Board of Trustees

President
Eric Snyder, DNP, APRN-CNP

MSN from Kent State in 2012, DNP from Otterbein in 2015

Eric Snyder is a Nurse Practitioner board certified in acute care and cardiovascular medicine who partners with Twin City Medical Center in Dennison Ohio which is a part of Trinity Health System and CommonSpirit Health nationally. Eric provides coordination of an APRN staffed hospitalist program he conceptualized and operationalized in 2016 to the community that is served by their critical access facility. After spending nearly 24 years in healthcare, from working as a nurse’s aide to serving as a past medical staff president and current medical executive committee member, Eric has experienced the delivery of healthcare from many different perspectives.

Eric Serves on many CommonSpirit Health committees and councils including the national advanced practice leadership council and value based population’s clinical council and the National Hospitalist Medicine Leadership Committee. Eric is a 2022 graduate of the CommonSpirit Provider Leadership Academy. Apart from his local organizational involvement in APP practice changes, Eric also has been on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Association of Advanced Practices Nurses for 6 years initially as a chapter leader and finishing in a term as Co-Director of the Government Relations Committee which involved him in state APRN practice legislative initiatives. Eric was the recipient of the 2022 OAAPN Presidents Award and the 2020 AANP State Award for Clinical excellence.

Eric believes that if we continue to advance the mission of the organization, we will solidify our brand of healthcare providers as a trusted go-to source for all consumers and stakeholders of our services.

President Elect
Katie Worsham, MSN, APRN-FNP-C, RN-BC

Katie Worsham, MSN, APRN-FNP-C, RN-BC, is a Family Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care Provider with PrimaryOne Health, with a focus on both primary and preventative care.

Prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner, Katie was a Registered Nurse for more than a decade within OSUWMC, most of that time spent in the Emergency Department. She earned her ADN from Columbus State Community College, followed by her BSN and ultimately her MSN-FNP, at Ohio University.

Katie says, “I have a passion for primary and preventative care after working in the Emergency Department for so long and seeing that having poor access to primary care led to worsening chronic illness and more frequent ED and hospital visits.” She says it was this realization that led her back to school to earn her MSN. “As much as possible, I am able to provide preventative and chronic care to patients before they hit the hospital.”

In her first role with OAAPN, Katie serves as a Co-Director of the Central Ohio Region, noting “In promoting the professional practice of Advanced Practice Nurses we have the opportunity to educate and provide increased access to care for patients.” OAAPN, she says, provides access to CEUs, offers the ability to network with other APRNs, and access to OAAPNs legal counsel.

Katie has been married for 23 years to who she calls, “the best, most supportive husband” with whom she has two adult boys. One of their sons is in the US Marine Corps who has two children “who are just the best little nuggets.” Their youngest son is currently in North Carolina attending NASCAR Technical Institute, so, she says, “who knows where he will land after graduation.”

Katie and her husband also have two rescue dogs, Ghost & Pepper, that light up their lives with the best unconditional adoration. They also frequently foster dogs for RESCUEDOhio.

Immediate Past President
Amanda Rumpke, DNP, APRN-CNP

Amanda is a certified acute care nurse practitioner specializing in pulmonary and critical care. She attended the University of Cincinnati where she obtained her MSN in 2009. In 2019 she successfully completed the Duke Johnson & Johnson Nursing Leadership Fellowship and plans to earn her DNP from the University of Cincinnati in the Spring of 2023.

Amanda has witnessed health care delivery through a variety of nursing and leadership roles over her nearly 20-year healthcare career. Whether it be as a nurse in a medical ICU, a unit-based educator, a unit secretary, an APRN or Director of Advanced Practice, Amanda has enjoyed engaging and empowering caregivers to be all they can for patients, which is what made further involvement in OAAPN so appealing to her.

In her role as OAAPN Co-Director of Southwest Ohio and Chair for OAAPN’s Board Development Committee, Amanda has expanded access to leadership training for all Ohio APRNs and has worked in close partnership with Dr. Pamela Maxson on the development of OAAPN’s LEAD Academy set to launch in early 2023. She looks forward to join OAAPN’s executive board as President-Elect this fall.

Currently Amanda supports nearly 1200 advanced practice clinicians across 4 states as the Bon Secours Mercy Health System Director of Advanced Practice. Additionally, she enjoys opportunities to speak to local and national audiences regarding various topics relevant to advanced practice including CMS’ split/share rule, effective clinical workforce utilization and the importance of top of licensure hospital privileging for advanced practice providers.

In her free time, she likes to run and practice yoga while spending time with her husband and 3 daughters on their farm in Liberty Township.

Treasurer
Meredith Foxx, MSN ,MBA, APRN, NEA-BC, PCNS-BC, PPCNP-BC, CPON

Executive Chief Nursing Officer

Cleveland Clinic

Nursing Institute

Meredith Foxx received her BSN & MSN, from the University of Pennsylvania. She received her MBA from Case Western Reserve University in the Executive Health Care Track. Foxx currently serves as the ECNO for Cleveland Clinic Health System, she was appointed ECNO for Cleveland Clinic Nursing Institute in October 2020, overseeing close to 30,000 nursing caregivers across U.S. and international locations, with oversight of nursing operations, strategy, practice and professional growth.

Foxx’s prior role as ACNO, Advanced Practice Nursing, Nursing Quality and Practice she wasresponsible for the oversight of nursing quality, providing leadership on quality metrics & reporting, nursing practice & standardization across the health system to ensure meeting the overall goals. The APRN scope involves overseeing the practice, scope, quality and roles ofapproximately 2,000 APRNs. She was named the first ACNO of Advanced Practice Nursing at Cleveland Clinic, where she led an initiative to standardize reporting & creating a leadership governance structure for APPs. She has spent her nursing career devoted to the pediatric oncology patient population & nursing leadership.

She is a member of AONL (American Organization of Nursing Leadership), AANP (American Association of Nurse Practitioners), OAAPN (Ohio Association of APRNs) and APHON (Association of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Nurses). She is the Treasurer for OAAPN (Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses). She also serves as the Chair of the Professional Development Committee for APHON (Association of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Nurses).

Meredith has presented nationally on a variety of topics including: shared governance, leadership, and pediatric oncology topics. Meredith likes to stay active and loves to read. She ismarried (husband-Jim), and loves her labs- Homer and Hanford!

Secretary
Kristina Langley, APRN, FNP-C

Kristina Langley has over 24 years of combined experience in the healthcare industry between Registered and Advanced Practice Nursing. She obtained her Associate Degree in Nursing in 1998 from West Virginia Northern Community College. She received her BSN from Penn State University in 2013 and her Masters Degree from Duquesne University in 2020. During her education and career, she has become active and involved with both the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses. Kristina is Board Certified with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She is currently practicing in a primary care facility focusing on improving access to care at On Demand Healthcare in the Austintown Region. As conditions have dynamically changed involving the opioid epidemic, she is currently undergoing classes to obtain her MAT licensure to serve the underserved. She is passionate about HB 177 and the implications that the passage of this bill would provide for patients throughout the state of Ohio.

When she is not working she is at home on a farm with her husband and two teenage boys. She enjoys volunteering with track, cross country and swim boosters in addition to cooking, reading and amateur photography.

Co-Director: Government Affairs
Summer Davis, MSN, FNP-BC, APRN, CNP, RN

Summer’s clinical practice is in Thoracic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.
Summer manages the Regional Cardiovascular Medicine APRNs/PAs in the Heart Vascular Thoracic Insitute.

Summer is also the Chair of APRN Council at Cleveland Clinic and Chairs the Advocacy Subcommittee.

Director – Education
Michael Sabo, DNP, APRN-CNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN

Mike Sabo is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner on the MICU service and Rapid Response Team at Cleveland Clinic Akron General in Akron, OH. He earned a BSN and a BA in Spanish from the University of Akron in 2015 and an MSN as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from Case Western Reserve University in 2019. He completed the DNP program at CWRU in May 2023 with a focus in practice leadership.

His healthcare career began in 2013 as a nursing student technician before practicing as a registered nurse in 2015 in coronary and medical intensive care. He is certified as a critical care nurse (CCRN). As an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Mike has worked for the Cleveland Clinic as a Critical Care House Officer and as a Nurse Practitioner in clinical cardiology. He serves as a clinical preceptor for APRN students at CWRU and was recognized as the Outstanding Preceptor of the Year in the MSN program at CWRU for 2020. In 2023, Mike presented continuing education content for his organization’s Advanced Practice Provider Forum covering healthy work environments for advanced practice providers. He is enrolled in his employer’s professional development program in the leadership track.

In his free time, Mike enjoys spending time with his husband and dog. He makes every effort to spend his PTO on hiking trips to the National Parks, but while at home he enjoys gardening and finding new ways to use his sourdough starter.

Director – Communications
Kyle Shannon, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Kyle Shannon is a family nurse practitioner from Northeast Ohio. Kyle has been working as a nurse practitioner in neuromuscular medicine since 2018. His current role within his department is in leadership as the APRN/PA manager for general neurology and neuromuscular medicine. Kyle works closely with his institute’s APRN council focusing on areas of professional development and advocacy.

Outside of work, Kyle enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. Kyle is an avid runner and biker and enjoys being outdoors as much as the weather in Ohio permits.

Co-Director: Government Affairs
Mandi Cafasso, DNP, APRN, CPNP

Interim Director – Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

University of Cincinnati

Region Director – Southeast
Elisha Clark, APRN, FNP-C

My specialty is Family Practice since 2011, however I also specialize in wound care, addiction medicine, and am the Medical Director and an expert in non acute SANE exams for the local Children’s Advocacy Center of Guernsey County since 2018.

Region Director – Northwest
Ann Frahn, MS, APRN-CNS, RNC-MNN, EFM

Ann Frahn MS, APRN-CNS, RNC-MNN, EFM served in a variety of roles, including management, JCAHO, state and federal accreditation and compliance, facilitation of performance improvement teams, as well as a wide range of patient care experience. She retired in 2021 from Mercy Health St. Charles Hospital as the Director of Nursing.

Region Director – Northwest
Julie Melendez, MSN, APRN-CNP

I am originally from Painesville, Ohio graduating from Riverside High school in 1988. I attended BGSU right after graduation, wanting to study pre-med but ended up with a biology degree which led me to nursing. I have been RN since 12/1998, obtained my BSN in 2005 and my Masters and Nurse Practitioner in 2009. While I attended my BSN and MSN programs I had two boys and worked full time. I graduated top of my class in 2005 with my BSN. I have been working in orthopedics at Northwest Ohio Orthopedics since them performing all aspects of care for our patients, including injections and I interpret my own x-rays. At our yearly OAAPN conference I assist in teaching a joint injection workshop with my colleague from NWO. I enjoy teaching very much and look forward to this every year. I am a member of the Government relations Committee, helping monitor legislation from the Ohio House and Senate. I also assist on the Reimbursement committee specifically watching all legislation concerning BWC.

I have been married for 24 years to wonderful man , Sam, who works in Politics. We have two boys Ben (16) and Mason (13). In my free time, I like to bake, run and devour books. I belong to two book clubs! On Thursdays you can find we trying to win music trivia in Bowling Green where I have lived since 1988.

Region Director – Northeast
Cheryl L McDade, MSN, APRN.CNP, ACHPN, FNP-C

Cheryl McDade is board-certified in primary care of the family and in hospice and palliative care with a focus on the family and the individual across the life span. She is experienced in palliative medicine and supportive care, hospice, long-term acute care and rehabilitation, peri-operative orthopedic joint and spine surgery, pain management, walk in clinic/urgent care and in physical and occupational rehabilitation at the skilled nursing level.

Currently, she practices as an APRN at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Taussig Cancer Institute in the Department of Palliative and Supportive Care and is blessed to provide specialized medical care for patients and their families where she provides relief from pain and other symptoms of serious illness.

Cheryl’s present position in palliative medicine affords her to practice in the venues of acute care, home care, and in facility settings. She has autonomy in practice but also many practice restrictions. Each arena has its own sub-system of care delivery and she is an avid supporter of APRNs practicing to the highest extent of their license while collaborating with colleagues/providers to ensure the best patient outcomes.

She is both humbled and honored to be part of OAAPN and the shared goal of advancing the APRN profession through cooperation with the Ohio Board of Nursing and Ohio Legislation in order to tackle the areas of APRN education and removing practice barriers.

In her spare time, Cheryl enjoys her grandchildren, two dachshunds, one cat and all Cleveland sports.

Region Director – Central
Barbara Schaffner, PhD, APRN-CNP

Barbara H. Schaffner, PhD, APRN, PNP, RN has been actively involved in nursing education, clinical practice and higher education administration during her professional career. Dr. Schaffner currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Association of Advance Practice Nurses and on the Finance Committee of the National League for Nursing.

Dr. Schaffner has served as Associate Provost for Graduate Studies, Dean of the Graduate School & School of Professional Studies and Chair of the Department of Nursing at Otterbein University. Dr. Schaffner’s experiences are highlighted through success in building new programs and establishing industry and academic collaborations. She launched the first doctoral degree at Otterbein University (the Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP), established the Department of Engineering, and the Nurse Anesthesia major in the DNP as a jointly owned program with Grant Medical Center, one hospital in the OhioHealth health care network.

As a Registered Nurse and a certified Advance Practice Nurse Dr. Schaffner’s clinical experiences cross the spectrum of health care from practice in pediatric intensive care to community based clinical practice in primary care. As a teacher in higher education she has experience teaching in the classroom, in the clinical setting and through technology. She is dedicated to professional service having participated in many community wide programs and international medical missions.

Dr. Schaffner received the National Grassroots Advocacy Award for continued involvement in health care policy from the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) in 2012, the 2008 Nurse Educator of the Year from the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses (OAAPN) and the 2007 Ohio Pediatric Nurse Practitioner of the Year from Ohio NAPNAP.

Dr. Schaffner has served on the Board of Trustees at Otterbein University, is past President of the Ohio Deans and Director for Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Nursing Programs, first President of the Kappa Lambda Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau (the International Nursing Honorary), in addition to work on the Executive Committee and in health care policy through the Ohio Chapter of NAPNAP. Dr. Schaffner currently serves as Vice President of FOYA Uganda, a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and cultural awareness of both US college students and Ugandan youth in the areas of literacy and adolescent female growth and development.

Her interests out side of professional nursing includes golf, hiking along with being an avid sports fan.

Region Director – Northeast
Laura Starkey, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

My name is Laura Starkey DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, and I will be acting as the Northeast Region Co-Director beginning in January 2024. I look forward to working with all of you during my upcoming term.

I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and currently live in Middleburg Heights (a southwest suburb of Cleveland). I received an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from Cuyahoga Community College, Bachelors Degree in Nursing from Indiana Wesleyan University, Masters Degree in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner track) from Chamberlain University, and the Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Ursuline College in December 2022.

I am currently the full-time medical provider at a local psychiatric facility that serves both inpatient and outpatient clients.

I have been blessed to receive scholarships from the Coca-Cola Foundation and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation during my nursing career. During my AAS program at Cuyahoga Community College, I served as Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa (Chi Omega Chapter), the National Honor Society of 2-year Colleges. My Doctoral Capstone Project titled “Implementation of a Chronic Care Management Program for Heart Failure Patients in a Cardiology Office” was presented at both state and national conferences, including: The Ohio State University 2022 Advanced Practice Provider Conference (September 2022), Northeast Ohio League of Nursing 5th Annual Evening of Doctoral Excellence (October 2022), Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Providers Annual Conference (October 2022), Ursuline College Nursing Colloquium (December 2022), and Midwest Nursing Research Association Annual Conference (March 2023).

My professional passions revolve around nursing education/orientation/mentoring. The nursing profession has changed dramatically since I first became a nurse, and feel that some of the basics of nursing have gone by the wayside with the addition of new technology and treatment modalities. I am a firm believer that nursing should embrace technology but continue to focus on basic nursing clinical skills.

I am also passionate about promoting a sense of camaraderie with our peers. Each of us has unique experiences that others may learn from. Sharing information with our peers only helps each of us grow not only professionally (in our clinical practice), but also individually. I hope that I will be able to help facilitate building strong professional networks amongst OAAPN members.

In my spare time, I enjoy traveling and learning about various cultures/ethnicities/religions of the world. I am also a huge history fanatic; both American and World history fascinates me. My favorite places that I have visited (so far) are Rome, Italy, Venice, Italy, and London, United Kingdom. Over the coming years, I hope to visit more international destinations.

Region Director – Southwest
Nichole Lawson, DNP, APRN-CNP

With a strong foundation in healthcare delivery, Nichole’s role as Clinical Quality Consultant at Optum allows her to drive initiatives that enhance patient safety and satisfaction. Her expertise in healthcare management is key to developing and implementing evidence-based practices. In her current position, collaborative efforts consistently aim to elevate the standards of home-based medical care.

Her mission is to mentor medical providers, ensuring they are equipped with the latest insights and skills for optimal patient care. Through a seamless integration of clinical research, education, and quality improvement, Nichole remains dedicated to her vision of a healthier population and a more efficient healthcare system.

Region Director – Southwest
DeShay Scandrick, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, RDH

I have been a nurse practitioner for 16 years. I have worked in long-term care, hospice and palliative care, home care, and primary care as a nurse practitioner. I recently received my DNP at Aspen University, graduating in December 2023. I am currently seeking a Psychiatric NP certificate at Maryville University. My commitment to the field of nurse practitioner is to make sure our voices are heard, create equal opportunities for us, and practice at the top of our license.

Director – Reimbursement

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Director – Professional Relations

Vacant Position

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