As I step into the role of ANA-Michigan President, I want to begin with gratitude. Over the past two years, Dr. Barb Medvec has led this organization with extraordinary vision, collaboration, and engagement. Her leadership has strengthened ANA-MI, and she continues to be a valued mentor to me and to so many others. I’m also deeply grateful for our board of directors—trusted friends, thought partners, and a constant source of inspiration. And to you, our members: your passion for our profession and your ongoing support of our initiatives have elevated nursing across Michigan through standard setting, advocacy, and professional development.
What does it mean to be a nurse? A decade ago, when I moved into nursing leadership, someone asked how I felt about leaving the bedside. My response was simple—being a nurse means I have a panel of patients, and my job is to remove as many barriers as possible so they can achieve their optimal health, their goals, and outcomes that promote their flourishing.
That panel has changed over time. At the bedside, it included my med‑surg patients, then recovery room patients, and later unhoused individuals and immigrant families in the community. As a nursing leader, my panel became the physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, and teams I supported.
And now, as President of ANA‑Michigan, my panel includes each of you—every nurse across our state. My goal is to remove barriers, provide resources, and strengthen the connections that allow us to advocate for our patients and for one another. Together, we can advance our profession in our hospitals, our communities, and in Lansing, ensuring excellence at every level of patient care.
As we look ahead, I’m energized by what the next two years will bring. Our shared mission—advancing Michigan’s health and safety through the innovation, leadership, and excellence of registered nurses—guides everything we do. ANA‑Michigan leads a diverse and inclusive community committed to nursing excellence, advocacy, and innovation. Through ANA‑MI LEADS—Leadership, Empowerment, Agility, Diversity, and Service—we will continue shaping the future of nursing in our state. And as part of the ANA Enterprise, we remain aligned with the broader mission to lead the nursing profession and shape the future of healthcare, working toward a healthy world through the power of nursing.
I’m honored to move forward with each of you, and I’m excited for all we will accomplish together.
