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 on and advanced solutions that impacted nurses and the public we serve. Her service and leadership have 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 awards was in 2015, she received Ohio March of Dimes Nurse of the Year.
She earned her BSN from Kent State University and her MSN and DNP from Case Western Reserve University.
Kurt Kless
MSN, MBA, RN, NE-BC
First Vice President
Kurt Kless MSN, MBA, RN, NE-BC joined UTMC as the Chief Nursing Officer in 2021 after moving back to the Midwest from Atlanta, Georgia where he served as the interim chief nursing officer, assistant vice president of nursing and professional practice at Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center.
A native of Cleveland, Kless earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Case Western Reserve University. He also holds a master of science in nursing and a master of business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. In addition to being a licensed RN with over 15 years of experience, including a wide range of leadership roles, Kless holds a Nurse Executive certification from the American Nurses Association Credentialing Center. He is a business focused clinician with experience directing operations across a seven-hospital system and nursing enterprise of over 5000 nurses including finance management, leadership development, clinical operations, system integration, process improvement and implementation of Lean principals.
Corrin Steinhauer
DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CPPS
Second Vice President
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.
Connie Stopper
PhD, MSN, MEd, RN
Secretary
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.
Shanina Knighton
PhD, BSN, RN
Director
Dr. Knighton’s mission is to support nurses throughout their careers by promoting equitable policies, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and developing practical, evidence-based solutions to address complex healthcare challenges. As the inaugural Executive Director of the APIC Center for Infection Prevention and Control Research, Practice, and Innovation (CIPCRPI), she championed research priorities and created initiatives connecting healthcare professionals with industry leaders. She has also led international efforts as an ISO convener, coordinating infection prevention standards across 27 countries.
In addition to serving on the advisory board for MedPage Today and the City of Cleveland’s Lead Testing Commission, Dr. Knighton’s work has been instrumental at the state and national levels. She has collaborated with organizations like the American Nurses Association and the State of Ohio, translating infection prevention science into accessible tools for communities and healthcare systems. Her expertise has been featured in prominent outlets such as Forbes and Fox News, and she remains dedicated to public health through consultative roles, mentorship, and leadership development.
As a member of the ANA-Ohio Board of Directors, Dr. Knighton actively supports initiatives that promote excellence in nursing through leadership development, policy engagement, and public health advocacy. She is committed to shaping the future of nursing by driving diversity, fostering innovation, and upholding the highest standards of care across Ohio.
Barb Welch
DNP, MS, RN, EBP-C
Director
Barb has been a nurse for over 29 years and in the medical field for over 34 years. She earned her nursing diploma from the St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing in Youngstown, Ohio in 1995. She earned a BSN and an MSN from Excelsior College of New York in 2013, as well as a DNP from Mount Carmel College of Nursing in 2021. She has served her profession in a variety of capacities, including many positions in local, district, and state associations. Barb worked in the Emergency Departments of The Ohio State University Medical Center and Fairfield Medical Center for several years. She also worked as an Informatics Nurse in the Emergency Department at Fairfield Medical Center before joining Mount Carmel College of Nursing (MCCN) as the college’s Simulation Education Coordinator. Her additional roles at MCCN included teaching Health Policy, Disaster Nursing, and Emergency Preparedness courses. Barb has also served in the Army National Guard. She served as the head medic for the 838th Military Police Company in Youngstown, Ohio. During the Bosnian Conflict in 1996, she was deployed to Germany with the MP Company for a nine-month tour.
Ethan Slocum
BSN, RN
Early Career Director
Ethan Slocum, BSN, RN earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University in May 2025. He currently practices as a staff nurse in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, in Cleveland, OH, where he provides professional, compassionate care to critically ill children and supports families during high-acuity care.
Ethan serves as the inaugural Early Career Director for ANA-Ohio, where he is committed to advancing engagement, membership growth, and advocacy among new graduate and early-career nurses across the state. In this role, he champions professional development and supports early career nurses as they transition from student to practicing professional.
Prior to joining ANA-Ohio leadership, Ethan distinguished himself as the 73rd President of the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA), representing more than 50,000 pre-licensure nursing students nationwide and advocating for the future of nursing education and practice. In that role, he addressed influential audiences including the American Nurses Association Membership Assembly and national policy forums, raising awareness for transformative improvements in healthcare and nursing education.
During his undergraduate career, Ethan was deeply engaged in leadership and service, including multiple terms as President of the Case Western Reserve University Undergraduate Student Nurses Association and roles in health policy and advocacy at the state level. He also worked clinically as a patient care technician in cardiovascular intensive care and step-down units, gaining hands-on experience that informs his current clinical practice.
Ethan’s leadership reflects a longstanding commitment to the profession — from fostering peer mentorship and student engagement to building collaborative relationships with nurse leaders and advocacy organizations. He looks forward to leveraging this background to strengthen ANA-Ohio’s impact and support the next generation of nurses.
Shanell Murphy
MBA-HM, MSN-LM, RN
Director
Shanell Murphy, MBA-HM, MSN-LM, RN is the Chair of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee for ANA-Ohio and a healthcare quality and patient experience leader. Her professional background includes bedside nursing, behavioral health, dialysis, nursing leadership, and executive roles focused on safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. Shanell is committed to advancing inclusive nursing practice, leadership development, and equitable care delivery across diverse communities. She is passionate about mentoring emerging leaders and strengthening the nursing profession through intentional engagement and advocacy.
Sarah May
DNP, AGACNP-BC, APRN-CNP
Director
