Voices from the Nursing Frontline

Welcome to the Voices from the Nursing Frontline, proudly sponsored by the Tennessee Center for Nursing Advancement. Join host, Dr. Christy Hall, as she guides you through shines a spotlight on the remarkable individuals who are shaping the future of nursing.

In this newly rebranded season, we’re diving deeper than ever into the heart of the nursing profession. From innovative practices and groundbreaking research to the real-life stories of resilience and dedication, we’re here to bring you the voices that matter most in the world of nursing.  

Each episode invites you to explore compelling stories and practical advice tailored to enhancing nurse well-being, optimizing recruitment and retention efforts, pioneering innovative teaching methodologies, and leveraging cutting-edge data and technology. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner, a nursing student, a healthcare leader or executive, or involved in academia, there’s something here for everyone. 

Get ready to embark on this exciting new season with us. Together, we’ll celebrate the heroes in scrubs and the advancements driving the future of care.

Voices from the Nursing Frontline is sponsored by The Center for Nursing Advancement, an innovative initiative uniting academic and clinical nursing, healthcare leadership, and governmental agencies to tackle the pressing challenges facing the nursing profession and healthcare industry. 

Tune in, subscribe, and embark on a journey of growth and empowerment with Advancing Nursing.

We would like to thank the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band for our beautiful theme music!

Dr. Lepaine Sharp-McHenry went to UNMC College of Nursing as the dean in 2023. She previously served as the Dean of the College of Natural, Behavioral, and Health Sciences at Simmons University, the Dean of the College of Nursing at 
Oklahoma Baptist University, and the Assistant Director of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing at the University of Arkansas. 

Prior to her academic leadership roles, she was a faculty member at the University of Arkansas. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Arkansas; a Master's of Science with a Major in Nursing with a 
specialty as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from the University of Oklahoma; and her Doctorate in Nursing Practice with a specialty in Executive Leadership at Union University.

Bobbie Murphy, RN MSN Vice President, Regional Chief Nursing Officer, Ballad Health. Bobbie has been a nurse for 23 years. She started out as a new graduate in the intensive care unit at a small community hospital before transitioning to a large level I trauma center as a surgical, trauma, neuro, burn ICU frontline nurse. She's worked in nursing leadership across the spectrum of acute care, behavioral health (inpatient and outpatient), and executive leadership within the acute care setting. Bobbie has been working for Ballad Health for 8 years beginning at Holston Valley as the ED/Critical Care/Trauma/Respiratory Director through to CNO of Wise County, VA, Kingsport Operations, Bristol Regional Medical Center, and now the Northern Region CNO encompassing all of SWVA and Sullivan County TN. 

Dr. Jeffries is internationally known for her research and work in nursing, simulation, and health care. Throughout the academic community, she is well regarded for her scholarly contributions to executive leadership, the development of innovative teaching strategies, experiential learning techniques, new pedagogies, and the delivery of content using technology.  As Principal Investigator on grants funded by federal and state agencies and numerous national organizations, including the National League for Nursing (NLN) and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Dr. Jeffries has provided leadership and mentorship on ground-breaking projects impacting both nursing practice and education. With the NLN, Dr. Jeffries developed the major contribution to simulation scholarship, the framework and monograph now known as the NLN Jeffries Simulation Theory.     Dr. Jeffries is a sought-after keynote speaker and delivers presentations on nursing leadership and her research nationally and internationally. Her numerous publications, including the recently released third edition of Simulation in Nursing Education: From Conceptualization to Evaluation, cover a wide range of topics pertinent to nursing education, clinical simulations, and health care policy.  Dean Jeffries is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), fellow of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare Academy (FSSH), fellow of the Academy of Nurse Educators (ANEF), inductee into the Sigma Theta Tau International Research Hall of Fame, and recipient of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Excellence Award. She is also a Robert Wood Johns Foundation Nurse Executive Fellow. She is active in a variety of professional organizations and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Nursing and the Global Network of Simulations in Healthcare (GNSH). 

Join us for a Part Two with this dynamic duo from MTSU! 

Deborah Lee, PhD, RN, NBC-HWC, is the NHC Chair of Excellence in Nursing at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).  In April 2019, Dr. Lee founded, and directs, the Positive Aging Consortium at MTSU. Dr. Lee earned Associate and Bachelor’s degrees in nursing from Western Kentucky University.  She has a Master of Nursing degree from Emory University, and a Ph.D. in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  

Dr. Cathy Cooper, Ed.D, RN, COI, CNE,  is a Professor of Nursing at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN where she teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. Dr. Cooper's career in health care began as a nursing assistant working in a long-term care facility in her hometown while pursuing a BSN at Indiana State University. She has a Master’s degree in Nursing of Adults from IUPUI and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul MN. 

Deborah Lee, PhD, RN, NBC-HWC, is the NHC Chair of Excellence in Nursing at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).  In April 2019, Dr. Lee founded, and directs, the Positive Aging Consortium at MTSU. Dr. Lee earned Associate and Bachelor’s degrees in nursing from Western Kentucky University.  She has a Master of Nursing degree from Emory University, and a Ph.D. in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  

Dr. Cathy Cooper, Ed.D, RN, COI, CNE,  is a Professor of Nursing at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN where she teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. Dr. Cooper's career in health care began as a nursing assistant working in a long-term care facility in her hometown while pursuing a BSN at Indiana State University. She has a Master’s degree in Nursing of Adults from IUPUI and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul MN. 

Ferrol Thomas, DNP, RN is the Director of Workforce Strategies with Tennessee Hospital Association. A Tennessee native, residing in Nashville, she has a passion and dedication to improving patient care and the healthcare workforce.   

Ferrol’s nursing career has included patient care in intensive care settings with a focus in neuroscience, trauma, surgical, and organ donor management. As her career progressed in nursing, she discovered a passion for education and program development. She spent the last 10 years of her career in clinical education leadership roles, implementing programs, developing transition to practice programs, academic relationships and leading a team in clinical competency initiatives across 16 hospitals.  

Continually growing as a nurse and professional has been certified in Nursing Professional Development and neurosciences. She obtained her Master of Nursing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist from Vanderbilt University in 2012 and recently completed her course work in Doctor of Nursing Practice from Belmont University in 2023. Ferrol’s work has led her to her current role, providing advocacy and improving the pathways to nursing and healthcare professions. 

Dr. Aldrich has spent years in clinical, academic, and leadership roles recognized as a senior informatics leader, innovator, and advocate for useful, safe, and effective healthcare transformation. She is a Professor and Director of Informatics Innovation for the Vanderbilt School of Nursing with a secondary appointment in the Department of Biomedical Informatics.

Dr. Aldrich spent the first twenty years of her career at the bedside in cardiac and trauma critical care settings, during which she pursued further academic training in informatics and executive leadership. She received her Master of Science in Healthcare Systems Leadership and Nursing Informatics and Doctor of Nursing from the University of South Florida. In prior roles she served as a Chief Clinical Transformation Officer, as a Chief Nursing Informatics Officer, and as a Practice Advisor Consultant for healthcare organizations.

As an HIT strategist, innovator, and industry thought leader, Dr. Aldrich has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to enhance patient care and alleviate the burden on nurses. She is widely respected for advancing industry innovation and improving clinical care environments. She is engaged in research and informatics innovation learning models reflective in publications advocating for the unique nurse identifier and Digital RN citizen model. Recent work includes working with the CDC on Healthcare Trust Data Platforms to demonstrate automation of PPE data predictive needs for the nation.

Dr. Aldrich's primary focus lies in leveraging innovation and Nursing Informatics to reduce the burden on care teams, enhance patient safety, and promote the concept of Digital RN Citizen using the Unique Nurse Identifier. By creating and advancing IT solutions, Dr. Aldrich actively contributes to the advancement of the healthcare industry

Dawna L. Cato PhD., RN, NPD-BC currently serves as the Director of the Nurse Residency Program at OpusVi a Healthcare Workforce Solutions Company. Dawna has 28 years of nursing experience in the U.S. with 3 years in China. Dr. Cato obtained her Ph.D., specializing in Nursing Education from Capella University in 2013. In 2009, she received her Master’s in Nursing Science, specializing in Nursing Education from Grand Canyon University. In addition, Dr. Cato holds a Board Certification in Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC) with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Dr. Cato has implemented best-practice nursing academic and workforce development programs at local, national, and international levels. These include the development and implementation of Nurse Residency Programs, Perioperative Specialty Fellowship Programs, Cardiovascular Specialty Fellowship Programs, and preceptor training for physicians and nurses as well as curriculum design and development for pre-licensure and graduate nursing programs. In 2019, she launched the United States (U.S.) Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Immersion Program in collaboration with U.S.-based hospitals in Arizona and GuoLong Hospital in Yinchuan China. She also facilitated the design, implementation, and evaluation of a 600-bed hospital-wide initiative to onboard 700 employees using interdisciplinary simulation scenarios. She has facilitated frontline leadership workshops and China’s participation in an International Nurse Job Satisfaction Study. Dr. Cato served on the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation from 2013-2022 and was a key contributor to the 2024 Practice Transition Accreditation Standards. Dr. Cato is nationally and internationally published and a recognized nurse leader in both practice and academic education arenas.

Morgan May is an experienced and diverse nurse executive with 18 years of experience. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from East Tennessee State University, a Masters in Nursing from East Tennessee State University, a Masters in Business Administration from Milligan University and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from East Tennessee State University. She is a Fellow of the Advisory Board Company. Morgan has been recognized as one of Tri Cities 40 under 40 through the Business Journal. She serves on the board for the United Way of East Tennessee Highlands (Washington County, TN). Morgan’s passion and focus throughout practice at the bedside and leadership are centered on quality, safety and staying true to your why.