Candidate for Secretary

Jami S. Brown DHEd, MSN, RN, CNN

Job Position and Professional Responsibilities:

I am an Associate Professor and Traditional BSN Concentration Coordinator in the College of Nursing at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee.

My responsibilities include providing didactic/clinical instruction to accelerated and traditional BSN students in the Nursing Concepts III: Care for Adult-Gerontology Patients with Acute/Complex Health Problems course. I also provide didactic instruction to doctoral students in the Leadership and Health Policy course. In addition, I serve on various committees at the Department, College, and University levels. Lastly, my research/scholarship activities focus on chronic kidney disease (disease prevention, social determinants of health, and health disparities).

Describe your qualifications for this role, and include past ANNA leadership positions:

As Secretary, I would bring to ANNA my commitment, leadership, and support of its mission, vision, and core values. In addition, my diverse experiences and roles in nephrology, locally and nationally, are personally and professionally impactful.

In 2021, I was appointed as ANNA’s member representative for the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) Board of Directors, and this was ANNA's inaugural year as a member of NOBC. In addition, I have held national ANNA leadership positions, such as the Leader of the Educator Specialty Practice Network (SPN) (2017-2019; 2021-Present) and a member of the Editorial Board for the Nephrology Nursing Journal. Currently, I am a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. Also, I am a past member of the Leadership Committee and the Research Committee. I also served on the Manuscript Review Panel for the Nephrology Nursing Journal. Leading and fulfilling these roles at the national level have been great and valuable experiences and helped me share my skills and talents with ANNA. 

As Secretary, I will use the knowledge gained from leadership courses and resources, experiences at my institution (e.g., chairing and being a member of the Bylaws Committee and a leadership fellow), and other leadership roles to succeed in this role. In addition, I have organizational skills and leadership strengths (e.g., time management, communication, adaptability, and problem-solving) to serve effectively as Secretary. Overall, I have a passion for serving ANNA in the role of Secretary, and I cannot think of a better way to integrate my love for nephrology and dedication to service than through ANNA.

Describe your role in three ANNA projects/activities which support(ed) ANNA’s mission, goals, and objectives:

My role in supporting ANNA's mission, goals, and objectives is exemplified in the following areas:

Education

I value educating patients, families, nurses, student nurses, and the community about the awareness of kidney disease and reducing the progression of kidney disease. I served as Leader of the Educator SPN for multiple years. I have also presented and written on social determinants of health, health equity, and health disparities and their impact on patients with kidney disease. In addition, I am the editor and co-author of the Chronic Kidney Disease chapter in the Core Curriculum for Nephrology Nursing, 7th Edition. In addition, I am a co-author of the Depression and Sexual Health chapters in the Contemporary Nephrology Nursing, 4th Edition. 

Research/Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

I received the 2023 ANNA Research Sharing Award. I have presented at conferences and published articles in the Nephrology Nurses Journal focusing on social determinants of health and health disparities to improve health outcomes for patients with kidney disease.

While on the Research Committee, I co-authored “Module 4: Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) for the Nephrology Nurse”. I also presented “Evidence-Based Practice: Are We There Yet” at the Educator SPN networking session.

Recruitment and Retention: Engagement and Growth

I hosted and spoke at the Way into Nephrology Nursing (WINN) webinars/podcasts to attract nurses and new graduate nurses into nephrology. I also strive to increase the diversity of members in ANNA. In addition, I co-authored “Combating the Nursing Shortage: Recruitment and Retention of Nephrology Nurses” in the Nephrology Nursing Journal.