About us

Officers

• 

  Sharon Morgan, President

  Sharon is a Family Nurse Practiioner and currently employed at UPHH in cardiology, at NextCare Urgent Care one day per week and teaches at University of Phoenix in the Nurse Practitioner course. She graduated from Pima Community College in 1988 with an ADN. She then completed her BSN through University of Phoenix in 1994 and a MSN in 2007 at the University of Phoenix. Sharon is married with two children. Her husband, Mike, recently retired from the Tucson Fire Department as a paramedic. Her oldest child, Kyle, is enlisted in the Navy, and her youngest son, Connor is in 2nd grade.

• 

  Audrey Wolfel, Vice-President

  Audrey currently is an instructor at the University of Arizona College of Nursing. She had served as a Board Member during the 2008-2010 term.

• 

  Elaine Wozniak, Secretary

  Elaine graduated from the University of Arizona’s first graduate level Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Program in 1993. She began her NP career working in the Disease Management Program at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs Specializing in chronic pulmonary diseases and was Director of the hospital’s out-patient anticoagulation clinic. After returning to Tucson in 2003, Elaine accepted an Associate Professor appointment at the Univeristy of Arizona. She assisted in the development of the geriatric componet for the initial accelarated BSN Program. Elaine continued in geriatric practice, while working for a large medical group in Tucson, servicing nursing homes and assisted living communitites. In 2007, Elaine started a solo practice, Medical Care Solutions and contines to provide primary care services to the homebound elderly. She has been a preceptor for NP students. She is a member of both the American Academy of Nurse Practioners and the American Academy of Homecare.

• 

  Michelle Rafferty, ANP-BC, Treasurer

  Michelle has been a nurse for over 20 years. She is originally from New York and moved to Tucson with her husband and mother in 2003. She worked in hospice while going to school to become a NP. She specialized in adult geriatrics, which is her passion. She started her own practice, At Home Medical Care LLC, 18 months ago, providing house calls. She is also employed by Odyssey Hospice providing face to face visits.

• 

  Valerie Kading, Past President & Founder

  Valerie founded the Southern Arizona Advanced Practice Nurse/Nurse Practitioner Society in 2007. She has served as the Society’s President from 2007-2010. She is also serving as the Website Coordinator. Valerie is an Adult Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and is employed at CODAC Behavioral Health. She has also worked at SAMHC, served as a Medical Director for Arizona Residental Care and had a private practice. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a BS in Psychology in 1996, BSN in 2002 and a MSN in 2004.

• 

  Jennifer Jacobson, Membership Liaison

  Jennifer is a Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner currently working in private practice. She graduated from the University of Arizona in 2001. She has experience in treating adults with serious mental illness, chemical dependency, and co-morbid medical issues. Jennifer also served as Board Member for the 2008-2010 term.

• 

  Lissa Benson, Board Member

  Lissa has been a Nurse Practitioner since 2005. She has worked as a hospitalist and is currently working for the department of anesthesia at St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s hospitals running a perioperative clinic. She is the Chair Person for the Advance Practice Provider Commitee and sits on the Medical Executive Committee at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Sigma Theta Tau, and Association of Critical Care Nurses. Joys include spending time with friends and family, reading, cooking, traveling and discovering new wine. Lissa has been married for 28 wonderful years to her husband, Joe, and has three children.

• 

  Maura Dobbins, Board Member

  Maura has been in nursing for 30 years. She has recently started her own business, MLD services. She provides consulting, education and support for licensed Assisted Living Home providers. She completes assessments and service plans documenting needed interventions for caregivers to follow.

• 

  Kim Faber, Board Member

  Kim has been an RN since 1990. She is currently enrolled in the University of Phoenix FNP prgram, with her graduation date in July 2012. Her nursing experience has been focused in the oncology, hospice and palliative care settings. She currently works as a Clinical Coordinator with the lung, head/neck, and brain cancer teams at UMC’s Arizona Cancer Center. She currently serves as the Membership Committee Chairperson for the Southern Arizoan Oncology Nusing Society (SAONS). She also has experience in running her own business as an RN Massage Therapist (Soma Massage) in Tucson for 5 years.

• 

  Tammy Gragg, Board Member

  Tammy is currently an active-duty officer in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, serving as a Behavioral Health Nurse Practitioner at Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center, Fort Huachuca. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Arizona State University in 2008 and Master of Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner from Medical College of Georgia in 2000. She is currently working toward a Doctor of Behavioral Health degree from Arizona State University. She is Board Certified with 10 years of NP clinical experience in public health and primary care settings.

• 

  Beth Newhouse, Board Member

  Beth is an Adult Psychiatric Nurse Practioner. She has been employed at CODAC Behavioral Health for the past 6 years. She graduated from the University of Airzona with a BSN in 1987 and a MSN in 2002. She graduated last year with a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.