Committees & Taskforces
APHON is a volunteer-driven organization led by members who lend their expertise to the association. The work of APHON committees is directed by the APHON Board of Directors and may shift based on the priorities of the association and alignment to the strategic plan. Serving on an APHON committee is a great way to get involved to further steer the future of our organization. All committee members should be current APHON members and in good standing for the duration of their term.
2026 APHON Committees
All APHON Committees begin their terms every January, with the exception of the Leadership Development Committee.
ACE Center Committee
Oversees the development of content and management and ongoing maintenance of the APHON Continuing Education (ACE) Center.
Chair: Liz Sniderman, MSN MPH NP CPNP-AC CPHON®
Past Chair: Beth Fisher, DNP CPNP-AC/PC APRN CPON® CHPPN
Committee Members:
- Kathleen Ackerman, CNS RN
- Kristin Belderson, DNP RN NEA-BC NPD-BC CPON® FAPHON
- Karen Kestenbaum, DNP APN CPHON®
- Emily Padgett, BSN RN CPN CPHON®
- Ryan Profetto, MSN-ED RN CPHON® TCTCN™
- Jonna Rodriguez, RN BSN CPHON®
- Amanda N. Smith, MSN RN CPHON®
- Mary Benson, DNP PNP AC-PC
Board Liaison: Danielle Gunter, PhD RN CPN
Advocacy
Serves as a vehicle for establishing and carrying out policy priorities identified in the APHON Health Policy Agenda.
Chair: Joan O’Hanlon Curry, DNP RN CPNP-PC CPON® NEA-BC FAAN FAPHON FAONL
Past Chair: Emily Padgett, BSN RN CPN CPHON®
Committee Members:
- Kim Arnold, DNP APRN CPNP CPHON®
- Susie Burke, MA RN CPNP CPHON®
- Lindsay Cole, MS RN CPNP-PC CPHON®
- Christina Cotton, DNP CPNP AC/PC
- Jami Gattuso, MSN RN CPON® FAPHON
- Beth Siever, MSN RN CPNP-PC CPON® FAPHON
- Stacy Whiteside, APRN MS CPNP-AC/PC CPON® FAPHON
Board Liaison: Natalie Alwin, BSN RN TCTCN™ CPHON®
Annual Conference Program Planning
Plans and implements the annual conference each year.
Chair: Deborah S. Echtenkamp, MSN RN CPON® FAPHON
Vice Chair: Allyson Jones, RN CPHON® CPN
Paper and Poster Lead: Misty Evans, PhD DNP APRN CPNP-AC TCTCN™ FAPHON
Committee Members:
- Javarius (Jay) Barber-Esparza, BSN RN CPN CPHON
- Kristin Belderson, DNP RN NEA-BC NPD-BC CPON® FAPHON
- Whitney Cherry, RN BSN
- Rachel Glincher, RN MSN CPNP-AC CPHON®
- Marika Highberger, MSN APRN TCTCN™ CPNP-PC
- Paige Johnson, DNP MPH RN CPNP-PC CPHON®
- Lea Mayer, DNP APRN CPNP-PC CPHON®
- Denise Mills, MN NP CPHON®
- Stacy Whiteside, APRN MS CPNP-AC/PC CPON® FAPHON
Board Liaison: Amy Haskamp, MSN RN PCNS-BC CPON® CHPPN FPCN FAPHON
Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Provider Program
Ensures compliance with educational design criteria for APHON educational programs and policies and procedures for the Pediatric Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Provider Program.
Chair: Terri Boyce, DNP APRN CPNP-AC CPHON® TCTCN™ FAPHON
Past Chair: Anne Marie Sterk, MSN RN CPON®
Committee Members:
- Kristin Belderson, DNP RN NEA-BC NPD-BC CPON® FAPHON
- Melissa Campbell, RN BScN CPHON®
- Christina Conley, CPNP MSN RN
- Andrew Geoffrey, MSN RN CPHON® CPN
- Karen Kestenbaum, DNP APN CPHON®
- Shannon Koty, MSN-NL RN CPN CPHON® NPD-BC
- Maria Cristina Pinero, RN BSN CPHON®
- Maritza Salazar-Abshire, MED MSN RN CPON®
- Michelle Tolley, BSN RN CPHON®
Board Liaison: Mary Newman, DNP RN CPON® NEA-BC FAPHON
Evidence-Based Practice/Research
Supports the development of Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines and supports research activities within the membership, optimizing outcomes for children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer and blood disorders.
Chair: Casey Hooke, PhD APRN PCNS-BC FAAN FAPHON
Past Chair: Micah Skeens, PhD APRN FAAN FAPHON
Committee Members:
- Lei Cheng, PhD, RN
- Casey DeBias, MSN, APRN
- Kimberly DiGerolamo, RN DNP PCNS-BC CPHON® CPN EBP-C FCNS
- Misty Evans, PhD DNP APRN CPNP-AC TCTCN™ FAPHON
- Beth Fisher, DNP CPNP-AC/PC APRN CPON® CHPPN
- Caroline F. Morrison, PhD PNP RN TCTCN™
- Joan O’Hanlon Curry, DNP RN CPNP-PC CPON® NEA-BC FAAN FAPHON FAONL
- Ginny Schulz, PhD RN CPNP-PC
- Joanie Shea, DNP CPON®
Board Liaison: Ijeoma Julie Eche-Ugwu, PhD MPH FNP-BC AOCNP CPHON® TCTCN™
Education Provider Unit
Ensures compliance with ANCC-COA Educational Design Criteria for APHON educational programs, awards continuing education credit to eligible participants completing APHON educational programs, provides expertise, advice, and consultation on ANCC-COA criteria to APHON committees and task forces developing educational programs with continuing education credit.
Chair: Kristin Belderson, DNP RN NEA-BC NPD-BC CPON® FAPHON
Committee Members:
- Terri Boyce, DNP APRN CPNP-AC CPHON® TCTCN™ FAPHON
- Deborah S. Echtenkamp, MSN RN CPON® FAPHON
- Liz Sniderman, MSN MPH NP CPNP-AC CPHON®
Board Liaison: Amy Haskamp, MSN RN PCNS-BC CPON® CHPPN FPCN FAPHON
Global Outreach
Oversees organizational international outreach and global presence.
Chair: Colleen Nixon, MSN RN CPHON® NPD-BC FAPHON
Vice Chair: Kasey Rangan, MSN CPNP CPHON®
Committee Members:
- Heidi Abendroth, MSN CPNP CPHON®
- Shirley Behm, MSN RN FNP CPHON®
- Holly Caldwell, RN
- Jessica Graef, MSN MA CPHON®
- Rachael LeBeau, RN CPHON®
- Lizza Lopez, RN
- Richard John Ramos, PNP MS RN CNS CPON®
Board Liaison: Mindy Bibart, DNP RN CPHON® NEA-BC CPPS CBBSS
Leadership Development Committee
Oversees the selection of eligible candidates for the annual election of the board of directors and develops a leadership pipeline for future APHON leaders. Their committee term begins following the
annual meeting.
Chair: Dyane Bunnell, DNP APRN AOCNS® CPHON® NPD-BC FAPHON
Committee Members:
- Misty Evans, PhD DNP APRN CPNP-AC TCTCN™ FAPHON
- Beth Fisher, DNP CPNP-AC/PC APRN CPON® CHPPN
- Molly Hemenway, DNP MS RN AC/PC-CPNP
- Holly Remington Kubaney, MSN PNP-BC CPHON®
- Kelly Laschinger, MSN RN CPNP
- Sharon Bergeron, BSN RN CPON® FAPHON
Board Liaison: Amy Newman, PhD RN CPNP-PC
Local Chapter Committee
Enhances communication between chapters and the APHON Board of Directors and coordinates overall chapter activities.
Chair: Kari Wheeler, DNP APRN CPNP-AC TCTCN™ CPHON® CPN
Vice Chair: Stacy Wolf, RN CPNP-AC CPON®
Committee Members:
- Amber Bills, MSN RN CPN CPHON®
- Susie Burke, MA RN CPNP CPHON®
- Jenna Gimre, BSN RN CPHON® CPN
- Cecelia A. Gladbach, BSN RN CPON® TCTCN™
- Abigail Slaven, RN CPHON®
- Tonya J Ureda, MS RN CPNP CPON®
- Melody Watral, BSN MSN RN CPNP-PC CPON®
Board Liaison: Mindy Bibart, DNP RN CPHON® NEA-BC CPPS CBBSS
Patient and Family Education Committee
The Patient and Family Education Committee oversees the updating of APHON’s patient and family handbooks, as well as the Medication Fact Sheets and other educational offerings.
Chair: Suzanne Smolik, MSN RN CPNP CPON®
Past Chair: Mylynda Livingston, BSN RN CPON®
Committee Members:
- Angie Blackwell, MSN RN ACCNS-P CPON®
- Cecelia A. Gladbach, BSN RN CPON® TCTCN™
- Kristen Guevara, MSN CPNP-AC
- Kelsey Liburd, DNP CPNP-AC CPHON® CPN BSN
- Tonya J Ureda, MS RN CPNP CPON®
- Kari Wheeler, DNP APRN CPNP-AC TCTCN™ CPHON® CPN
Board Liaison: Natalie Alwin, BSN RN TCTCN™ CPHON®
Professional Development
The APHON Professional Development Committee provides ongoing professional development resources, tools, and learning opportunities for APHON members to advance their careers in the field of pediatric hematology/oncology nursing.
Chair: Breanne Roche, DNP RN APRN CPNP-PC CPHON®
Vice Chair: Kim Arnold, DNP APRN CPNP CPHON®
Committee Members:
- Jazmine Betancis, RN BSN CPN
- Terri Boyce, DNP APRN CPNP-AC CPHON® TCTCN™ FAPHON
- Teresa M. Conte, PhD MSN CRNP FAPHON
- Edith Freyer, DNP APRN CPNP-AC
- Jenna Gimre, BSN RN CPHON® CPN
- Amy Kaiser, MSN CPNP-PC
- Janice Nuuhiwa, MSN RN NPD-BC CPHON®-Emeritus FAPHON
- Stacy Wolf, RN CPNP-AC CPON®
Board Liaison: Mary Newman, DNP RN CPON® NEA-BC FAPHON