Empowering today’s RNs to achieve excellence!

ANA-Ohio was founded in 2022 by a group of Ohio nurse leaders as a professional association for registered nurses in Ohio. ANA-Ohio is a trusted nonprofit association dedicated to supporting today’s registered nurses through leadership, resources, advocacy, and awareness. The main goals of ANA-Ohio are to:

• provide leadership and a mechanism for its members to shape the dynamic health care delivery system
• establish standards of excellence in nursing practice
• serve as a primary resource for nurses, policymakers, and other stakeholders regarding health care and nursing issues
• advocate for patients, the nursing profession, and nurses practicing in a variety of venues
• support the evolving educational and career advancement of nurses
• increase awareness of the crucial importance of equity and diversity within the nursing profession, and develop strategies to achieve a more inclusive nursing workforce across all facets of the health care system.

ANA-Ohio is not a labor organization, nor does it represent nurses for collective bargaining purposes.

Our Vision:

Become the trusted, forward-thinking, and inclusive professional organization for nurses in the state of Ohio through advocacy, leadership, and education.

Our Mission:

To empower nurses to achieve excellence.

Rebecca M. Patton
DNP, RN, CNOR, FAAN

President

Becky demonstrates her service to the profession in numerous ways. She has held numerous positions at the local, state, and national level. During the two-term as president of the American Nurses Association (2006-2010) she focused and advanced solutions that impacted nurses and the public we serve. Her service and leadership has resulted in numerous local and national honors and awards. Twice selected, Becky was one of Modern Healthcare “Top 100 Most Influential Persons in Healthcare” in 2009 and 2010. One of her favorite award was in 2015, she received Ohio March of Dimes Nurse of the Year.

She earned her BSN from Kent State University, her MSN and DNP from Case Western Reserve University.

Susan Yoder
PhD, RN

First Vice President

Susan received an AD, BS in nursing, and MSED in counseling psychology from Youngstown State University. She holds a PhD in Psychology from Kent State University. She has worked in nursing for over 50 years in various positions in both management and education. Her most recent nursing position was Executive Director of Visiting Nurses for 23 years. She is currently retired from nursing, but still works as a Psychologist with a private practice in Clinical psychology.

Deb Arms
PhD, BSN, MS

Second Vice President

Deb Arms has been practicing nursing since 1974. She has a BSN (1974), MS (1976), and PhD (1987) from The Ohio State University. Her special area of expertise includes working with children with disabilities,

Genetics, public health, health policy and administration. Deb has experience as a clinical nurse specialist, faculty and administrator. For 15 years She was Chief of the Division of Prevention at the Ohio Department of Health. She has special expertise in the areas of strategic planning, health policy development, emergency preparedness, health promotion and risk reduction, environmental health, genetics and leadership and management. She recently retired from Wright State University College of Nursing and Health as an Assistant Professor. She has recently been appointed as Second Vice President after acting as a liaison to the Nominations Committee. She serves on the Finance, Public Policy, and Conference planning committees and also is a member of the Governance Task Force.

Debbie Cannon Freece
MS, RN

Secretary

Debbie received her BSN and MS in Nursing at The Ohio State University. Debbie is a career-long member of ANA, having served as Executive Director of their local affiliate for 23 years. Debbie has been employed as a Director of Nursing for a Long-term care facility, Project Director for the Ohio Department of Health Nursing Home Area Training Centers and self-employed Geriatric Nursing Consultant. Her belief in mentorship, education, volunteerism and health advocacy drives her commitment to the nursing profession. She serves on several community health boards and is secretary of a civic organization. Debbie is a member of our Community Engagement Committee and Legacy Special Interest Group.

Barbara Daly
PhD, RN, FAAN

Treasurer

At the start of my career I worked as a critical care nurse for 15 years, then pursued my interest in ethics and earned a doctorate in moral philosophy. Since then I have been a faculty member in the Schools of Nursing and Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, teaching and conducting research. I also was the Director of Clinical Ethics at University Hospitals for many years.

Contact the Treasurer

Linda S Warino
BSN, RN

Director

A registered nurse for 49 years. Served as a staff nurse in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit for over thirty years of nursing career and was certified in that area of practice. Employed as Executive Director of District Three, Ohio Nurses Association in 2003 and retired from that position in 2018. Served in a variety of elected leadership positions within her local, state and national professional nursing association, including as President and First Vice President of the Ohio Nurses Association and as a member of the Boards of Directors of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Received numerous honors and awards including the American Nurses Association Staff Nurse Award and the Youngstown State University Distinguished Nursing Alumna Recognition.

Jeri Milstead
PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Director

Dr. Milstead has been a registered nurse for 66 years, starting as a staff nurse in her small, hometown general hospital. Her entry into nursing was a diploma from Mt. Carmel SON followed by a BSN, cum laude, and MS (Nursing) from The Ohio State University. After her husband’s sudden death at 42, she moved from teaching in an AD program to an administrative position. Active in the Knox-Licking district, she was recruited by Dorothy Cornelius to become Associate Executive Director of ONA. In 1985, she moved to South Carolina where she served 10 years as faculty at Clemson U. and was appointed a member/president of the SC Board of Nursing. During that time, she also earned a PhD in Political Science at the U. of Georgia. From 1995 to 1998 she was director of graduate programs at Duquesne U. and taught the first course in the first PhD in Nursing program that was offered totally online. From 1998-2008 she served as dean/professor at MCO/U. of Toledo CON. She is experienced in strategic planning, program development, transformational leadership, and health policy. She is founder of the first research- and theory-based textbook, Milstead’s Health Policy and Politics, 7^th edition that has become a staple in graduate nurse education. She has been awarded many honors and, in 2020 was inducted into the ANA Hall of Fame.

Corrin Steinhauer
DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CPPS

Director

Dr. Corrin Steinhauer, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CPPS is a nursing leader with 2 decades of experience in the nursing profession, both at the bedside and in formal leadership positions. Dr. Steinhauer holds a BSN and MS in Nursing Administration from Purdue University, and a DNP in Systems Leadership from Rush University in Chicago. As the Chief Nursing Officer at The Ohio State University Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Center, Corrin is responsible for helping the exemplary nursing staff continue to elevate their commitment to Relationship-Based Care with a focus on community, diversity, equity and inclusion, evidence-based practice, research, care-delivery models, support for new nursing graduates, and support for acute and ambulatory growth. Through collaborative leadership, she led The James nursing community to their third Magnet designation. Prior to joining The Ohio State University Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Center, Corrin served as the Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital.

MELISSA D COLE
DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, CENP

Director

Dr. Melissa Cole has over 20 years of experience in the nursing profession to include areas of practice, academia, and leadership. Dr. Cole received her DNP in Executive Leadership from CWRU Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, her MSN from University of Tampa, and BSN from Ursuline College. As the inaugural interim Dean at John Carroll University's College of Health and Associate Professor in the Nursing Department, she has a vision to forge interdisciplinary healthcare education that addresses the evolving healthcare needs of the future. Clinically active as an Adult Nurse Practitioner in Emergency Medicine at University Hospitals health System, she also guides healthcare innovation with her expertise in delivery and technology. Dr. Cole’s research is enhancing nursing science on innovative care models and partnerships. Her commitment to community health is recognized by her board appointments as Vice President at New Directions and Crossroads Health centers that care for mentally ill and addiction populations. Dr. Cole is a “multiplier” that has exceptional relationship-building skill set that are critical in change management

Tiffany Bukoffsky
MHA, BSN, RN

Executive Director
director@ana-ohio.org

JANE NElson

Director of Nursing Clients

Janna RuEdisale

Membership Specialist

Candice Black

Association Liaison

Valerie Sobczak

Event Manager

Ben Jamerson

Marketing Specialist

Allison Sempsrott

Graphic Designer & Website Specialist

Committees, Taskforces and Chairs