Nursing Scholarly Fireside Podcast

  Global Perspectives Series This episode is part of the Nursing Scholarly Fireside Podcast Global Perspectives Series, highlighting nursing scholarship, leadership, education, and practice from an international perspective.   Podcast Episode Summary Dr. Houssem Eddine Ben-Ahmed shares his journey from an initially reluctant nursing student in Tunisia to becoming a nurse scholar and health workforce researcher in Canada. Drawing from his experiences as an internationally educated nurse, he discusses how scholarship evolved from an academic pursuit into a tool for addressing workforce challenges, influencing policy, and improving nurses' working conditions. Dr. Ben-Ahmed explores the opportunities and barriers facing internationally educated nurses, emphasizing ethical recruitment, equitable nurse mobility, and the importance of supporting successful integration into healthcare systems. He also advocates for a more inclusive view of nursing scholarship that values diverse global perspectives and highlights the need for empowered nursing leadership, workforce sustainability, and stronger nursing representation in policy development.   Guest Bio Dr. Houssem Eddine Ben-Ahmed, PhD, RN, is a nurse scholar and health workforce researcher whose work focuses on workforce mobility, migration, and the integration of internationally educated nurses. He has served as a Senior Research Associate with the Canadian Health Workforce Network and is the founder of CARE4NEt, where he advances nursing leadership, workforce capacity-building, and equitable access to care through research, education, and international collaboration. His scholarship examines ethical nurse mobility, registration pathways for internationally educated nurses, workforce sustainability, and policies that support an effective and inclusive global nursing workforce. Through research, teaching, and advocacy, Dr. Ben-Ahmed works to strengthen healthcare systems while promoting equity and leadership within the nursing profession.  

Podcast Episode Summary In this episode, Anderson Bottomy shares his unconventional journey into nursing and how a passion for solving clinical problems led him from bedside care to nursing informatics. He explores scholarship as the practice of asking meaningful questions and driving evidence-based improvements, while offering valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence in healthcare, emphasizing the need for nurses to remain critical thinkers and informed users of emerging technologies.   Guest Bio Anderson Bottomy, MSN, RN, NI-BC, NE-BC, CCRN, SCRN, CEN, is a Nursing Informatics Specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center whose career has taken him from the neuroscience intensive care unit to the intersection of nursing, technology, and innovation. After beginning his professional life in marketing and earning a degree in psychology from Duke University, he found his calling in nursing, where his passion for improving systems naturally led him into informatics. Today, Anderson partners with clinicians and technology teams to enhance healthcare technology, optimize clinical workflows, and improve patient care through evidence-based informatics. He is actively involved in nursing leadership, shared governance, and the American Association for Men in Nursing, where he serves on the national Board of Directors. Passionate about mentorship, scholarship, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence, Anderson is dedicated to helping nurses leverage technology, advance practice, and contribute to the profession through curiosity, collaboration, and lifelong learning.  

Podcast Episode Summary In this episode, Dr. Michael Jones shares a powerful journey of perseverance in nursing, from his beginnings as a first-generation college student to leadership roles in practice, education, and administration. He expands the definition of nursing scholarship beyond research and publishing, emphasizing mentorship, sponsorship, and the importance of cultivating a collaborative organizational culture to strengthen the profession and better serve diverse communities.   Guest Bio Dr. Michael L. Jones, PhD, MBA/HCM, RN, FAAN, is the Dean of the School of Nursing at Hampton University, where he provides strategic leadership for one of the nation's historic nursing education programs. A distinguished nurse scholar, educator, and academic leader with more than 24 years of experience, Dr. Jones has dedicated his career to advancing nursing scholarship through research, mentorship, leadership development, and service within professional organizations. His work focuses on fostering inclusive academic excellence, developing future nurse leaders, promoting scholarly engagement among faculty and students, and addressing health disparities through education, research, and community partnerships.  

Podcast Episode Summary In this episode, Dr. Corjena Cheung reflects on a nursing career that evolved from clinical practice to education and senior academic leadership, highlighting how her understanding of scholarship and research deepened over time. She discusses the pivotal role of mentorship and collaborative, interdisciplinary teams in advancing nursing knowledge, while offering practical encouragement for students and early-career nurses to embrace curiosity and integrate scholarship into everyday practice. Dr. Cheung also looks ahead to key challenges facing the profession, including funding limitations, workforce development, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence in nursing and education.   Guest Bio Dr. Corjena Cheung is the Associate Vice President for Academic Administration and Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies at Southern Adventist University. With a background as a nurse educator and researcher focused on non-pharmacological interventions for chronic conditions and physical activity promotion, she now leads strategic initiatives to develop high-quality graduate programs and enhance student success. Her work reflects a sustained commitment to scholarship, mentorship, and the advancement of the nursing profession through academic leadership.  

Podcast Episode Summary In this episode, Carlos Serrano shares his journey into nursing—a path shaped by empathy, self-doubt, and the steady influence of mentors who helped him see his potential. From pediatric intensive care to primary care and higher education, Carlos reflects on how embracing scholarship and research transformed his practice and identity as a nurse. His story highlights the power of mentorship, perseverance, and curiosity in advancing evidence-based nursing and inspiring the next generation of nurses.   Guest Bio Carlos Serrano, MS, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE, is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner, nurse educator, and assistant professor of nursing at Passaic County Community College with more than 20 years of experience across diverse pediatric and educational settings. He currently practices college health at Bloomfield College of Montclair State University and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Association for Men in Nursing. Passionate about mentorship, equity, and lifelong learning, Carlos is dedicated to advancing nursing education and supporting students and colleagues through scholarship and compassionate practice.  

Podcast Episode Summary Timothy Hamn reflects on his career in nursing and on nursing scholarship. Beginning in medical-surgical nursing and later transitioning to home health, Timothy developed a passion for wound care that led him to become a nurse practitioner, completing his advanced training in an accelerated 16-month program while working full-time. He emphasizes bridging research and practice through evidence-based, patient-centered care, encouraging nurses to question existing practices, stay curious, and advocate boldly for their patients. Timothy also discusses the challenges and rewards of starting a private practice, highlighting lessons in ethical leadership and the business of healthcare. Overall, his story underscores nursing’s transformative impact through critical thinking, empathy, and continuous professional growth. Guest Bio Timothy Scott Hamn, NP, FNP-BC, FNP-C, CWS, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Wound Specialist specializing in mobile primary care and advanced wound management across Oregon and Washington. His clinical focus includes complex chronic wounds and optimization of systemic contributors in medically complex, homebound populations. His transition into advanced practice was accelerated during the early COVID-19 pandemic in response to provider shortages in home health, leading to completion of his training at age 34. He maintains a strong commitment to evidence-based practice through daily review of current medical literature and clinical guidelines.

Podcast Episode Summary Adelaide Durkin reflects on her journey from Brazil to a more than 30‑year career in nursing and nursing education. She discusses how her diverse clinical background informs her teaching and scholarship, addresses common barriers nurses face when engaging in research, and emphasizes collaboration, persistence, and integrity. Dr. Durkin also shares thoughtful perspectives on using emerging tools—such as generative AI—to support, rather than replace, the human elements of nursing scholarship. Episode resources include the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (https://lifestylemedicine.org/) and Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation (https://www.healthynursehealthynation.org/). Guest Bio Adelaide Durkin, DNP, MS, RN, CNE, DipACLM, is a professor of nursing at Kettering College, where she chairs and teaches in the RN‑to‑BSN program, and has served as a nurse educator for over 20 years. Passionate about distance education and lifestyle‑based self‑care, she recently participated in a multidisciplinary pilot study on fecal and vaginal environments in healthy reproductive‑age women, presented at the 2025 American College of Lifestyle Medicine conference. She is the primary author of a scholarly work titled Sleep Quality and the Intention to Modify Sleep Behaviors Among Night-shift Nurses. You can read more about it here: https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nurse.0001006268.77409.dc

Podcast Episode Summary Dr. Lyndsay Wright shares her journey from working as a CNA to becoming a bedside neurology nurse and ultimately an assistant professor of nursing with a focus on lifestyle medicine. She reflects on how her passion for teaching, prevention, and chronic disease management shaped her academic and clinical path. Dr. Wright highlights the critical role of scholarship and evidence-based practice in strengthening patient outcomes and nursing education, offering encouragement for nurses at all stages of their careers to stay curious, ask questions, and pursue their passions to advance the profession. Guest Bio Lyndsay Wright, DNP, RN, CMSRN, CNE, DipACLM, NBC-HWC, is an assistant professor of nursing at Notre Dame of Maryland University, where she teaches fundamentals and adult health nursing across multiple undergraduate program formats. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with a concentration in Lifestyle Medicine and is dedicated to promoting healthy self-care behaviors among nursing students. In addition to mentoring and precepting graduate students, Dr. Wright practices as a certified medical-surgical nurse at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, where she was recognized as Nurse of the Year in 2022.    

Podcast Episode Summary Dr. Kimberly Dunker shares her journey from bedside nurse to nationally respected nursing educator and scholar. She reflects on how her family’s legacy in nursing inspired her early career, her deep passion for acute and critical care practice, and the pivotal moments that drew her into education and research. Dr. Dunker highlights the role of mentorship, collaboration, and perseverance in building a scholarly career, offering practical encouragement for nurses at every stage to embrace evidence-based practice and remain engaged, empowered leaders in the profession. Guest Bio Kimberly Dunker, PhD, DNP, MSN, RN, CNE, CNEcl, is a full professor and certified nurse educator and clinical nurse educator with more than 25 years of experience serving patients, students, and faculty. She currently serves as Director of the MSN/DNP Program at Loma Linda University and has practiced across multiple critical care specialties, including surgical oncology, neurology, and cardiac care. A published Sigma author, Dr. Dunker’s doctoral work centers on faculty empowerment and student–preceptor relationships, and her leadership is grounded in authentic transformational leadership, faculty development, and advancing nursing scholarship.

Podcast Episode Summary Dr. Ronald Vance reflects on more than three decades of nursing practice and education, tracing his journey from a high school nursing assistant to a leader in undergraduate and graduate nursing education. He shares how embracing AI-enabled teaching strategies and experiential, interprofessional learning has transformed student engagement, professional identity, and clinical judgment. Dr. Vance also offers thoughtful guidance for emerging nurses, encouraging intellectual curiosity, evidence-based practice, and a passion-driven approach to shaping the future of the profession. Guest Bio Ronald Vance, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, is an Associate Professor of Nursing whose work focuses on nursing leadership and the scholarship of teaching and learning. His teaching and research examine how innovative approaches—including AI-enabled active learning and community-based, immersive experiences—support professional identity formation, clinical judgment, and interprofessional collaboration among nursing students. A leader in curriculum redesign aligned with the AACN Essentials, Dr. Vance has developed signature learning initiatives such as the Marine Corps Marathon medical volunteer pilot, reflecting his deep commitment to preparing compassionate, adaptable nurse leaders for an evolving healthcare landscape.