The mission of the Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices (Alliance) is to facilitate the adoption and compliance with ethical, responsible, and transparent practices; with voluntary standards that aim to ensure ethical recruitment of foreign-educated professionals to the United States.
The Alliance for Ethical Recruitment Practices is a non-profit organization that works to ensure all foreign-educated professional are recruited in a fair, ethical, and transparent manner for employment in the United States.
The Alliance was established in 2008 to advance a voluntary code of ethics developed by stakeholders across the healthcare sector to establish common ground in defining fair and transparent recruitment practices. On September 18, 2017, the Alliance launched the new ’Health Care Code for Ethical International Recruitment and Employment Practices’ which has since been adopted by 16 firms, representing thousands of employees.
The Alliance has developed a monitoring, remediation, and verification process to certify that organizations are meeting ethical standards. Certified recruitment firms have undergone assessment of their practices and are subject to recertification every two years. Through public reporting, the Alliance provides foreign-educated health professionals and health care organizations with credible information to make responsible decisions when they are considering contracting with a recruiter.
In 2019, the Alliance presented at the World Health Organization to apply lessons from the Alliance Code beyond the United States. The Philippines Nurses Association of America (PNAA) incorporated the Alliance Code into its Code of Ethics in 2019.
A comprehensive assessment of the State of Foreign Educated Health Professional Recruitment was developed by the Alliance, and its parent CGFNS; it was submitted to the American Journal of Nursing and is published in the January 2020 edition.
These standards are set forth in the Voluntary Code of Conduct for the Ethical Recruitment of Foreign-Educated Health Professionals to the United States (Code). The Alliance has developed a monitoring, remediation, and verification process to ensure that these standards are upheld by subscribing organizations. Through public reporting, the Alliance provides foreign-educated health professionals and health care organizations with credible information to make responsible decisions when they are considering contracting with a recruiter.*
*A recruiter can be a staffing agency, a placement agency, or an employer (i.e. hospitals, health care systems, long-term care facilities) that recruits directly.
With funding from the MacArthur Foundation, an initiative was launched in 2006 to examine the growing practice of international nurse recruitment that has emerged in response to the U.S. nurse shortage. The project sought to reduce the harm and increase the benefits of international health professional recruitment for source countries and to ensure that the rights of migrants are considered throughout the recruitment process. The project evolved over two years and included two complementary activities.
Research begun concerning the emergence, current structure, and practices of the nurse recruitment industry. This process included interviews with chief nurse officers and other hospital administrators to understand how they make decisions about recruiting foreign-educated nurses (FENs). Interviews were also conducted with recruiting agencies to solicit information on the history of the industry and its current business models. Additional data sources included a review of recruiter Web sites and the subsequent development of a database of companies. CGFNS focus groups were organized to explore FENs’ recruitment experience and solicit their suggestions for improving the process. These research findings were published in the report, U.S.-Based International Nurse Recruitment: Structure and Practices of a Burgeoning Industry.
A consensus-building process was launched with the goal of drafting a “standards of practice.” In collaboration with the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, a Task Force was convened that included over 30 high-level representatives from the hospital, union, nurse training and licensure, foreign nurse, and recruiter sectors. The consultative process was observed by several governmental sectors. High level staff from the offices of Senator Edward Kennedy and Senator Richard Durbin, as well as representatives from the U.S. Department of State and the Health Resource Services Administration (HRSA) provided comments and support, but did not form part of the deliberations.
There was widespread agreement among Task Force members that international recruitment needs to be conducted in an ethical way that balances diverse stakeholder interests. Although this group had differing – and sometimes conflicting – perspectives, they nonetheless were able to identify common principles. This phase of the project concluded with the official release of the Voluntary Code of Ethical Conduct for the Recruitment of Foreign-Educated Nurses to the United States (Code) on September 4, 2008 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
With additional funding from the MacArthur Foundation, in September 2008 a new project was launched to maximize the benefits and minimize the potential harm resulting from the recruitment of foreign-educated nurses (FENs) to the United States for three primary stakeholder groups: source countries, FENs, and U.S. patients. The project’s goal was to increase the transparency and accountability of the industry by implementing the Code. Key to ensuring that the Code effectively modifies conduct is the establishment of a monitoring entity. A Stakeholder Transition Group consisting of representatives from unions, health care organizations, educational and licensure bodies, and recruiters was created and assisted in the development of a strategic plan that formed the basis for this entity and led to the creation of the Alliance.
The Alliance advances the implementation of the Code by inviting employers and recruitment organizations to subscribe. Subscribers must provide a copy of the Code to all FENs with whom they enter into a contract, and must agree to allow those nurses to be surveyed by the Alliance. A list of subscribers will be available for consultation by FENs and health care organizations that are considering contracting with a recruiter or an employer.
The pilot phase of subscriptions operated from May 2010 – May 2011. During this time leading employers and recruiters participated in the subscription and monitoring process at no cost.
Similar dilemmas of unethical recruitment practices occur in the education sector. Efforts to join the education sector was based on AFT’s landmark study in 2009. The Alliance joined this effort with a multi-stakeholder group of educators to form a Steering Committee that reports to the Alliance Governing Board. The Teachers’ Code for Ethical International Recruitment and Employment Practices is required to promote fairness in hiring, recruiting, and retaining these professionals to uphold and support their roles. We commemorated this new partnership with a launch event in Washington, D.C. in June 2015.
The original title of this document was the Voluntary Code of Ethical Conduct for the Recruitment of Foreign-Educated Nurses to the United States, published in September 2008. In 2011, the Board of the Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices expanded its work to include other health professionals, replacing the term “foreign-educated nurse” (FEN) with “foreign-educated health professional” (FEHP). All other content is identical to the original publication.
The Alliance would like to thank the following organizations for their generous financial support:
The Alliance welcomes donations from public and private entities that do not directly engage, or plan to be engaged, in the international recruitment of health professionals. Employer and recruitment companies that recruit internationally are encouraged to subscribe to the Code and participate in the monitoring program.
Barbara Green, PhD
Senior Vice President, Office of the President, Greater New York Hospital Association
Barbara Green, PhD
Senior Vice President, Office of the President, Greater New York Hospital Association
Barbara Green, PhD, joined GNYHA in 1984. She works for GNYHA Ventures’ New Business Initiative Department and is responsible for developing and managing a portfolio of contracts in a wide variety of areas. Before joining GNYHA, Dr. Green was Special Assistant to Bellevue Hospital Center’s Executive Director, worked for the U.S. Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, and for Senator Jacob K. Javits. Dr. Green earned a BA from Bradley University, an MPA from American University, and a PhD from New York University.
Peter Preziosi, PhD, RN, CAE
CGFNS International, Inc.
Peter Preziosi, PhD, RN, CAE
CGFNS International, Inc.
Peter Preziosi is a leader in the global effort to strengthen health systems by improving career development and mobility for health workers. Recently appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of CGFNS International, the world’s largest credentials evaluation organization for the nursing and allied health professions, he is working to revitalize its leadership in developing and implementing credentialing solutions for a globalizing health workforce.
Prior to joining CGFNS in January 2023, Dr. Preziosi led quality, standards development and credentialing at the World Health Organization’s initiative to build a technology-driven global learning center, the WHO Academy, with a goal of upskilling millions of health workers worldwide.
After beginning his career as a registered nurse, Dr. Preziosi has spent nearly three decades in high-profile positions at corporations, government agencies and nonprofits. His work has included leading strategic innovation, partnership-building and healthcare reform initiatives for national and international organizations including Verizon’s healthcare innovation incubator, Concentrix Corporation, the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the National League for Nursing and the AMDEC Foundation, a New York-based biomedical research consortium. He also worked for the City of New York’s Health and Hospital Corporation and he directed the Mayor’s Office of Medicaid Managed Care.
Dr. Preziosi holds a PhD in health policy and a master’s degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a master’s in education from Columbia University’s Teachers College. His bachelor’s degree in nursing is from Florida State University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of SONSIEL, a society of nurse scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs, and is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, where he is a Certified Association Executive.
Mukul Bakhshi, JD
Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices
Mukul Bakhshi, JD
Columbia University School of Law
Mukul Bakhshi, the new Director of the Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment, has extensive experience in political and legal advocacy, social justice, and non-profit strategy formulation. He has served as a management and strategy consultant at McKinsey & Company and Altman Vilandrie & Company, where he developed the organizational strategy for a major non-profit consumer protection organization and a statewide telehealth network. He co-founded Standard Start, a non-profit startup working with stakeholders including the New York City Deputy Mayor’s Office, attorneys, and incubators to provide entrepreneurs with information on basic elements of founding and running a business. Previously, he worked at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, where he focused on prisoner reentry issues and served as the Policy Associate for the Small Business Development and LGBT Issues policy committees for Mayor-elect Cory Booker’s transition team. He has also taught in the Millburn Township Public Schools in New Jersey. He also served on the Board of Directors of the ACLU-CT and served as the Chair of the Yale-New Haven Chapter of the ACLU.
Mukul Bakhshi received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law and subsequently was admitted to the bar in the state of New York. He was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and received a Parker School Certificate for International Law. He received his B.A. at Yale University, where he double-majored in history and economics.
Judith Awurumibe, PhD, DNP, CRNP, FNP, APRN
National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America
Dr. Judith Awurumibe DNP, CRNP, FNP, APRN
President, National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America
Dr. Judith Awurumibe has been in the nursing field for fifteen years and has been working for seven years as a primary care provider at a community health center, where she provides care to newborns, adolescents, adults, addiction medicine, and women’s care. Prior to her current job, she worked for eight years in the hospital where she covered various units including PCU/ICU, trauma, and medsurg unit. She received her first nursing diploma in the Reading hospital school of nursing in 2007 in PA, her BSN in Alvernia University in PA in 2010, her MSN and Family Nurse Practitioner in 2014 at Millersville University, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Chamberlain School of Nursing in 2020. Dr, Judith Awurumibe precepts Nurse Practitioner students from Chamberlain School of Nursing, Walden University, Alvernia University, and Gwynedd Mercy University. She also started in 2022 to precept doctorate-level students from Aspen University. She is the 2020 -2021 NANNNA Vice President and 2022 NANNNA President.
Dr. Judith Awurumibe is the founder and the President of the Nigerian Nurses Association in Pennsylvania (NNAPAC). She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and Sigma Theta Tau Global Nursing Excellence. She is also the founder and CEO of the Sunday Anozie Children’s Charity foundation where she received many Philanthropic awards for supporting children yearly for the last fifteen years to get a better education and showcase their talents for a better future in a community in Nigeria, Africa.
Dr. Judith Awurumibe has been at the forefront of educating the community about their health and preventive care. Her community involvement increased since COVID -19, and she has been educating the community about the COVID-19 virus and its vaccines since its origin. She collaborates with churches, and local and out-of-state associations to talk about COVID-19 and its vaccines. She also collaborates with the National Association for the Advancement of the Colored People (NAACP) to educate their members and people all over the USA. Dr. Judith Awurumibe is married with six children, one girl, and five boys. She enjoys dancing for fun and singing in the church choir.
Dr. Gloria Beriones RN, NEA-BC
Philippine Nurses Association of America
Dr. Gloria Beriones RN, NEA-BC
President-Elect, Philippine Nurses Association of America
A transformational nurse leader with over forty years of exemplary contributions to nursing practice, leadership, education, and research. Currently, the Staff Development Coordinator of Primary Care Clinics at Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affair Medical Center, Houston, Texas. She is passionate in her role as a leader, change agent, educator, consultant, facilitator, and researcher. She is a Coldiron Senior Nurse Executive Fellow at Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
EDUCATION
Her life-long learning includes: Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science at Texas Woman’s University, Houston, Texas. Her research study was on Adaptation Experiences of Internationally Educated Filipino Nurses Employed in the United States. She graduated her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Texas Health and Science Center, Houston, TX, major in Clinical Nurse Specialist Program and Nursing Administration, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Riverside College of Nursing, Bacolod City, Philippines. A proud graduate of Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Graduate Nurse Program, Bacolod City, Philippines. She graduated ranking number 2 among 84 graduates.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO NURSING
She is a member of AARP Foundation / Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Campaign for Action on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Steering Committee 2022.
She participated at the AARP Foundation / Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing 2020-2030 Campaign for Action Virtual Summit, June 3-4, 2021, that developed action plans and measurable outcomes on Major Recommendation # 3 – Promoting Nurses’ Health and Well -Being and Recommendation # 8 Preparing Nurses to Respond to Disasters and Public Health Emergencies. On September 9, 2021, she participated at the Future of Nursing Campaign for Action Summit to discuss the priority recommendations and sub-recommendations aligned the most to own organization.
She is a member of the Board of Governors, the Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices 2022-2024. In 2022, she participated in the revision of the Code for Health Care Professionals. She is the PNAA Foundation / PNAA Infection Prevention Control (IPC) Lead Champion, CDC Project Firstline, 2020-2022. The CDC Project Firstline was supported by 6NU38OT000295-02-06 from the Department of Health and Human Services / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The PNAAF/PNAA is a Partner of the Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) CDC Project Firstline. Together with two PNAAF /PNAA IPC Champions, they conducted and coordinated three Infection Prevention and Control Education and Training Series: January 23, 2021; February 20, 2021; & March 20, 2021. Total of 325 nurses attended the education/ training using the train the trainer teaching strategy to prevent & control the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The 325 educated and trained nurses / healthcare workers are now teaching and training co-workers, families, friends, and communities on CDC infection prevention and control principles. She collaborated with APIAHF Partners such as New York University Center for the Study of Asian American Health, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, Papa Ola Lokahi, and Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance to bring the CDC Project Firstline education and training to the frontline healthcare workers and public health personnel. She presented at the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress Nov 2-4, 2021. The podium presentation title, “Promotion of COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control through Culturally Tailored Interventions and Collaborations with Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Communities.
She is a faculty of the PNAA Online Leadership Development Program (iLDP) for three years since 2019 -2021. The 8-week leadership program is free for President, President-Elect, and any officers or members of the 55 chapters. The intensive leadership program is to provide the chapter leaders the education, tools, and mentors in leading their organizations. To this date there are over 100 graduates of iLDP who are contributing to the mission, vision, and goals of PNAA and PNA Chapters.
PROFESSIONAL WORK and ACHIEVEMENTS
She was a Nursing Director at Houston Methodist Hospital (HMH) for 14 years in General Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Units. The recipient of Houston Methodist Hospital Nursing Leadership Award for her exemplary Nursing Leadership. She was honored for her stellar leadership endeavors in building the first shared governance nursing unit at Houston Methodist Hospital. She was one of the top 20 Outstanding Nurses by Texas Nurses Association District 9 for excellence in nursing leadership, education, and community outreach services. She was a recipient of Dr. Jose Rizal Excellence Award for Nursing Leadership and Service by Knights of Rizal, Houston, TX.
She was the Manager of Education, Research, Professional Excellence at Saint Francis Hospital Bartlett, Tennessee. Her impactful contributions were: organizing and strengthening of the shared governance councils, staff professional development, and creating the hospital RN Residency Program. She has been a speaker in local, state, national, and international levels. She has presented numerous topics on leadership, clinical practice, education, and research;
has written articles and publications. Her greatest passion in life as a leader is mentoring and making a difference in the lives of people particularly fellow nurses.
Contributions to Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) include:
Sinead Carbery
Nurse Staffing Solutions – International, AMN Healthcare
Sinead Carbery
Brand President, Nurse Staffing Solutions – International (Formerly O’Grady Peyton International)
AMN Healthcare
Sinead Carbery brings almost 30 years of experience to her role as President of AMN Healthcare’s international nursing division. She completed her nursing education in Ireland, immigrated to the U.S. through the OGP Program in 1994, and completed nursing assignments in California and Georgia before joining the O’Grady Peyton corporate team. She has held roles in Clinical Management, Clinical Support, Account Management, Sales and Account Management Leadership, and Leadership of the international business since 2015. Sinead has served on the Board of The Alliance since 2019.
Annie Coughlin, MSN, CRNP, NNP-BC
Annie Coughlin, MSN, CRNP, NNP-BC is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner in the Division of Neonatology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Annie completed her BSN at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN and her MSN at MSN – Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA.
Bill DeVille, MBA
Health Carousel
Bill DeVille, MBA
Health Carousel
Bill is the Chairman and Co-Founder of Health Carousel, which is a Joint Commission certified healthcare staffing company. In 2021, Staffing Industry Analysts ranked Health Carousel as the 17th largest healthcare staffing company in the US. The company provides a range of workforce solutions to help healthcare organizations to provide cost-effective, high-quality healthcare for patients, including:
Prior to forming Health Carousel, Bill was the co-founder and COO of Health Personnel Options, which was one of the largest and fastest-growing travel staffing companies in the country. HPO was acquired by On Assignment in 2002 and subsequently acquired by Medical Solutions. Prior to HPO, Bill was Managing Partner at R.E. Lowe Associates, which was a leading healthcare retained search company. Bill is a past president of the American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment (AAIHR), helped draft the organization’s Code of Ethical Recruitment Practices, and currently serves as the Chair of the Ethics Committee. Bill has been recognized as a member of the 2020 SIA Staffing 100, which celebrates 100 notable individuals whose impact on the workforce solutions ecosystem elevates the industry and drives its evolution.
Bill earned an MBA (concentration in organizational development) and a BS in Business Administration, both from The Ohio State University.
Kathy Harris, MS, RN, CENP, FACHE(R)
American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)
Kathy Harris, MS, RN, CENP, FACHE(R)
American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)
Kathy Harris, MS, RN, CENP, FAONL, FACHE(R), has been a nurse for 50 years including more than 40 years in a variety of leadership positions, including as a front-line leader, a service line director, a Chief Nurse Executive, and as a corporate nurse executive. She currently works as a consultant and provides expertise in legal cases. Kathy has also acted in the role of Chief Executive Officer in a number of different settings. Kathy has presented on nursing leadership to a broad spectrum of audiences, nationally and internationally. She is a Wharton Fellow and a past member of the AONL board of directors, the Colorado Organization of Nurse Leaders and the Center for Nursing Excellence, the last of which she served as a board member and Chair. Kathy currently represents AONL on the Board of Governors of the Alliance for Ethical International Recruitment Practices. In addition, she has worked closely with the Colorado Health and Hospitals Association and several affiliate members. She earned her Master of Science from the University of Colorado in 1984, her Bachelor of Science from Metropolitan State College in 1981, and her Diploma in Nursing from the Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing in 1972. In addition to her professional certifications, she is as Just Culture Master certified.
Cheryl Peterson, MSN, RN
American Nurses Association
Cheryl Peterson, MSN, RN
American Nurses Association
Cheryl Peterson, MSN, RN is the Vice President of Nursing Programs at the American Nurses Association. In this role, she is provides senior leadership to the Directors of the departments of Health Policy, the Center for Ethics and Human Rights, and the Minority Fellowship Program. These departments are responsible for guiding policy development, as well as advising the ANA CEO, President, and Membership, on the full range of policy and practice issues facing the nursing profession. As part of her policy portfolio, Ms. Peterson is responsible for managing ANA’s participation within the International Council of Nurses, as well as supporting the development and implementation of quality indicators affecting patients, nurses, and the entire health care team. Since coming to ANA in 1990, Ms. Peterson has developed expertise in several areas including political education and campaign involvement; lobbying issues related to labor, employment, trade and immigration; and policy development on the supply of and demand for nursing services. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati and a Master’s of Science in Nursing from Georgetown University.
Jeremy Sadlier
American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration
Jeremy Sadlier
Executive Director, American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration
Jeremy Sadlier serves as a Vice President for MCI-USA and the Executive Director of the American Society for Healthcare Human Resource Administration (ASHHRA). Prior to taking on the role of Executive Director for ASHHRA, Jeremy was the Director of Human Resource Initiatives and healthcare human resource subject matter expert for ASHHRA and the American Hospital Association (AHA). He is a seasoned health care executive having spent much of his career with one of the Midwest’s largest health care systems Advocate Aurora Health (AAH). In his role, Jeremy has contributed content and expertise to both the AHA and SHHRA that was operationalized by health care systems and hospitals across the nation.
During his more than two decades with AAH Jeremy participated as a member of the Human Resources Team, Site and Market Executive Teams, and managed strategic and operational assignments. 12 years of Jeremy’s years with AAH as part of the HR leadership team, filling the role of South Chicago Market-Human Resource Director with oversight for Advocate Christ Medical Center-a quaternary tertiary medical center, 2 community hospitals, Regional Laboratory Division (ACL), and the systems 14 pediatric hospital locations. Jeremy’s experience in both human resources and hospital operations were sought by the American Hospital Association (AHA) when they recruited him in to join their team in 2019.
Jeremy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Northern Illinois University and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Lewis University. He also holds a CHHR Certification in health care human resources. Since childhood Jeremy has always been an avid cyclists and has taken mountain biking trips to Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Tennessee, until COVID-19 forced him to reevaluate his space, he had an entire room in his garage dedicated bicycles, bike equipment and tools.
Diane Sosne RN, MN
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW
Diane Sosne RN, MN
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW
Diane Sosne, RN, MN is President of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW representing 30,000 registered nurses, professional, service, technical workers and physicians in the states of Washington and Montana. Nationally, Ms. Sosne is also a Vice President of the Service Employees International Union’s Executive Board. She serves on the Executive Committees of SEIU’s Health Care Division and the SEIU National Nurse Alliance.
As a nurse, healthcare and social justice advocate, and community leader, Ms. Sosne works on nursing and healthcare policy, protection of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), adoption of a Medicare for All system, including behavioral health integration and health promotion.
An additional major focus of Ms. Sosne’s work is around healthcare workforce development. Her national workforce work includes her role as the Labor Co-Chair of the Healthcare Career Advancement Program (H-CAP), a unique Labor/Management partnership to address the nursing shortage and incumbent worker career ladders. She is also a member of the Washington State Health Care Personnel Shortage Task Force. Ms. Sosne is also a founding Member and Advisor of Times Up Healthcare, a national initiative aimed at stopping sexual harassment and inequality in healthcare workplaces. She has also served on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Academic Progression in Nursing (APIN) National Advisory Committee.
Locally, Ms. Sosne is a member of the Seattle-King County Healthcare Industry Leadership table. This committee is a collaboration with healthcare employers and social service agencies sharing and developing best practices for an ongoing pipeline into healthcare jobs and advancement.
Ms. Sosne serves as the Co-Chair of the SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Taft Hartley Training Fund. This fund currently covers over 14,000 healthcare employees who work at eight (8) Health Systems in WA State. As a member of WA State’s Health Workforce Council she is a part of a multidiscipline group that addresses workforce shortages.
Her statewide nursing activities include her role as a Board Member of the Washington Center for Nursing.
Ms. Sosne received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Simmons College in Boston and her Master’s Degree in Psycho/Social Nursing from the University of Washington.
Suja Thomas AGPCNP-BC, MSN. Ed., RN, CWCN, CCCN, COCN
National Association of Indian Nurses of America
Suja Thomas AGPCNP-BC, MSN. Ed., RN, CWCN, CCCN, COCN
National Association of Indian Nurses of America
Suja Thomas is currently working as Nurse Administrator at Stratton VA Medical Center and as Patient Care Administrator at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany, New York. She brings over 23 years of leadership experience in hospital administration & education and more than 30 years of practice as a registered professional nurse. She worked as a Nurse Executive at St. Peter’s Health Partners, responsible for various different departments (Women & Children, Medical Surgical, Hemodialysis, Cardio Pulmonary, Pharmacy, Radiology, Nursing Administration, Laboratory, Education, Wound Care, Dietary & Respiratory). She taught undergraduate nursing students for eight years at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE University), Manipal, Karnataka, India. Additionally, she has worked as an Adjunct Faculty at Maria College, Albany, NY. She also works as CWOCN consultant in Acute Care Hospital.
She is a Board Certified Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. Suja has been a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Delta Pi chapter since 2020. In 2016, she was honored with the Robert Scholar Award for Clinical Excellence. She also received the Transformational Leadership Award in 2014 for a research study conducted with the goal of reducing rates of back injury for health care workers through minimal lift program.
She is currently serving as Treasurer and founding President of Indian American Nurses Association of Albany (IANA-A). On the national level, she also serves as Secretary of the National Association of Indian Nurses of America (NAINA) and has held various positions in the past 6 years.
Suja graduated from Father Muller College of Nursing (Kankanady, Mangalore), with Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and from Russell Sage College (Troy, NY), receiving her Master’s in Nursing Education. She graduated as Certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse from Minnesota Metropolitan University through WEB WOC Nursing Education Program. Currently she is pursuing her Post-Master’s in Nursing in Adult Health Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program at Russell Sage College, Troy, NY.
Volunteering is her passion. She takes such responsibilities with utmost priority within any type of work and strives for the best quality and efficiency. As a community volunteer, she consistently goes above and beyond to reach out to whomever is in need and is willing to take on challenging roles with determination and confidence.
Beth Vanderwalker RN, MBA, ACHE
WorldWide HealthStaff Solutions
Beth Vanderwalker RN, MBA, ACHE
WorldWide HealthStaff Solutions
Beth Vanderwalker, PhD (candidate), MBA, RN, ACHE is the Vice President of Operation for WorldWide HealthStaff Solutions. In this role, she provides senior operational leadership on international healthcare recruitment including the migration and immigration of healthcare professionals. Beth completed her BSN at Brigham Young University, is a current PhD candidate in Global Leadership, and has 26 years of progressive nursing experience. Beth has served in both clinical and executive roles working to improve the lives of people both locally and around the world. She is a results-oriented leader with experience in operational excellence, corporate development, and global leadership.
Beth serves on the Board of Elections for South Carolina, is a Goodwill Ambassador, and has served on the Boards of Directors for non-profit organizations. Beth is a frequent international speaker and consultant for global healthcare organizations, Universities, and Associations. She is a member of the American Nurses Association (ANA), College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the International Leadership Association (ILA) and the American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment (AAIHR).
