APNA President’s Address

Empowered to Innovate and Collaborate: PMH Nurses Shaping Care Excellence
Thursday, October 16, 9:00am Central
Joyce Shea, DNSc, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN

Dr. Joyce Shea is a board-certified advanced practice psychiatric-mental health nurse (APRN) specializing in integrated behavioral and physical health care. She is Professor Emerita at Fairfield University’s Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies. Having previously served for 5 years as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, she stepped into the role of President for this premier psychiatric nursing organization as of October 2024. Dr. Shea also recently co-chaired the national Task Force for revising the Scope and Standards of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Practice and has received over $6 million in HRSA funding, with the most recent grant focusing on telehealth care and inter-professional practice. She has been inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.

Allison Massari

As an advocate for patients and healthcare professionals, Massari has an intimate understanding of the demands and challenges of the healthcare profession, and compelling authority to address the current needs of the healthcare industry. She experienced firsthand the critical value of receiving personalized health care after surviving two life-threatening car accidents, one where she suffered second and third degree burns on over 50 percent of her body.

Raised by parents who were both clinicians—her father an otolaryngologist whose primary focus was on oncologic cases, and her mother a nurse who worked in the emergency department, operating room, and newborn nursery across her career—Allison grew up immersed in the healthcare field and was captivated by her parent’s compassionate work.

As she shares her riveting and courageous journey, Massari shines light on how all healthcare professionals provide immense value. The profound lessons she learned inspire confidence and self-leadership, while elevating hearts and building resiliency within the challenges of the high-pressure healthcare work environment.