Committees & Taskforces
APHON is a volunteer-driven organization led by many wonderful and talented members that lend their expertise to the association.
Advocacy
Serves as a vehicle for establishing and carrying out policy priorities identified in the APHON Health Policy Agenda.
Chair
Katy Donahue, MS RN CPNP CPHON®
Vice Chair
Emily Padgett, BSN RN CPN CPHON®
Board Liaison
Amy Newman, PhD CPNP-BC CPHON®
Committee Members
- Susie Burke, RN MA CPNP CPHON®
- Jordan Collins, DNP APRN CPNP
- Erin Friedman, BSN RN CPHON®
- Laura Koke, BSN RN CPN CPHON®
- Kari Wheeler, BSN RN BMTCN® CPHON® CPN
- Stacy Whiteside, APRN MS CPNP-AC/PC CPON®
- Karen Wohlgezogen, BSN CPHON®
Annual Conference Program Planning
Plans and implements the annual conference each year.
Chair
Kathy Perko, MS CHPPN CPNP CPON®
Immediate Past Chair
Tonya Ureda, NP
Paper and Poster Co-Chair
Micah Skeens, PhD PNP RN
Board Liaison
Misty Evans, DNP APRN CPNP
Members
- Kristin M. Belderson, DNP MS RN CPON®
- Mindy Bibart, RN
- Deborah S. Echtenkamp, MSN RN CPON® FAPHON
- Marika Highberger, MSN CPNP-PC BMTCN®
- Alexandra G. Hughes, MSN APRN CNS ACCNS-P CPHON®
- LeighAnna Hutchinson, DNP APRN FNP-C
- Allyson Jones, RN CPN CPHON®
- Denise Mills, MN NP CPHON®
- Kitty Montgomery, PhD RN CNS CPHON®
- Stacy Whiteside, APRN CPON®
APHON Counts Newsletter
Oversees the overall content and quality of APHON Counts.
Editor
Chris Donaghey, MSN CNS RN CPHON®
Assistant Editor
Scarlett Czarnecki, BSN RN CPHON®
Board Liaison
- Kaye Schmidt, MA RN CPHON®
Column Editors
- Linda Abramovitz, MSN CNS BMTCN® FAAN
- Pam Asfahani
- Ashlee Blumhoff, MSN CPNP CPHON®
- Patricia A. Clarke, DNP APRN CPNP CPHON®
- Angela Forbes, MN APRN PNP-C
- Erin Friedman, BSN RN CPHON®
- Rachel Glincher, MSN CPNP-AC CPNP-PC CPHON®
- M. Danielle Gunter, PhD RN
- Carol Kotsubo, MPH MS APRN CPON-Emeritus®
- Sarah E. Matney, MSOL BSN RN CPON®
- Paula Sanborn, BSN RN CPHON®
- Anne Marie Sterk, MSN RN CPON®
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
Anne Marie Sterk, MSN RN CPON®
Immediate Past Chair
Ruth Anne Herring, MSN RN CPNP CPHON®
Board Liaison
- Dyane Bunnell, MSN RN AOCNS CPON®
Members
- Kristin M. Belderson, DNP MS RN CPON®
- Terri L. Boyce, DNP APRN CPNP-AC CPHON®
- Christina Knox Conley, MSN CPNP
- Kerri Kramer, MA RN CPHON®
- AnnMarie Martinez, MSN RN
- Shawna McMillan, BSN RN CPHON®
- Mary Newman, MSN RN CPON®
- Maritza Salazar-Abshire, MED MSN RN CPON®
- Michelle Tolley, RN
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force
The DEI Task Force supports the vision of APHON being a diverse and inclusive professional community that values and serves the distinct experiences and needs of members and their patients and families.
Chair
Janice Nuuhiwa, MMSN APN/CNS NPD-BC CPHON®
Board Liaison
- Dyane Bunnell, MSN RN AOCNS CPON®
Members
- Sara Davis, RN
- Chris Donaghey, MSN CNS RN CPHON®
- Ijeoma Julie Eche, PhD BMTCN® CPON® FNP-C
- Erin Friedman, BSN RN CPHON®
- Peggy L. Townsend, MS BSN CPON®
- Elizabeth Yarbrough, BSN CPN CPHON®
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 M. Belderson, DNP MS RN CPON®
Board Liaison
- Dyane Bunnell, MSN RN AOCNS CPON®
Members
- Rebecca W Manes, MSN RN
- Anne Marie Sterk, MSN RN CPON®
- Kathy Perko, MS CHPPN CPNP CPON®
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
M. Danielle Gunter, PhD RN
Vice-Chair
Micah Skeens, PhD PNP RN
Board Liaison
Misty Evans, DNP APRN CPNP
Members
- Lisa Bashore, PhD RN CPNP CPON®
- Mindy Bibart, DNP RN NEA-BC CPPS CBBSS CPHON®
- Chris Donaghey, MSN RN CNS CPHON®
- Marika Highberger, MSN RN CPNP
- Casey Hooke, PhD APRN PCNS-BC APRN FAAN FAPHON
- Gwendolyn Kimball, DNP CPON®
- Carol Kotsubo, APRN MS MPH CPON-Emeritus®
- Amanda Lulloff, PhD RN PCNS CPHON®
Global Outreach
Oversees organizational international outreach and global presence.
Chair
Linda Abramovitz, MSN RN BMTCN®
Immediate Past Chair
Janie Avila, BSN RN CPON®
Board Liaison
Sharon Bergeron, BSN RN CPON®
Members
- Heidi Abendroth, MSN CPNP CPHON®
- Mariana Durañona
- Jessica Graef, MSN MA CPHON®
- Rachael Kunkel, RN CPHON®
- Colleen M. Nixon, MSN RN CPHON®
- Richard John Ramos, PNP MS RN CNS CPON®
- Maritza Salazar-Abshire, MED MSN RN CPON®
- Paola Viveros Lamas, RN
Global Outreach — Sub-committee Members
Participants in a subcommittee only.
- Shirley Behm, MSN RN FNP CPHON®
- Holly Caldwell, RN
- Julia M. Challinor, PhD RN
- Joan O’Hanlon Curry, DNP MS RN CPNP-PC NEA-BC CPON® FAAN
- Lauri Linder, PhD APRN CPON® FAAN FAPHON
- Lizza Lopez, RN
- Kasey Rangan, MSN CPNP CPHON®
- Lorena Segovia Weber, RN
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing (JOPHON)
Oversees the overall content and quality of the Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses and the overall coordination of manuscripts and content.
Editor
Kristin A. Stegenga, PhD RN CPON®
Assistant Editors
- Suzanne Ameringer, PhD RN
- Casey Hooke, PhD CNS APRN CPON®
Board Liaison
Amy Newman, PhD CPNP-BC CPHON®
Editorial Board Members
- Laura Clarke-Steffen, PhD RN
- Deborah B. Crom, PhD RN CPNP
- Elizabeth A. Duffy, DNP RN CPNP
- Faith Gibson, PhD RGN ONC®
- Joan E. Haase, PhD RN
- Pamela S. Hinds, PhD RN FAAN
- Kimberly Pike-Grimm, PhD RN CNS
- Lauri Linder, PhD APRN CPON®
- Catherine Fiona MacPherson, PhD RN CPON®
- Belinda N. Mandrell, PhD RN PNP
- Ida M. (KI) Moore, DNS RN FAAN
- Audrey E. Nelson, PhD RN
- Amy Newman, PhD CPNP-BC CPHON®
- Deborah Tomlinson, MS RSCN RGN Dip Cancer Nursing
- Janice Withycombe, PhD RN MN, CCRP
- Roberta L. Woodgate, PhD RN
ACE Center Committee
Oversees the development of content and management and ongoing maintenance of the APHON Continuing Education (ACE) Center.
Chair
Rebecca W Manes, MSN RN
Immediate Past Chair
Beth Fisher, DNP CPNP APRN CPON®
Board Liaison
Amy Newman, PhD CPNP-BC CPHON®
Members
- Kathleen Ackerman, CNS RN
- Kristin M. Belderson, DNP MS RN CPON®
- Ruth Anne Herring, MSN RN CPNP CPHON®
- Karen Kestenbaum, RN
- Emily Padgett, BSN CPN CPHON®
- Rosa Rivera, RN
- Elizabeth R. Sniderman, MSN NP CPNP-AC CPHON®
Local Chapter Committee
Enhances communication between chapters and the APHON Board of Directors and coordinates overall chapter activities.
Chair
Erin Friedman, BSN RN CPHON®
Immediate Past-Chair
Scarlett Czarnecki, BSN RN CPHON®
Board Liaison
Kaye Schmidt, MA RN CPHON®
Members
- Cecelia A. Gladbach, BSN CPON® BMTCN®
- Mary Newman, MSN RN CPON®
- Holly Remington Kubaney, MSN PNP-BC CPHON®
- Colleen Nixon, MSN RN CPHON®
- Abigail Slaven, RN CPHON®
- Kari Wheeler, RN BMTCN® CPHON®
- Stacy Wolf, RN CPNP-AC CPON®
Nominating Committee
Oversees the selection of eligible candidates for the annual election of the board of directors and nominating committee members.
Chair
Scarlett Czarnecki, BSN RN CPHON®
Board Liaison
Deborah A. Lafond, DNP PPCNP-BC CHPPN FAAN FAPHON
Members
- Kelly Laschinger, MSN CPNP
- Kathleen Montgomery PhD RN CNS CPHON®
- Colleen M. Nixon, MSN RN 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
Meredith Foxx, MSN RN PCNS-BC CPON®
Vice Chair
Mary Newman, MSN RN CPON®
Board Liaisons
- Misty Evans, DNP APRN CPNP
Members
- Angie Blackwell, MSN RN CNS CPON®
- Terri L. Boyce, DNP APRN CPNP-AC CPHON®
- Teresa M. Conte, PhD MSN CRNP
- Debbie Lafond, DNP CHPPN PPCNP-PC CPON®
- Allison McNeil, BSN CPHON®
- Kathy Perko, MS CHPPN CPNP CPON®
- Breanne Roche, DNP RN CPNP-PC CPHON
- Kathleen Ruccione, PHD MPH RN CPON® FAPHON FAAN
- Melody A Watral, MSN RN CPNP CPNP-PC
Steering Council
Facilitates the APHON strategic plan in the areas of education, clinical practice, and research. The Steering Council serves as a vehicle for soliciting and presenting initial ideas for projects from APHON members.
Chair
Carol Kotsubo, MPH MS CPON-Emeritus®
Vice-Chair
Mylynda Livingston, BSN RN CPON®
Board Liaison
Sharon Bergeron, BSN RN CPON®
Members
- Sameeya N. Ahmed-Winston, MSN RN CPNP BMTCN® CPHON®
- Cecelia A. Gladbach, BSN CPON® BMTCN®
- Maureen Lynch Baker, APRN MSN CPON®
- Karen Madigan, RN
- Robin Pitts, FNP-C RN
- Rosa Rivera, RN
- Suzanne Smolik, MSN RN CPNP CPON®
- Tonya Ureda, NP
- Kari Wheeler, BSN RN BMTCN® CPHON®