2023 Nominating Committee
Alan ‟Tony” Amberg, MSN, MS, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Present Position
Owner, Alan Tony Amberg PLLC
Education
MSN PMHNP, Rush University 2013
MS Nursing, DePaul University 2010
MS Instructional Technology, Gallaudet University 1987
BA Theatre, University of Maryland 1984
APNA Contributions
- APNA Illinois Chapter
- President (also President-Elect and Immediate Past President) 2015-2019
- Headed up conference, helped to build it up to 310 participants, 20 posters, 60 student scholarships
- Started chapter annual board retreat
- Chapter meeting events at the APNA Annual Conference
- Headed fundraising efforts that raised over $100,000 for the chapter.
- 2009 Janssen Scholar
Other Experience
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Liaison (2015-2021): spoke at many conferences and events. Provided nursing grand rounds at Northwestern Memorial and Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital. Hands-on training and consultation for APRNs/PAs, RNs and Techs across a wide variety of subject matter. Subject matter expert on introduction of revised Delirium screening across the hospital. Wrote same-day surgery suicide assessment protocol. During lockdown, provided over 300 stress reduction groups to staff hospital-wide (>2800 staff contacts). Media appearances on behalf of Northwestern on NBC, NPR and Bloomberg, local TV and print. Precepted 27 NP students, a 5-year training partnership with Spiritual Care to train Chaplain residents in psychiatry.
- Rush Oak Park Hospital Sole Consult Psychiatric Provider (2014-2015): 135-bed community hospital of Rush University Medical Center.
- 7 Hills Healthcare Center Part-time Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (2016-2020): Outpatient Community Mental Health
- PsychU.org Co-section advisor/ contributor (2019-2021)
- NP Psych Navigator Advisory council/ contributor (2021-2022)
Illinois Society of Advanced Practice Nurses: Conference speaker since 2015, Program Committee (2022)
APNA members should vote for me to serve on the Nominating Committee because a great board begins with great members. Health care is going through rapid evolution and Psychiatric Nursing is essential to meeting the psychiatric workforce needs of the country; physicians cannot do it all. We need out-of-the-box thinking, and ways to grow and support the chapters so that they don’t simply rely on a few incredible nurses who carry the water year after year. We also have too many states with weak or non-existent chapters. We also need representatives from the new and surging area of nurse entrepreneurship. The Nominating Committee is key to not only vetting interested members but reaching out to find members with key skills and experience in these areas.
I can help fulfill APNA’s purpose as a scientific and education organization by acknowledging and reaching out to all the nurses (both RN and LPN) in the psychiatric commercial chains and nursing homes who need us for education and advocacy and are not represented well. There is also a need for organized clinical education for APRNs beyond the master’s level. We have a preceptor shortage problem and no national voice to partner with universities to consistently help preceptors become good teachers of the science. I will be a voice in the Nominating committee for looking beyond the usual sources to see how we can recruit candidates that can diversify our viewpoints and help to meet these needs as well.
2023 Nominating Committee

Vonda Keels-Lowe, MSN, CPN, PMHNP-BC, APRN
Present Position
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio
Adolescent Inpatient Unit (ages 12/13 to 17)
Outpatient Care with our Family Support Program, serving patients impacted by Trauma.
The Ohio State University: Faculty for the PMHNP Specialty Program.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital: Faculty Member, Preceptor, and Faculty Advisory Board member for the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program.
Education
Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing 1992 – Capital University
Master of Science Degree in Nursing with a Child & Adolescent Health Concentration and Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Eligibility June 2008 – Wright State University
Post-Masters Certification for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program May 2014 – The Ohio State University College of Nursing.
APNA Contributions
- APNA Ohio Chapter
- President October 2020 – 2022
- President-Elect 2020
- Secretary 2018
- Chapter Conference chairperson 2019 & 2020
- Child and Adolescent Council Advisory Panel
- Research Council
- Neuromodulation Task Force Advisory Panel
Other Experience
- Family Healthcare, Inc.
- Director of Nursing (1996-2000)
- Child & Family Health Services Director and Immunization Coordinator (1994-1996)
- Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) Ohio Chapter – Immediate Past President (2011-2016); Vice-President (2009-2011); Board Member (2007-2009); Secretary (2005-07)
- SPN National Chapter Development Committee Member (2007; 2008)
- SPN National Chapter Education and Programming Committee (2011-2012)
- Undergraduate and Graduate Chapter Member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (Member of the Divine Nine): Service is promoted and provided on both local and national levels.
- Franklin County and Delaware County Committee Member to combat Human Trafficking.
- Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner 2007; Certification 2008.
- Designed Sensory Rooms for the Behavioral Health Pavilion and the Child/Adolescent Unit at Harding Hospital.
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital Racial Justice Committee 2021 to Present
- Other pertinent experiences include:
- Grant writing
- Articles for publication/peer reviewer Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing.
- Public speaking
- Podium and Poster presenter at national/local conferences
- Professional / Staff Development
APNA members should vote for me to serve on the Nominating Committee because my experience as a faculty member and instructor for graduate students as well as fellow candidates, has been very helpful and insightful in making decisions related to finding the best fit in a candidate for programs/positions. Leadership appointments have given me opportunities to connect and collaborate with others and to appreciate the contributions of others in selecting the appropriate candidate for various programs.
I hope the members of APNA will believe and trust that my experience and commitment to the growth of our organization is very important to me and that begins with selecting the best and most qualified candidates for each open position and bringing those candidates forward to our membership.
I can help fulfill APNA’s purpose as a scientific and education organization by continuing to support innovative research that meets APNA’s purpose. As we continue to evolve and grow, it will be important to discuss how we can best meet the needs of our membership and embrace change. If elected, I will continue to be an advocate for our profession and for APNA. It is important to promote the organization and provide education about who we are and our purpose at every level, from community to national.
2023 Nominating Committee

Helene Vossos, DNP, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Present Position
Associate Professor, PMHNP Program Coordinator: University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
PMHNP clinical practice. Heroes Mile, VA
Education
Doctorate in Nursing Practice, Concordia University, Mequon, Wisconsin, 2011-2012
Master of Science of Nursing, University of Michigan, Flint, Michigan, 2007-2010
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Adult Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, University of Michigan, Flint, 2006-2007
Associate Degree in Nursing, Registered Nurse, Mid-Michigan Community College, Harrison, Michigan, 2003-2005, LPN, 2001-2003
Registered Medical Assistant, X-Ray Tech, Echo Tech, Front Office, 1983-2003 – Ross Medical Education Center, Livonia, Michigan
APNA Contributions
- APNA Florida Chapter
- President 2022
- President-Elect 2021
- Education Council
- Advisory Panel
- Undergraduate Branch
- Practice Council Advisory Panel
- Scholarly Review Committee
- APNA JAPNA Peer Journal Reviewer
- APNA Annual Abstract Conference Judge and Scholarly review committee task force work
- APNA, Podium Presenter at APNA Florida Conference. Reducing Disparity and Mitigating Depression for
- Hispanic Older Adults Implementing the Hispanic Version of the PHQ-9 Screening Tool. (2019)
Other Experience
- Author
- PMHNP Preceptor and Nurse mentor
- Nurse case manager/quality assurance leadership
- Researcher and doctoral chairperson
- SAMHSA Grant: Substance Use Education, integrated into advanced practice education curriculum (2018)
APNA members should vote for me to serve on the Nominating Committee because I would bring my 30 years of healthcare experience, 17 years as a nurse educator, and psychiatric nursing science leadership skills to the APNA organization at the National level. I am an advocate for nurses, and a leader for psychiatric clinical practice, inclusive of social justice which is crucial in the duty of representing the APNA members on the Nominating Committee. Voting for me would allow me to fulfill the APNA organization’s duty while upholding fidelity and beneficence within the NC members’ role in partnering and overseeing electoral and organizational processes.
I can help fulfill APNA’s purpose as a scientific and education organization by continuing to dedicate myself to APNA’s mission, and purpose for educational, charitable, and scientific purposes in the endeavor to promote and elevate psychiatric mental health nurses inclusive of student nurses. I have the passion and enthusiasm to provide services to the APNA organization that advances quality evidence-based mental health care for diverse individuals and populations locally, and nationally. When nurses benefit, their systems and patients benefit.