Board Election

The call for nominations for Board positions for 2021 is closed.  Three of the positions, President, Second Vice President and Social Media Director only had one candidate for each position.  I am happy to announce Charrita Erwin will again be our President for the next term.  She is an amazing leader and the organization is lucky to benefit from her energy and expertise.  She is very committed to our organization and our profession.  Second Vice President will be Beth Rogers.  Beth will be a new member of the Board and we look forward working with her.  Linda Simms will remain on the Board as Director of Social Media.  Social Media is more important than ever in keeping us connected during these times.  Linda, thanks for being willing to continue in this position.   

There will be a run off for the positions of Secretary and Membership Director.  Some amazing people have stepped forward to bring their experience and energy to our organization.   Bios of the members follow in alphabetical order within that postion.   These members bring a wealth of expertise and have a heart for service.  Kindly review all the bios carefully.  You will be amazed at all these members have accomplished.  Voting will be via electron ballot October 15th-31st.  Winners announced at the general meeting in November via Zoom.   I transcribed their bios so any errors are mine not theirs which is why I'm not running for secretary.  I wish everyone good luck.  

Candidates for Secretary

Wendy Paracka, DNP, APRN, NP-C, FAANP is founder and CEO of Remise Health Solutions in Tarpon Springs, Florida.  As a business owner, she has created a successful private practice for the past 17 years.  The practice meets the needs of her community with a blend of primary care, urgent care and occupational heath services.  She obtained her Master of Science degree from the University of South Florida and recently completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at USF.  She is board certified in adult health and has a post-master's certificate in family health.  She is an active memeber of AANP, FNPN and TBAPNC and is a frequent lecturer for FNPN's state conferences and AANP's national conferences.  She participates on planning committees for the annual Leef Ford Golf Tournaments and FAANP's 2021 winter conference.  

     A recognized expert with the Department of tranportation's comercial driver program, she was invited to participate on a ferderal panel of medical professions to develop a certification exam for the medical examiners.  She lectures nationally on DOT topics and spearheaded course development for NP's preparing for the Ferderal Medical Examiner Certification exam.  In 2014, she co-wrote and produced an eight-hour course for AANP's continuing educations. 

     During the 2020 state legistative session, Speaker Oliva, extended Wendy an invitation to represent nurse practitioners in Tallahassee at the Legislative Clinic.  The provider "on-call" treats the medical needs of the legistators and their staff, and when not in the clinic is invited to be on the floor of the House with the legislators.  At the request of the Speaker of the House, she was one of six NP's to be selected for this honor.  

Megan Pearce, MS FNP-C  I received my undergraduate nursing degree from the University of Florida (Go Gators!) and my master's degree at University of South Florida (Go Bulls!).  I have been practicing as a Nurse Practitioner for TeamHealth with the Acute Pain management Service at Tampa General Hospital the past 3 years.  Prior to that I was a nurse on the GI/Specialty surgery floor where I served as Clinician and member of multiple organizations including Nurse Practice Council, Shared Governance Committee and preceptor to both students, new employess and members fo the United States Airforce.  I am hightly skilled at building relationshiops with patients and families while being an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team.  I am seeking the opportunity for continual professional growth and leadership by serving as secretary for the Tampa Bay Advanced Practice Nurses Council and serving my professional community. 

Tram Pham, DNP, APRN, NP-C  My name is Tram Pham and I currently work  at Florida Orthopedic Institute as an orthopedic spine nurse practitioner.  I obtained both my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing and my Doctorate of Nursing at the University of South Florida.  Go Bulls!

     After completing the nursing curriculum at USF, I realized that simply entering the field of nursing would not be enough.  In all of my endeavores, I have never been so motivated to achieve anything asI was to obtain my doctorate of nursing Practice.  My intention was always to utilize my advance nursing skills to contribute to nursing reshearch and community health care.

     The experiences and opportunities as a registered nurse, a graduate student and now an advanced practice provider has heightened my particular interests in nursing education and research.  Thus, throughout my career I have participated in numerous continueing education and in-service programs to educate my peers about pertinent orthopedic-related topics such as malignant hypertension, burst fractures cauda equina syndrome, etc.  Additionally I spent time writing grants(local and national) and compiling pitch decks for the natural Nipple Corporation who won Johnson & Johnson nursing scholarship and Florida Blue Health Innovation Pitch Competition in 2018.  Lastly, my dmiration for research has led me to conduct a prospective study which explores the perceptions of orthopedic spine patients seeking care during the pandemic.  

     My nursing experiences and proclivity for research and nursing educaiton to improve nursing practices, inspire young nursing minds, become a better leader, give back to my community and be a resourceful tool to my peers.  I know ther are things to learn and things to contribute as an officer for the Tampa Bay Advanced Practice Council but I would love the opportunity to collaborate with peers and impact the  surrounding community as a nursing leader.  

Brooke Sliman, MSN, APRN, NP-C recently graduated with a Master's degree in Family Health Nursing for the  University of South Florida.  She completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Florida State University and then worked as a RN in the Medical-Surgical ICU for two years.  She is excited to begin her professional career as a Family Nurse Practitioner and is also currently pursuing a Post master's Certificate in Nursing Education at the University of South Florida.   She has always valued belonging to professional nursing organizations and has held membershiops with Sigma Theta Tau Internation Honor Sociaety of Nursing, American Nurses Association, Florida nurses Association, American Association of Critical Care Nurses and Graduate Student Nursing Academy.  She is currently a member of the American Association of nurse Practitioners, Florida Association of Nurse Pracitioners and the Tampa Bay Advanced Practice Nurses Council.  She has always aspired to hold a position within a professional organizaiton and beleives that the role of Secretary for th TBAPC is an excellent opportunity for her professional growth.  She believes that she can sucessfully transition into this specific positon because she is detail oriented, organized and enthusiastic.  She is really looking forward to networking with other Advanced Practice Nurses while learning and sharing information about current APN issues in Tampa Bay!

Esmeralda Young, APRN     Education: St Petersburg College ASN-2001, BSN-2005, South University: MSN- Adult 2012 Graduated with Honors was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing 2011.  National Certification: AANP 2012, Employer: Tampa General Hospital, Internal Medicine APRN.  Leadership experience: Served as a Member of the Tampa General Hospital Professional Advancement Model Committee 2019.  Current member of the Tampa General Medical Group Advance Practice Provider Committee.  Preceptor for Nurse Pracitioner Students and New Employees.    Professional affiliations: Active member of the tampa Bay Advance Practice Nurses Counsel and West Coat Counsel fo Advance Nursing Practice.  Position:  Candidate for Secretary of the Advance Practice Nurses Counsel.  I'm a dedicated and experienced Advance Practice Registered Nurse seeking to become the secretary of the board.  I'm recognized by patients and my peers as a compassionate and professional provder.  I look forward to the opportunity to serve in this leadership role, and to contribute to the continued vision and continued growth and advancement of the Counsel.  I joined the group as a student and I'm aware of the benefits of being a member.  I have benefitted over the years both in profession growth, as well as through the personal close friendships forged.  I look forward to working collaboratively with Members of the Board and serving my colleagues as secretary of this great professional organization.  

Candidates for Membership Director

Patricia Delgado, AGPCNP-BC    Hi everyone, my name is Patricia Delgado, and I am an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP-BC)  I am also a dermatolgoy certified nurse practitioner (DCNP), certified by the Centers for Advanced Practice Dermatology (CAPD).  I graduated with my bachelor's degree in communications in 2008, then with my bachelor's in nursing (BSN) in 2010.  I worked at the bedside in critical care for 5 years before I graduated with my MSN in 2015.  I earned my DNP in 2018 while I worked in dermatoltogy and have volunteered in dermatology and primary care at Shepherds Hope volunteer clinic in Longwood, Florida.  During my  4.5 years of working and volunteering in Orlando, I was a member of the Central Florida Advanced Practice Nursing Couneil(CFAPNC) until I moved to Tampa in April this year, which is when I joined the Tampa Bay Advanced Practice Nursing Counil (TBAPNC).  I am the current president of the Florida Chapter of the Dermatology Nurses's Association (DNA) and work in dermatology and psychiatry research, in addition to seeing patients in clinic.  I am passionate about advancing the field of nursing and improving healthcare for our patients.  I am a proponent of personal and professional growth for myself and everyone I get the opportuntiy to work with, and do my best to stay positive and lift others up with me in whatever I do.  I look forward to contributing my experience and talents to the TBAPNC. 

Jan Phelps, BSN, MS, APRN I earned my BSN and APRN in Family medicine at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.  I graduated in 2001, spent approximately a year performning country medicine in Mulberry, Florida.  I was recruited and accepted a position at Lifelink and was on the heart transplant team at Tampa General Hospital.  I left that 16 hours a day job to open a freestanding independent practice on Busch Boulevard for 14 years performing primary care.  I employed a Chriopractic Physician and enjoeyd a busy personal injury and Rehab practice also.  Four years ago I accepted a postiion with the Bluestone Pysicians group and closed my office.  I continue doing what I love: providing primary care to assisted-living patients.  I've been a memeber of NP network since early in it's inception, back when we hoped for 25 and then 50 members!

I am passionate about teaching and have precepted since I graduated form nursing school in 1987.  I've been honored with the preceptor of the year for the Tampa Bay award for three years running.  

I'm a dedicated grandmother of three, married to a retired physician and have two poodles who consider themselves human.  

Thank you for considering me for the position of Membership Director.