Empowering Excellence in Nursing Education

Dr. Andrew Wagner, a distinguished graduate of UC Irvine Medical School, has been a Board Certified Family Physician since 1985. With a notable career in medical education and patient care, he has held esteemed positions such as Chief of Education and served on the Ethics Committee. He is recognized as a pioneer in AIDS/HIV patient care in California. In 2012, he became Board Certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, marking a significant shift towards end-of-life care. As a faculty member for the Healer’s Art Course at UCSF, Dr. Wagner focuses on end-of-life and palliative care, sharing his extensive knowledge with medical students. For the past 15 years, he has been a physician facilitator for Schwartz Rounds, promoting discussions about the emotional challenges of patient care. Currently, he provides inpatient palliative care consults at Sutter Health and continues to teach residents. His work is complemented by his training in guided imagery and integrative medicine. In his spare time, Dr. Wagner, a black belt in Aikido, has trained in martial arts for thirty years.

With over 20 years of healthcare experience, Alli Beaman is dedicated to providing exceptional primary and palliative care. Alli obtained her graduate degree from Graceland University, and she serves as a nurse practitioner in Idaho. She delivers primary and urgent care through house calls, primarily serving rural areas with limited resources. Alli has a passion for helping others in rural communities access care that they would otherwise not have, particularly end of life care. Certified as a family nurse practitioner by both the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), she also holds the Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN®) credential. Outside of her professional life, Alli enjoys spending time with her husband and children, exploring the outdoors, listening to music, and reading.

Liz Hayward is an accomplished healthcare leader in hospice and palliative care. As the Director of Medical Services at a hospice organization, she leverages her extensive nursing experience in hospice to enhance care delivery and operational efficiency, ensuring patients receive compassionate, high-quality care. With a Master’s degree in Business Administration and as a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN), Liz brings extensive expertise to her leadership roles. She has experience both at the bedside and in other leadership roles, including serving as Associate Director of Clinical Services and Clinical Patient Care Manager. Outside of work, Liz enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time by the ocean.

Ashley Williamson is a dedicated nursing professional with extensive experience in healthcare leadership, education, and compliance. She holds dual master’s degrees: a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management and a Master of Science in Nursing. Her credentials include certifications as a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) and a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN). Additionally, she serves as a CHAP Hospice Consultant. With a career spanning roles such as Case Manager, Nursing Clinical Instructor, Informatics and Regulatory Compliance Specialist, Coordinator of Patient Services, and Director of Education and Compliance Training, Ashley has developed a robust skill set in clinical education, compliance, and operations. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her children, baking and cooking, crafting, and staying active.

Jeannie Zanetti is a nurse practitioner specializing in palliative care and certified as an Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN). Jeannie obtained her master’s degree in nursing from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and advanced her training at UCSF to become a certified adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner. She works in palliative care at a cancer center and collaborates closely with a multidisciplinary team to alleviate pain, fatigue, and other symptoms related to cancer and its treatments. Outside of her professional life, Jeannie has a long-standing love for yoga and canoe paddling, is an avid home cook, and a proud cat mom.

Zachary Wagner is a nurse practitioner with extensive experience in palliative care. He has held pivotal roles within a palliative care organization, including Nurse Practitioner, Associate Director, and Director. He received his education and training in palliative medicine and primary care from San Francisco State University and Indiana State University, and he holds certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Rachel is a dynamic healthcare leader with extensive experience in strategic leadership, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. As a Director for a hospice organization, she oversees education, quality, and compliance programs, driving operational excellence. Rachel is recognized for her ability to implement innovative solutions that enhance patient care. As a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse (CHPN) since 2006 and an HPNA Approved Educator, Rachel is committed to advancing hospice and palliative care through education and mentorship. With a proven track record in developing quality programs and leading process improvements, she excels at engaging teams and mentoring future leaders. Outside of her professional endeavors, Rachel enjoys reading, hiking, traveling and spending time with her family.

Emily Palmer is an accomplished nurse practitioner with specialized training from the Duke-Johnson & Johnson APRN Fellowship. She is an Adult and Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP-BC) and an Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN). Emily has been recognized with the Emerging Leader Award from the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation, highlighting her dedication and impact in the field. Emily serves as a Clinical Director of Palliative Care, where she leads and innovates in the provision of compassionate care for patients with serious illnesses. Her expertise in advance care planning is reflected in her publications and presentations, including a publication in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Outside of work, she enjoys backyard farming and spending time with her spouse, toddler, and dog.

Samina is a registered nurse with diverse clinical experience in areas such as medical-surgical nursing and infection prevention. Driven by a strong interest in clinical research, she currently works as a Clinical Research Coordinator for a clinical trial. Passionate about education—particularly research-driven insights that can be applied to clinical practice—she has independently explored topics ranging from osteoporosis to infection prevention. In her free time, Samina enjoys reading, singing, and listening to music.

Dana Cook is a highly accomplished nursing leader with board certifications in Nursing Informatics (NI-BC), Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC), and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (PMH-BC). She currently serves as a Nursing Practice Leader at a large university health system, where she has led transformative work across both Nursing Informatics and Behavioral Health Services. Dana is deeply committed to advancing professional development and evidence-based practice in nursing. She is a frequently invited speaker at national conferences, with presentations spanning evidence-based practice journeys, de-escalation techniques, and the impact of transformational leadership on certification success. She also mentors doctoral students and serves as a catalyst for ongoing professional growth within the nursing community. Dana is passionate about shaping the future of nursing through innovation, education, and compassionate leadership.

Emily Mendez is a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMH-BC) nurse with years of experience dedicated to mental health care across diverse settings. She has provided direct care and clinical leadership in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatric units, supporting staff in managing complex psychiatric and behavioral situations in medical and emergency settings. Emily specializes in psychiatric crisis intervention, psychiatric care planning, staff education, and quality and process improvement. Her career has centered on improving mental health outcomes through interdisciplinary collaboration, safety-focused practices, and patient-centered communication. Emily holds a Master of Science in Nursing Administration and is passionate about empowering healthcare teams to provide safe, compassionate, and evidence-based psychiatric care.

Julie D’Apollo is an experienced psychiatric-mental health nurse and healthcare executive with over 25 years of experience in behavioral health leadership. She is board-certified in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (PMH-BC) and has held senior roles overseeing operations, nursing services, and regulatory compliance across inpatient and residential treatment settings. Julie previously served as Chief Nursing Officer at a psychiatric hospital, where she led nursing strategy, clinical quality initiatives, and system-wide readiness for accreditation. She has extensive expertise in care delivery for children, adolescents, and adults, and is known for driving quality improvement and aligning clinical practice with regulatory requirements. Her background includes executive leadership, nursing administration, staff development, and consulting on behavioral health system transformation. She has led initiatives to improve patient outcomes, advance workforce development, and ensure preparedness for Joint Commission and CMS evaluations. Julie is committed to fostering safe, effective, and compassionate care in the mental health field.

Dr. Diaz is a board-certified dermatologist with extensive training and expertise in general dermatology. A graduate of Davao Medical School Foundation, she completed her internship at Davao Medical School Foundation Hospital and three years of residency at Southern Philippines Medical Center. She is also actively involved in research and medical education.

Amy is a highly experienced nurse executive with a career spanning clinical care, education, professional development, and executive leadership. She currently serves as Vice President of Nursing at a small hospital and as an onsite director and associate professor at a nursing school. Board certified in multiple specialties; Amy has led system-wide initiatives in nursing education and workforce advancement. An active member of national nursing organizations, she has been recognized for her leadership and commitment to mentoring future nurses while continuing to support her community through volunteer service and faculty roles.