At each year’s Cardiovascular Nursing Symposium, PCNA recognizes individuals, a chapter, and an institution for their significant contributions to cardiovascular nursing and cardiovascular disease prevention and management. We are honored to celebrate healthcare providers by acknowledging their many accomplishments. Each award winner is recognized below with their photo and biography.

Fellowship

In recognition of his outstanding leadership in cardiovascular disease prevention and management, Dr. Dharmesh Patel has been inducted as an Honorary PCNA Fellow. Dr. Patel has championed the vital roles cardiovascular nurses play in the significance of preventing cardiac disease and championing leadership in this profession. His dedicated efforts to preventing cardiovascular disease are evident in his practice and multiple awards received throughout his career. PCNA is honored to induct Dr. Patel as this year’s Honorary PCNA Fellow. 

We inducted ten new fellows this year. The designation of Fellow of PCNA (FPCNA) reflects not only the professional stature of the Fellow, but also their record of valuable service to our organization. The class of 2025 fellows includes:

• Keri Barron, PhD, RN, CNE, FPCNA
• Daphne Ferdinand, PhD, MN, RN, FPCNA, FAHA
• Anita Klein, BSN, RN-BC, FPCNA
• Andrea Linder, RN, MSN, CCRC, FPCNA
• Bunmi Ogungbe, PhD, MPH, FN, FAHA, FPCNA
• Monica Parry, MEd, MSc, NP-Adult, PhD, CCN(C), FAAN, FCAN, FAHA, FPCNA
• Lori-Ann Peterson, FNP-C, AGACNP-BC, AACC, FPCNA
• Jauna Royal, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FPCNA
• Cathy Scott-Lynch, DNP, RN, FPCNA, CCM
• Mary “Janette” Sendin, MSN, APRN-CNS, CCNS, PCCN, FPCNA

Terry Thomas Clinical Practice Award

The Terry Thomas Clinical Practice Award recognizes and encourages excellence in the clinical practice of cardiovascular prevention. The 2025 winner is Daphne Ferdinand, PhD, MN, RN, FPCNA, FAHA, Executive Director and Founder of the Healthy Heart Community Prevention Project, Inc., a nonprofit community-based organization whose mission is to promote heart health and eliminate disparities associated with cardiovascular disease in vulnerable communities. During her career, Dr. Ferdinand has shown impressive commitment to community and volunteerism, including mentoring nursing students, hosting vaccine drives, and educational programs. Dr. Ferdinand is being recognized for her lifetime commitment to the nursing profession and cardiovascular disease prevention.

Heart Failure Prevention Award

The Heart Failure Prevention Award recognizes a nurse who has demonstrated an innovative, successful model of primary or secondary preventive care for patients with heart failure. Laura Mack, MSN, RN, CNL, HF-CERT, Clinical Nurse Leader of the FHN Memorial Hospital, is PCNA’s 2025 winner. Laura has spent years focusing on heart failure patients and was one of the first to take and pass the Heart Failure Provider Certification exam offered by the Heart Failure Society of America, and has submitted her work to various societies through poster and podium presentations, including at PCNA. Laura is a vital necessity to her organization’s congestive heart failure treatment program and has made a huge impact on our heart failure community.

Advocacy Award for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

The Advocacy Award commends a member’s leadership in advocacy for cardiovascular disease prevention or the advancement of the nursing profession. Our 2025 winner is Kristan Langdon, DNP, APRN, ANP-C, CPHQ, Cardiovascular Quality and Accreditation Coordinator for WellStar Health System. Dr. Langdon was instrumental in revitalizing the Atlanta PCNA Chapter and has done an excellent job engaging Atlanta-based nurses, encouraging professional development and advocacy. Dr. Langdon is an active member of PCNA where she contributes her expertise to the Advocacy Committee, serving as chair. Her numerous leadership roles to advocate on behalf of the nursing profession and for patients have had a positive influence on the day-to-day practice of cardiovascular disease management and prevention.

Institutional Award for Excellence in Promoting Cardiovascular Care

The Institutional Award for Excellence in Promoting Cardiovascular Care recognizes health care and academic institutions that promote cardiovascular nursing leadership and practice. Orlando Health Regional Medical Center is being honored as the 2025 winner. Orlando Health is celebrating 60 years of providing compassionate, high-quality cardiovascular care in Central Florida while remaining committed to delivering top-ranked cardiovascular care. Through the ANCC, the medical center received Magnet Designation in 2023, which designates organizations worldwide where nursing leaders successfully align their strategic goals to improve the organization’s patient outcomes. Its cardiovascular specialists have expertise in more than 40 areas of specialty. This level of excellence has earned the institution a national distinction with a top 50 ranking in Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery.

Chapter Excellence Award

The Chapter Excellence Award recognizes a chapter that has demonstrated outstanding contributions to its community. The Southern Nevada Chapter has been selected as the 2025 award winner, which is a testament to their unwavering commitment to chapter growth, high-quality programming, and impactful outreach initiatives. Notable initiatives include participation in the AHA Heart Walk, collaboration with Lighthouse Charities to rebuild a community garden, and assistance with food care package distribution. They have also taken part in community events, such as a ‘Lunch and Learn’ session at the Mexican Consulate, further strengthening their impact within the Hispanic community. The Chapter’s dedication to the nursing profession and community is evident through its strategic partnerships, dynamic programming, and commitment to outreach.

Award Winners

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 2025 award winners and fellows!

Dharmesh Patel, MD, FACC, MBBS (Lon), FACP, FASPC, FNLA, RVPI

Dharmesh Patel, MD, MBBS (Lon), obtained his medical degrees at Guy’s & Kings College Hospital Medical School at the University of London in the United Kingdom. He is a faculty member at the Stern Cardiovascular Foundation in Southaven, Mississippi. He has served the Desoto County in North Mississippi exclusively for the last 20 years.

Dr. Patel is the Director of the Stern Cardiovascular Lipid Clinic and Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Baptist Desoto Hospital in Southaven Mississippi. He also serves as a board member and secretary for the Southeast chapter of the National Lipid Association and National Board member of the American Society of Preventative Cardiology. He is recently appointed ACC Governor for State of Mississippi.

He is boarded in seven different disciplines including by the American Board of Clinical Lipidology and is a certification specialist in clinical hypertension for the American Society of Hypertension. He also serves as a Clinical Professor of Cardiology at the Baptist University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Memphis. He has been awarded “Best Cardiologist in Desoto County” in 2013/2014 and 2016 when the award was available.

He has been given Quality Physician Champion Award, Baptist Hospitals, Memphis Metro Region for 2008 and 2009 and has been awarded National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Recognition for excellence in cardiac care 2008.Additionally, Dr. Patel is past chairman for the American Heart Association Executive Leadership Committee, Memphis Division and has served on the Southeast board of Directors for the American Heart Association. 

He is current President PACH – Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Care a nonprofit advocacy organization. Dr. Patel has also served as principal investigator in multiple studies and has been published in multiple journals including JACC. Most importantly, he has played rugby around the world and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.

Keri Barron, PhD, RN, CNE, FPCNA

Keri Barron, PhD, RN, CNE, FPCNA, is a registered nurse with a dedication to improving cardiovascular health outcomes in underserved communities. Through community-engaged research and application of evidence-based interventions, Dr. Barron aims to address health disparities and promote cardiovascular health.

Dr. Barron has made significant contributions to PCNA; she serves on the Communications Committee and has contributed several articles. Dr. Barron also serves on the PCNA Membership Committee, in addition to co-leading the new Central Alabama Chapter of PCNA, who have successfully organized their inaugural event in October 2024.

Dr. Barron’s scientific interests and volunteer service reflect a deep commitment to advancing cardiovascular health and addressing health inequities through research, education, and community involvement.

Daphne Ferdinand, PhD, MN, RN, FPCNA, FAHA

Dr. Daphne Ferdinand, PhD, MN, RN, FPCNA, FAHA, is the Executive Director of the Healthy Heart Community Prevention Project, Inc., a non-profit community-based organization, whose mission is to promote heart health and to eliminate disparities associated with cardiovascular disease in vulnerable communities. Dr. Ferdinand’s expertise in community-engaged research has inspired her to serve on multiple community advisory boards, including the Tulane Center for Clinical Research to promote academic/community collaborative partnerships and to increase minority participation in clinical trials. She also serves as the Co-chair of Community Programs of the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC), where she initiates and coordinates the implementation of various ABC cardiovascular risk reduction programs.

She has mentored nurses through her involvement with the Dillard University Nursing Alumni Program and remains active in the PCNA Crescent City Chapter by providing support to the chapter’s leadership team. Dr. Ferdinand has impressive commitment to community and volunteerism, including mentoring nursing students, hosting vaccine drives and educational programs. Dr. Ferdinand has committed a lifetime to the nursing profession and cardiovascular disease prevention.

Anita Klein, BSN, RN-BC, FPCNA

Anita Klein BSN, RN-BC, RT(R) began her cardiac career as a Radiologic Technologist in the Cardiac Cath Lab in 1992 and started as a Nurse in the Cardiac ICU in 1996, where she held her CCRN.  She currently works in the Nuclear Stress Lab at UPMC Hamot, in Erie, PA and is board certified in Cardiovascular Nursing.

Anita has served on several committees in nursing education. In 2018 She became a member of PCNA and in 2019, became the founding president of the PCNA, Erie Chapter which holds educational learning series in both the spring and fall and attend several outreach events each year. Laura has shown dedicated care for her patients and the compassion she has for the PCNA organization is evident.

Kristan Langdon, DNP, APRN, ANP-C, CPHQ

Dr. Kristan Langdon, DNP, APRN, ANP-C, CPHQ, is an Adult Nurse Practitioner with a focus in cardiovascular disease prevention and management for the past 20 years. Currently she is the Cardiovascular Quality and Accreditation Coordinator at Wellstar Health System, West Georgia Medical Center in La Grange, Georgia. Her areas of interest are in preventive cardiology, improving professional practice for nurses, and redesigning systems of care to support value-based outcomes. Dr. Langdon received her Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master of Science Nursing, and Bachelor of Science Nursing degrees from Emory University, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing.

Dr. Langdon was instrumental in revitalizing the Atlanta PCNA Chapter and has done an excellent job engaging Atlanta-based CV nurses, encouraging professional development, and Advocacy. Dr. Langdon is an active member of PCNA where she contributes her expertise to the Advocacy Committee, serving as committee chair. She serves in numerous leadership roles to advocate on behalf of the nursing profession and for patients.

Andrea Linder, RN, MSN, CCRC, FPCNA

Andrea Linder, RN, MSN, CCRC, FPCNA, has been a registered nurse for over thirty years with a passion for innovative clinical trials research, education and advocacy for patients. She has worked at Stanford University in clinical research in cardiovascular medicine and oncology for most of her career.

Andrea is involved in research with the Stanford Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Disease as a research nurse coordinator managing complex clinical trials for patients with genetic cardiomyopathies.
Additionally, Andrea serves as the Communications Facilitator for the Stanford Cardiomyopathy Patient Support Group, providing speaker presentations, discussions and support among the cardiomyopathy patient population. She has shared her work at the 2024 PCNA Annual Symposium, showcasing her dedication to advancing nursing practice and patient advocacy on a national level.

Laura Mack, MSN, RN, CNL, HF-CERT

Laura Mack, MSN, RN, CNL, HF-CERT, has worked at FHN hospital in Freeport, Illinois for 32 years with the cardiovascular population. She has spent recent years focusing on heart failure patients and manages the Get with The Guidelines data abstraction and related outcomes improvement for FHN. Laura helped create a process to ensure heart failure patients are prescribed Guideline Directed Medication Therapy and are followed closely for titration and optimal management. This led to significant improvements in heart failure patient outcomes. Through this work FHN has recently received several Heart Failure awards for the first time.

Laura was one of the first to take and pass the Heart Failure provider certification exam offered by Heart Failure Society of America. She has submitted her work to various societies through poster and podium presentations including PCNA, the Nursing Teaching Institute conference, the Iowa EBP conference, and recent acceptance at European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Congress. Laura is a vital necessity to her organization’s congestive heart failure treatment program and has had a huge impact on our heart failure community.

Bunmi Ogungbe, PhD, MPH, RN, FAHA, FPCNA

Dr. Bunmi Ogungbe, PhD, MPH, FN, FAHA, FPCNA, is an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing with a joint appointment at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research focuses on advancing cardiovascular health equity through innovative, community-engaged interventions. She leads several groundbreaking studies, including the THRIVE food is medicine project, testing integrated produce prescriptions and culturally-tailored dietary counseling.

Dr. Ogungbe has made contributions to PCNA’s educational and scientific mission by serving as a panelist on PCNA’s “Heart to Heart Nurses” podcast series focused on improving diversity in clinical trials. As a speaker in PCNA’s Leadership Series, she shared innovative strategies for enhancing diverse participation in CV research. Through her research, education, and service activities, Dr. Ogungbe exemplifies PCNA’s commitment to advancing cardiovascular nursing excellence and mission.

Monica Parry, MEd, MSc, NP-Adult, PhD, CCN(C), FAAN, FCAN, FAHA, FPCNA

Dr. Monica Parry, MEd, MSc, NP-Adult, PhD, CCN(C), FAAN, FCAN, FAHA, FPCNA, is a Professor in the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto and a Nurse Practitioner with over 35 years of cardiovascular experience. Dr. Parry is a member of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance, a member of the Global Cardiovascular Nursing Leadership Forum (GCNLF), PCNA, and a member of the Women’s Health Expert Panel of the AAN.

Dr. Parry has presented her research at our Annual Symposium and has been instrumental in her efforts on PCNA’s Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing and the mentorship of students and colleagues to get them more involved with PCNA. Dr. Perry’s efforts have been crucial in creating an impact on equity, community, patient partnerships.

Lori-Ann Peterson, FNP-C, AGACNP-BC, AACC, FPCNA

Lori-Ann Peterson, FNP-C, AGACNP-BC, AACC, FPCNA, is a Nurse Practitioner with a career dedicated to preventative cardiology. Her areas of interest include preventative cardiology, women and heart disease and cardio-oncology. She actively supports ongoing learning as a preceptor to NP students, Cardiology NP and PA fellows, new employees, and other colleagues. She frequently shares lessons learned with her peers and is an excellent clinical resource.

Lori-Ann has attended the Arizona Learning Events and PCNA Annual Symposium, in addition to presenting at the Arizona Chapter Spring Learning Event in 2023 on Women and Heart Disease. Lori-Ann is an advocate for getting others involved in PCNA and encourages professional development opportunities. In both her clinical role and roles with PCNA and ASPC, Lori-Ann has demonstrated her commitment and passion for prevention in cardiology.

Jauna Royal, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FPCNA

Dr. Jauna Royal, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FPCNA was a Cardiology Nurse Practitioner for Atlanta Heart Associates for 11 years. During that time, she also volunteered with the Hands of Hope Clinic, managing general cardiology for her county’s indigent, low-income, and no-income patient population. She has been a PCNA member since 2006 and was the Chapter Leader for the PCNA chapter in the Atlanta area.

Dr. Royal is an Assistant Teaching Professor and the Nurse Practitioner Practicum/Preceptor Liaison for the University of Tampa. In this role, she continues to share her love of cardiac prevention with nursing students. She has also been an active leader in the West Florida PCNA Chapter, which we began in 2019. Dr. Royal has been an American Heart Association and PCNA guest lecturer and has spoken to multiple community organizations on multiple topics, including hypertension, women and heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. In 2011, she was also published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing and did a poster presentation on Community Cardiac Screening and Education at the PCNA Annual Symposium.

Cathy Scott-Lynch, DNP, RN, FPCNA, CCM

Cathy Scott-Lynch, DNP, RN, FPCNA, CCM, has been a Registered Nurse in the Michigan Area for over three decades. Cathy is currently employed at the Michigan Education Special Services Association where she teaches cardiovascular health. Cathy also served as Adjunct Professor at Davenport University where she taught nursing students. She is also an Instructor for the American Heart Association.

Cathy is one of the Founders, Board members, and Vice Chair of the SouthSide Community Coalition in South Lansing where they provide free services for the community. Cathy has been heavily involved in PCNA efforts throughout the years, and has been a part of the PCNA Great Lakes Chapter since 2014 , serving as chapter President. Cathy has dedicated her life to serving her community. She is passionate about PCNA and its mission and goals.

Mary “Janette” Sendin, MSN, APRN-CNS, PCCN, FPCNA

Mary “Janette” Sendin, MSN, APRN-CNS, CCNS, PCCN, FPCNA, has solidified her foundation as a clinician, a formal and informal leader, a learning facilitator and an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Clinical Nurse Specialist. Janette is uniquely qualified to use advanced knowledge, clinical inquiry, innovation, change management and critical thinking to lead clinical practice, help advance the practice of nursing, and serve as an organizational connector.

In 2020, Janette attended a PCNA preparation meeting for the symposium in Orlando where she met PCNA leaders, heightening her keenness to be involved in the PCNA mission. Janette serves on the PCNA Project Development and Review Committee and in June of 2024, she established the Central Florida PCNA Chapter with an engaged group of leaders. Janette aspires to continue to make a difference.