Susan H. Weaver, PhD, RN, CRNI, NEA-BC

Sue Weaver’s advocacy for administrative supervisors emanated from her program of research on this role. The genesis for her research has been her 25 years of experience as administrative supervisor which continues to inform her research. In a funded nationwide study Dr. Weaver began the investigation of the administrative supervisor role, the nurse leader on the evening, night, and weekend shifts in hospital, and their impact on nurse and patient outcomes. Since then, she has conducted regional and national research studies further exploring and describing the administrative supervisor role and their organizational impact. Recognizing from her research that administrative supervisors lacked role specific education, Dr. Weaver was the founder of the annual Administrative Supervisor conference. This conference evolved since 2017 from a local to a multi-state conference with several hundred supervisors from seven states at the last conference. Sue is a Nurse Scientist at the Hackensack Meridian Health Ann May Center for Nursing and the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing.

Helene Burns, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, is Senior Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer
of Clinical Services at Jefferson Health in New Jersey. In this role since 2013, Dr. Burns led her organization to receive its first Magnet Designation® in 2018.

Dr. Burns has overall responsibility for patient care services and nursing operations at the multi-hospital New Jersey division of Jefferson Health, with oversight of its more than 1,400 RNs and Department of Nursing staff. Dr. Burns has direct oversight of patient safety as it relates to nurse-sensitive indicators, e.g., patient fall rates, readmission rates, catheter-associated urinary track infections, blood stream infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia rates, sepsis rates, and pressure ulcer rates. She collaborates with the medical staff and administrative teams leading High Reliability initiatives as they relate to patient safety.

An inspiring and engaged leader, Dr. Burns has championed many key initiatives linking patient and employee satisfaction, including leading a healthy work environment nursing council with clinical nurses; infusing shared governance councils within the organization; and improving nurse communication through nursing hourly rounds and beside communication initiatives. She also implemented several nursing retention initiatives, including Nurse Intern, Nurse Residency, and Nurse Mentorship programs. Dr. Burns has jointly led initiatives with two hospital administrators to design new patient towers with clinical staff putting design input.

As an accomplished health care leader, Annamarie has served in Healthcare Administration for the past 24 years at several New York City and New Jersey hospitals and healthcare systems. She also worked as a consultant for Press Ganey. In her role as Vice President of Operations and Support Services at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, she oversees the day-to-day operations of the academic medical center, as well as manages several departments, including Environmental Services, the Office of Patient Experience, Food and Nutrition, and the Family Health Center. Annamarie received her master’s degree in Health Administration from St. Joseph’s University, and her Certification as a Patient Experience Professional from Beryl Institute. She has been an administrator at Jersey Shore University Medical Center since July 2018.

Georgia Reiner, MS, is a Risk Specialist for Nurses Service Organization (NSO) in the Healthcare Division of Aon’s Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. She has worked in the healthcare insurance business for 4 years, educating healthcare providers on professional liability issues and risk management principles. She is also a published author on quality, safety, and risk management topics affecting healthcare. In addition to being a licensed Property & Casualty insurance agent, she has earned a BS in Healthcare Policy and Administration from Penn State University, a certificate in Paralegal Studies from Villanova University, and an MS from Drexel University in Quality, Safety, and Risk Management in Healthcare.

Jennifer Flynn, CPHRM, is Risk Manager for Nurses Service Organization (NSO) in the Healthcare Division of Aon’s Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. Having worked in the healthcare insurance business for over 19 years, she is dedicated to educating healthcare professionals on professional liability risks and offers strategies to mitigate those risks. In addition to being a frequent national speaker on healthcare risk and liability, she is also a published author on various risk management topics. She earned her designation as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM) and is a licensed Property & Casualty agent. She earned a BA in Psychology from Arcadia University in Glenside, PA.