The Southwest Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners has conducted a SWVA Nurse Honor Guard tribute at Gilliam’s Funeral Home in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. On 1/1/2025, Drs. Christine Mullins and Rebecca Garrett conducted the heartfelt tribute.

Mullins said. “Conducting the Honor Guard tribute is one of the most honorable and memorable ceremonies I have ever participated in. There are honor guards for the military, masons, police, and firefighters. Now nurses can also be honored in southwest Virginia with recognition of their profound service and impact throughout their careers.”

The SWVA Nurse Honor Guard has established a website, donated by The Health Wagon. The website allows volunteers to share their contact information, and the Guard has recruited 31 volunteers representing nine counties in Virginia. The website provides information on conducting the ceremony, the supplies needed and how to obtain them, the Mission, Values, FAQ, Testimonials, a Media Gallery, and Contact Information.

The Southwest Region–VCNP is also selling raffle tickets for $5 each for an Eko brand electronic stethoscope (valued at $400) to help fund SWVA Honor Guard endeavors. The group has also created a Facebook page and private chat for members to communicate. The council’s next steps are to acquire more honor guard capes, caps, triangles, lanterns, and service announcements for funeral homes to spread the word to families throughout the region.

We discussed the state requirement of a service project for NP week. We had discussed several different local options as we have done yearly. With the impact we all feel after Hurricane Helene devastated so much of western VA, NC and West VA, we wanted to help those people dealing with the aftermath of the storm. The Health Wagon, based in Southwest VA is owned and run by NPs. It began 42 years ago by a medical missionary and has evolved into 4 mobile van units, stationary clinics, and pharmacy services and offers free care for the population. They have Starlink on their vans, and Rachel was able to talk to them while they were in Damascus VA. The need for supplies, food, vaccines and volunteers is great. We collected some basic supplies, signed a card and voted to include a check from our region for $2000.00 to help wherever it can be used. Rachel and Ruthie plan to bring our collected supplies, the donated checks, and themselves! to volunteer with the Health Wagon.

November meeting 11/7/24 on pharmacogenetics

December holiday gathering at Basilico on Harrison Road.

January meeting on HRT Submitted 10/12/24 JPSF

CURRENT PRESIDENT:
Jennifer Hubbard-Davis, MSHS, MSN, FNP-C
As the president of the Richmond Region VCNP, Jennifer leads over 290 members in the largest region in the State of Virginia with a dynamic team (all-inclusive of team members below). Her goal for the region is to increase awareness and membership of VCNP. Jennifer, currently employed with United Healthcare, brings to the table over 30 years of extensive experience in various healthcare settings, making her a seasoned leader in the field. She also serves the community in different capacities to promote wellness for the community.

PRESIDENT-ELECT:
Seleste Upshaw, MSN, FNP-C
Seleste is a family nurse practitioner that practices in a primary care setting at Capital Area Health Network. She has been serving as the president-Elect for the Richmond Region VCNP since 2024. This role is responsible for arranging sponsored dinners and supporting the current president.

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT:
Erica Davis, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Erica Williams is a dedicated Family Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years of nursing experience and a diverse educational background. She earned her Associate of Nursing degree from Virginia State University, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Old Dominion University. Erica also holds a Master’s of Science in Nursing from Simmons College. Throughout her career, Erica has demonstrated strong leadership, serving as President of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners (VCNP) from 2023-2024 and currently serving as Immediate Past President. She is passionate about providing excellent patient care and currently works in surgical services at the VA Hospital, where she supports the healthcare needs of veterans.

SECRETARY:
Wendy Williams, MSN, FNP-C
Wendy is the Secretary for the Richmond Region VCNP. As Secretary, this position is part of the Executive Board and is a voting member. This position is responsible for organizing and taking minutes at the Executive Board meetings that occur quarterly. In addition this role is always helping out with other projects as needed, such as the Pharmacology Symposium.

TREASURER:
Letitia Cofield, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-BC
Letitia is a dedicated Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with over 35 years of experience in the nursing profession. She has been an active Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners member since 2023. Letitia’s educational background includes a Diploma in Nursing from the Southside Regional Medical Center School of Professional Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Old Dominion University, and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Phoenix. She also completed a Post-Graduate Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner program at Purdue University Global. In addition to her professional work, Letitia volunteers with the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps and other community organizations.

MEMBERSHIP CO-CHAIRS:
Chantika Ashe, DNP, FNP-C
Chantika has been an active member of VCNP since 2016, initially joining as a NP student. She graduated in 2018 with her MSN-FNP and earned her Doctorate in 2020. She is currently the Membership Chair for the Richmond Region since 2024, assisting with membership, recruitment, and retention.

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR:
Crystal Allen, AGACNP-BC
Crystal is a Neurosurgery Nurse Practitioner who is passionate about caring for the geriatric population. She previously served as President for VCNP before taking on the awards and nominations role.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR:
William Sachau, MS, ANP-C
Bill Sachau, MS, ANP-C works in cardiology at the Central Virginia VA Medical CENTER in Richmond. his current areas of practice are congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and heart arrhythmias. He has been a VCNP RVA chapter member for the past 7 years and he has served as the Education Committee Co-Chair for almost 2 years.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR:
Kelly Szerenyi, MSN, FNP-C
Kelly Szerenyi graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2013. She started her career in primary care but transitioned to hospital medicine. She also retired from the Army Reserves with 22 years of service. After retiring, she missed the comradery of the military. Therefore, she moved from the community to the Veterans Affairs (VA) where she worked with Veterans as a Nurse Practitioner in Lung Cancer Screening. She continues to work at the VA but has transitioned back to inpatient medicine serving veterans when they have an acute illness. At the VA, she has served as a co-educator for the Nurse Practitioners and is now the Lead of over 130 Nurse Practitioners. She also has served on the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners for over four years as the co-educator of the Richmond Region. In her spare time, she started a non-profit, sharing non-traditional music to those in need.

PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR:
Candice Parkins, MSN, WHNP-BC
An active member of the VCNP since 2020, I have been serving on the Public Relations Committee of the Richmond Region since 2023.  Professionally I practice in the areas of gyencology, family planning, sexual health, and obstetrics. I hope to see the richmond region engage its members meaningfully and continue to encourage the advancement of NP practice.

PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR:
Sabine Daudier, MSN, FNP-BC
Family nurse Practitioner specializing in Palliative Medicine at Bon Secours, Mercy Health. Serving as the Public Relations Co-Chair for the Richmond Region since 2024.

AWARD AND NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR:
Tanya Satterwhite, DNP, PMHNP-BC
Dr. Tanya J. Satterwhite is a dual certified family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over 20 years of experience.  She completed her bachelor and master’s degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University.  She matriculated at Old Dominion University where she received her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2015. In 2022, Dr. Satterwhite completed a post master’s program in psychiatric mental health nursing at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Satterwhite has worked as a nurse since graduating from high school, first as a licensed practical nurse.  She often jokes, “nursing is the only job I’ve ever had; it’s the only thing I know how to do!”  She has worked in various settings to include cardiology, primary care, hospice care, college health, and behavioral health.  Dr. Satterwhite has served as president of the Central Virginia Chapter of the Virginia Nurses Association and as state chair of the Nominations and Awards Committee of VCNP. Active in her community, she is a board member of Babybuns for Life Network and volunteers with the Crater Health District Medical Reserve Corp as well as many other organizations. Dr. Satterwhite is a member of the Petersburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She enjoys reading, shopping, traveling and spending time with her husband, Russell, their 2 children, Kyndell and Noah, and grandpup, Simba.

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR:
Chrystal Doyle, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Chrystal Doyle is a dual board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health and Family nurse practitioner with a MS from Virginia Commonwealth University and Post-Masters Certificate from Frontier Nursing University. Her areas of interest include eating disorders, hormonal mood disorders, and integrative psychiatry. She currently works in private practice and as clinical faculty.