increasing access through her community service initiatives. Currently working with multiple organizations, addressing social determinants and increasing access locally and globally.
Jose Perpignan Jr., BA, BS(N), RN --- Membership Chair
Caroline Austin-Mattison, DNP, RN, FNP-BC --- Health Policy Chair
Jose Perpignan Jr., BA, BS(N), RN --- Membership Chair
Jose Perpignan has been a Critical Care Registered Nurse for 5 years, currently working at Highland Hospital’s ICU. He received his BA in Africana Studies from Binghamton University, his BS in Nursing from University of Rochester School of Nursing, and is currently enrolled in the Post BS-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Rochester School of Nursing.