Congratulations to GVNA member Dr. Jeanine Santelli

New York (ANA-NY) has appointed Jeanine Santelli, PhD, RN, AGPCNP-BC, FAAN, as its first full-time executive director. Santelli will serve as executive director designee until she takes over from Karen A. Ballard, MA, RN, FAAN, at the Association's annual membership meeting on September 24, 2016.

Santelli is a founding member of ANA-NY and was chosen for her leadership and the nuts-and-bolts skills she brings to continue the Association's growth and ensure it remains an important voice in nursing and healthcare practice and policy issues. Since launching in 2012, the Association has grown its membership to nearly 4,000 and is a strong advocate for nursing autonomy and professionalism.

Santelli has earned degrees in nursing from Keuka College, in Keuka Park, NY; Syracuse University; and Widener University, in Chester, PA. She has most recently served as chair of nursing at Nazareth College, in Rochester, NY, where she led the faculty in a 30 percent improvement of the first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate and participated in a $3.5 million renovation of the nursing department's facilities.

She has also served as executive director of the Genetic Nurses Credentialing Commission (GNCC), the first national nursing organization to award professional credentials using a portfolio model. During her tenure with the GNCC, she facilitated the transfer of the genetic nurse credentialing process to the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

She previously held the position of associate vice president for academic programs at Keuka College and was a member of the college's nursing faculty for 17 years. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing; a member of Omicron, Upsilon Upsilon, and Pi Psi chapters of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society; a Margretta Madden Styles Credentialing Scholar; the 2007 recipient of the Keuka College Alumni Association's Professional Achievement Award; and the 2011 recipient of the International Society of Nurses in Genetics Founders Award for Service. She serves on the board of the Susan B. Anthony House, in Rochester, NY, and was the only nurse member of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Health Care Planning Team. Santelli and her family plan to relocate from Keuka Park to the Capital Region.

"This is a great opportunity to take this young organization to the next level," Santelli said. "As health care rapidly evolves, professional registered nurses will continue to play critical roles as caregivers, patient advocates and policy makers. ANA-NY works to support our members' professional development and communicate the value the nursing profession brings to the provision of quality health care."

ANA-New York is the professional association for registered nurses in the state. Launched in December 2012, ANA-New York is dedicated to promoting excellence in nursing practice, seeks to improve the quality of health care services, and promotes professional and leadership development of registered nurses. Learn more at http://ana-newyork.org