A Community of Exceptional Nurses.
Meet the Board
The Board of Directors is vital to the success of SVAACN. It unites our community of exceptional nurses in an effort to shape the future of nursing practice in our area. These leaders help to further the AACN mission of a patient- and family-driven healthcare system where acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution.
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Nominations are accepted annually in April & May. Nominations are reviewed by the current Board of Directors and all SVAACN members in good standing are invited to vote from mid- to late-May.
Board Members are expected to serve for a minimum two-year term. The position of President-Elect is the only exception with an expected minimum three-year term (Year One: President-Elect; Year Two: President; Year Three: Past President).
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Board of Director service is voluntary and Board Members do not receive compensation. Benefits of service include, but are not limited to: leadership development, collaboration with acute & critical care colleagues from the region, and serving as a role model for the community.
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Board of Director meetings occur on the second Tuesday of every month from approximately 6PM to 8PM at Camp Hill, - Giant Community Center
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Susan Horton
President
Erika Smeltz
​​Social Media/Webmaster
Aimee Anderson
Secretary
Aimee Anderson MSN, BS, CCRN, NE-BC
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​Current place of work: Penn Medicine Lancaster General: ICU
Years of Experience: 32 years of nursing with 21 at the bedside and 11 as manager.
Any special interests / notes: "I am passionate about nursing. My speciality is critical care. I have spoken on Pressure Injuries and able involved in sepsis work. I really am impressed with Cortrak and can speak to the improved safety for our patients."
Fun Fact: Love to play tennis
Erika Smeltz BSN, RN, ONC
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital
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​Current place of work: Penn Medicine Lancaster General: ICU
Years of Experience: 2 in Orthopedic Trauma, <1year in ICU
Any special interests: EBP and Professional Development
Fun Fact: I've gone skydiving!
Suzan Horton, BSN, RN
Current place of work: Wellspan Heath, York Hospital
Cardiovascular Step Down Unit
Years of Experience: 13 years of Nursing
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Special Interests/Notes: "This will be my second year as treasurer. Looking forward to planning the next year.
I also hold a certificate in medical transcription."
Barbara Hammar
President-Elect
Brenda Artz
Secretary-Elect
Karen Good
Membership Chair
Brenda Artz DNP, RN, CCNS, CCRN
Current place of work: WellSpan Health-York Hospital, ICU Clinical Nurse Specialist
Years of Experience: 30 years of Critical Care experience
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Special Interests/Notes: "Expert on the EBP process and translating evidence into practice, most recently have presented on Early Mobility, and Pressure Injury Reduction."
Fun Fact: I collect Cambridge Glass
Barbara Hammar MSN, RN, CCRN, CSC
​Current place of work: UPMC Pinnacle
Years of Experience: 30 years in ICU nursing, 7 of that in nursing education.
Karen Good
MSN, RN, CCRN, ACCNS-AG
UPMC Pinnacle
Board Member
Board Member
Cathy Druckenmiller
Treasurer
Education Co-Chair- Elect
Lydia Johnson
Treasurer-Elect
Lydia Johnson MS, RN, CCRN
Current place of work: UPMC Pinnacle: clinical education specialist for system’s center for education and development, staff nurse - PACU
Years of Experience: 38 years!!!!
Any special interests/Notes: Teaching the critical care course for the system, participating in Research Roundtable (collaborative evidence-based nursing projects with Pinnacle and Messiah College senior nursing students), and of course, member of SVAACN for over 30 years!
1 Fun Fact about yourself: One of my 3 daughters is a NICU nurse
Cathy Druckenmiller BSN, RN, CCRN
Current place of work: UPMC Pinnacle MSICU
Years of Experience: 39 years
Sharon Truitt
Education Co-Chair
Susan McDonald
Education Co-Chair
Julia Kuzar
Membership Chair-Elect
Susan McDonald MSN, RN, CCRN
Current place of work: Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences BSN Faculty
Years of Experience: 25 years Critical Care RN 5 years Nursing Faculty
Any special interests/ Notes: "I work as a volunteer nurse and nurse educator in Haiti. This is probably my greatest passion and something I work on year round, and travel to teach twice a year."
Fun Fact: I speak Haitian Creole.
Sharon Truitt BSN RN CCRN
Current place of work: Geisinger Holy Spirit
Years of Experience: want. 31 years of Critical Care experience at the bedside
Any special interests/ Notes: "Progressive Mobility, Prone therapy, pressure injury prevention, passion for nursing care."
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Sherry Watson
Member Emeritus
Barb Jordan
Board Member
Jodi Croll
Board Member
Sherry Watson RN CCRN (31 years)
Retired from LG Penn Medicine ICU - 37 years, RN for 42 years, Board Member Emeritus
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Special Interests include Advanced Directives and Moral Distress
Fun Fact: Retirement is great!!
Jodi Croll, RN, BSN
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Current Place of Work: Lancaster General Hospital 21 years in ICU, 26 years as RN.
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Fun fact: "Love to travel... ok...everyone at work asks me ..so what are you working this week for, a trip to the beach, Pittsburgh, Florida, etc!!"
Julia Kuzar
BNS, RN, CCRN
Director of Nursing
Dauphin County Prison
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Barb Jordan
RN
UPMC Pinnacle
SVAACN Board Member