2025 Annual Hawaiʻi-ANA and Hawaiʻi-ANA Foundation Conference

Dr. Ahnyel Burkes serves as the Executive Director of the Louisiana State Nurses Association (LSNA), the Louisiana Nurses Foundation (LNF), and the Louisiana Association of Student Nurses (LASN). A dynamic nurse leader and entrepreneur, she is also the Chief Executive Officer of Culture of Care, LLC. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Dillard University, her alma mater, where she helps shape the next generation of nursing professionals. Her academic background also includes prior faculty roles at Louisiana State University and Tulane University. Dr. Burkes earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Dillard University, a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Healthcare Systems Management from Loyola University New Orleans, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Executive Leadership from Chamberlain University. She is board-certified in Medical-Surgical Nursing and as an Advanced Nurse Executive. A passionate advocate for the nursing profession, Dr. Burkes has held numerous leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels. She currently serves as a Director-at-Large on the American Nurses Association (ANA) Board of Directors and helps lead the ANA Nurse Action Society, a national initiative focused on mobilizing nurses for policy influence and political engagement. She previously served as Director of Health Policy and Advocacy for LSNA, where she led the association’s legislative agenda. Her policy leadership includes chairing the Louisiana Nursing Supply and Demand Council and the Louisiana Healthcare Workplace Violence Task Force. She also served as Vice Chair of the Nursing Maternal Mortality and Preterm Births Task Force, and as a member of the Healthcare Workforce Training Study Group (HR 155) and the Health Works Commission. Notably, Dr. Burkes spearheaded the passage of Louisiana’s Workplace Violence Prevention Law in 2022 and led efforts that made Louisiana the 12th state to mandate Surgical Smoke Evacuation. A 2022 graduate of the American Nurses Advocacy Institute, she continues to serve on multiple governmental task forces focused on the healthcare workforce, healthy work environments, and nursing practice. Her work has earned widespread recognition. She is a Louisiana Great 100 Nurse (2018), a CityBusiness Health Care Hero (2021), and a past recipient of the Louisiana State Nightingale Registered Nurse of the Year Award (2018). Additional honors include the ANCC Certified Nurse Award in Medical-Surgical Nursing (2019), the New Orleans District Nurses Association Legacy Award (2022), and Ochsner Health’s Outstanding Community Achievement Award (2021). She was named a 40 Under 40 honoree by Dillard University, Chamberlain University’s Inaugural Emerging Caregiver (2022), and a Health Impact DAISY Nurse Leader (2023). She was featured on Becker’s Hospital Review’s list of Black Healthcare Leaders to Know in both 2022 and 2023, and most recently received the 2024 American Nurses Association Advocacy Award. Dr. Burkes is a lifetime member of the National Black Nurses Association, a member of the American Nurses Association and Louisiana State Nurses Association, and has served on ANA’s national committees for Nursing Practice Standards and Workplace Violence. She is also active in Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

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Teshieka K. Curtis-Pugh, widely known as T.K., is a prominent figure in the nursing community, serving as the Executive Director of the South Carolina Nurses Association. With a commitment to advocacy, professional development, and legislative initiatives, she represents over 60,000 nurses in South Carolina. Accomplishments Leadership and Advocacy: T.K. has played a key role in representing nursing interests nationally through the American Nurses Association and as a member of the Nurse Leaders in Advocacy for the American Organization of Nurse Leaders. Awards and Recognition: 2018 Palmetto Gold Award: Honored for her excellence in nursing leadership. 2019 Presidents’ Award: Recognized for her exceptional service to the South Carolina Nurses Association. 2019 Top 20 Under 40: Named by South Carolina Black Pages as one of the top extraordinary leaders. Professional Affiliations: Active member of the American Nurses Association, South Carolina Organization of Nurse Leaders, and American Organization of Nurse Leaders. Educational Leadership: Graduated from the Dorothy Irene Height Global Leadership Academy by The International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute in 2022. Speaking Engagements National Presentations: T.K. has shared her insights at the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses National Convention, contributing to the advancement of nursing practices. Keynote Speaker: She has delivered impactful keynote addresses at various conferences, events, and meetings both locally and nationally. Professional Roles Founder and CEO of Nurse T.K., LLC: This platform provides leadership, strategy, and empowerment coaching for healthcare professionals throughout their careers. Editorial Board member for the American Nurse Journal Community Involvement Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority and Junior League of Columbia: Through these organizations, T.K. is dedicated to reducing health disparities in underserved communities. Serves at the 2024-2026 Diversity Chair for the Junior League of Columbia 2024 South University, Columbia Commencement Speaker 2024 Fortis College Commencement Speaker Certifications Medical-Surgical Nursing Nursing Professional Development Rehabilitation Nursing. Education Auburn University: Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Fortis College: Associate Degree in Nursing. Western Governors University: Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Management. T.K. is proud of her roles as a wife to Councilman Derrek Pugh and a mother to their daughter, Mila. Her guiding principle is, "Do it with passion or not at all!"

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Claudia Crist is President of Kalaukia Enterprises LLC, a Hawai’i-based company specializing in Change Leadership, Strategy & Alignment, Leadership Best Practice, and Employee Engagement. Ms. Crist is a leadership expert, author, and guide who offers a unique blend of expertise, insight, practicality, and humor. With over 20 years of executive leadership experience in healthcare and public health — including roles as a hospital CEO, public health official, and leadership development professional — she delivers both depth and warmth. A trained nurse, Ms. Crist is a passionate advocate for mental wellness Claudia earned a master’s degree in health administration (MHA) from the University of Southern California, a Bachelor of Science degree in health care administration from Bellevue University, and completed her nursing studies at College of the Canyons in California. She is an actively licensed RN, a CTA-certified RN Instructor (Hawai’i), board-certified in healthcare management, obtained a certification in change management from Cornell University, and is a Senior Certified Professional as designated by the Society of Human Resource Management. Claudia is an honoree of the 2025 Pacific Business News “Women Who Mean Business Award”, which recognizes women in Hawai’i who have demonstrated excellence in both business and community leadership. She serves as volunteer board member of the YMCA of Honolulu as well as 2025 president of the Hawai’i Pacific Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

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For over 20 years, Tena has created and led the CeraVe Nurse Advocacy initiative. She has had the ability to bring nurse leaders from all specialties of nursing together to work more synergistically, adding value and providing compassion, empathy, and self-care training to the nursing profession. Tena is a passionate, inspirational speaker, patient advocate, and empathy educator. For more than 25 years she has motivated healthcare professionals and individuals alike with her insightful approach to more compassionate care. Her mission is to elevate patient care by sharing the patient experience from all perspectives. Tena has consulted with thousands of physicians, healthcare providers and medical students at numerous institutions and hospitals across the country, including Henry Ford Hospital, Sloan Kettering Hospital, PTAP nursing conference, FDA, Mayo and Geisinger Clinics. Tena truly cares about the nursing community and uses her skills and energy to inspire them to provide even more compassionate care for themselves. She created a new nurse wellness and self-care workshop called “RENEW: Restoring Every Nurse Every Where”. Her healthcare journey has given her a rare perspective to share that is informative, entertaining, and always uplifting. Her presentation is guaranteed to touch your heart and inspire you to live a positively unforgettable life.

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Denise Cohen moved to Maui in 1978 and obtained an LPN, BSN, MS, and PhD all through the University of Hawaiʻi system. She has worked at Maui Memorial Medical Center, Hale Makua Home Health and finally MCC/UHMC both as a full professor (now retired) and a Nurse Practitioner at the UHMC Campus Health Center. She has served on various community and state organizations including the Maui County COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force, Hawaiʻi Board of Nursing, Hawaiʻi Nurses Association (pre-2005), American Nurses Association, Maui Aids Foundation, Hawaiʻi Council for Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing, and American Lung Association Board of Directors. She raised two sons on Maui and has three grandchildren, loves to read, exercise and travel.