Dr. Zim Okoli Named President-Elect of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL) executive director and University of Kentucky College of Nursing professor Zim Okoli PhD, MPH, PMHNP-BC, APRN, NCTTP has been selected as president-elect for the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA).
Psychiatric-mental health nurse members from across the country elected Dr. Okoli as the future president of the APNA. As president-elect, Dr. Okoli will assume responsibilities with the APNA Board of Directors as well as mentor current and prospective board and committee members and serve on the finance committee.
“Dr. Okoli’s commitment to excellence in the nursing field, improved patient outcomes and evidence-based practice has paved the way for him to serve APNA members, and in turn, improve the care of the patients they serve,” said Janie Heath, UK College of Nursing dean. “Dr. Okoli’s rich research, clinical, and educational experience in the field of psychiatric nursing positions him to be an outstanding president for APNA, and I know he will excel in leading such a distinguished organization.”
Founded in 1986, the APNA has grown to be the largest professional membership organization committed to the specialty practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing and wellness promotion, prevention of mental health problems, and the care of individuals with psychiatric disorders. Their core ideology is to be the unifying voice of psychiatric-mental health nursing.
Dr. Okoli shares, “It is such an honor to be elected by my fellow psychiatric-mental health nurses in serving as President of the APNA. In serving as President-elect, I will support ongoing work to maintain APNA’s influence as the premier psychiatric-mental health nursing organization. This work involves promoting policies that ensure access to psychiatric-mental health care to diverse individuals, families, and communities. Achieving this goal requires safeguarding diversity in the psychiatric-mental health workforce and supporting inclusive practices that honor and respect individuals, families, and communities.”
For more about APNA, visit apna.org.
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