The Nursing Exclusion
EST. 1965
Special Episode (SE 1125)
Click the image to watch it now on YouTube…
Dr. Aisha K. Brooks, DNP, MPH, RN, FADLN, FAAN
Dr. Aisha K. Brooks is a retired Rear Admiral and former Chief Nurse of the U.S. Public Health Service. She leads VitalVoice Nursing with a systems-level perspective informed by extensive federal service and public health nursing leadership, with a strong focus on advancing equity in leadership and practice. Her Fortitude Framework shapes this work, helping leaders remain unapologetically grounded, strategically aligned, and ethically present wherever they serve.
Dr. Katie Boston-Leary, PhD, MBA, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FAONL, FAAN
Dr. Katie Boston-Leary is the Senior Vice President of Equity and Engagement at the American Nurses Association, addressing DEIAB and workforce challenges within the profession. Katie is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing and the School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University. She is a board member for St. John’s University Health Programs, Hippocratic AI and Ingenovis Health and an editorial advisory board member with Nursing Management, Nursing 2025 and ACHE. Katie leads the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing Forum and served on the National Academy of Science and Medicine’s National Plan to Address Clinician Well-Being supported by the previous U.S. Surgeon General.
Dr. Boston-Leary has authored two chapters in The Sage Encyclopedia of Multicultural Counseling, Social Justice, and Advocacy, the first encyclopedia focused on racism and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. Katie was also featured in the award-winning documentary film, Everybody’s Work funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
She was identified in August 2019 Health Leaders Media Journal as “One of Five Chief Nursing Officers Changing Healthcare”. She also won the ICABA TD Bank 2023 Woman of Impact award and the 2024 Spectrum Circle Award for Innovation in Health. She was recently inducted as a Distinguished Fellow at the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing with the National Black Nurses Association and will be inducted this year as a Fellow with American Organization of Nursing Leadership (AONL).
Dr. Boston-Leary has conducted research on care delivery models, time allocation, racism and civilized oppression in nursing with Quint Studer, Joslin Insight and McKinsey. She is a well-known speaker internationally with many publications, podcasts and national outlets namely CNBC, NY Times, Cheddar TV, Axios, Beckers, Forbes, Bloomberg News and on NBC’s Today Show. She completed her PhD at Walden University in Health Services, obtained a dual degree MBA and MHA from the University of Maryland Global Campus and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Bowie State University in Maryland. She is a board-certified Nurse Executive and obtained a nurse executive leadership certificate from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Brad Goettl, DNP, DHA, RN, FNP-C, FAAN, Chief Nursing Officer of the American Nurses Enterprise
Dr. Bradley Goettl is a dynamic nurse executive, bringing more than 20 years of experience across clinical practice, healthcare administration, academia, and nonprofit organizations. As Chief Nursing Officer for the American Nurses Enterprise — home to the American Nurses Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center, and American Nurses Foundation — he advocates for more than 5 million nurses nationwide and oversees globally recognized accreditation programs.
Dr. Goettl began his career in rural healthcare, later serving as a flight nurse and nurse practitioner before stepping into influential leadership roles, including serving as the inaugural Chief Clinical Officer for the Emergency Nurses Association. His career highlights include developing international training programs, securing major grants to expand healthcare access, leading innovative transition-to-practice initiatives, and nursing scholarships. Dr. Goettl also serves as a Nurse Executive in Residence at Georgetown University School of Nursing, reflecting his ongoing commitment to mentorship and supporting the next generation of nursing leaders.
Dr. Goettl is a proud Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the Academy of Emergency Nursing, and the American College of Healthcare Executives, and remains deeply committed to advancing the nursing profession.
Resources
American Nurses Association - https://www.nursingworld.org/
Professional Degree Petition - https://ana.quorum.us/campaign/professionaldegreepetition/
RN Action Coalition - https://rnaction.org/
Letter to DOE/RISE Committee - https://www.nursingworld.org/globalassets/docs/ana/comment-letters/ncc-supports-nursing-as-a-professional-degree_obbba-implementation-1.pdf
