Ohio's Registered Nurses Elect New Leadership, Discuss Healthcare Issues

Columbus resident, Ohio State nurse Sally Morgan elected as new association president

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Oct 15, 2015, 10:12 ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 300 nurses gathered last weekend in Columbus, Ohio for the Ohio Nurses Association's biennial convention. The convention is the largest gathering of ONA members and is where nurses learn up to date information in their field, discuss important issues facing healthcare, nurses and patients, and elect their leadership for the Association.

The convention attendees, who represented ONA's nearly 10,000 members, elected 13 new nurse leaders to add to their 15 member board, including a new president, Sally Morgan, BSN, APRN.

Morgan is a resident of Columbus and works as a nurse practitioner at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Morgan has been an active nurse leader and has sat on the ONA board of directors since 2011. Morgan also chaired ONA's Health Policy Council where she contributed to the work of several pieces of legislation that have successfully improved patient care and nursing practice law. She serves as a content expert and is an active contributor with the American Nurses Association.

"I am thrilled to be leading this powerful organization of nurses as we address these important issues that affect Ohio citizens who seek our care," says Morgan. "Our members made it very clear at convention that staffing remains a huge concern across the state. Nurses' number one priority is making sure that patients are the focus in any healthcare setting, and when nurse staffing suffers, patient suffer. Evidence shows that with adequate staffing, patients get better faster. I look forward to leading the Association in addressing Ohio's nurse staffing issues."

CEO of the Ohio Nurses Association, Lori Chovanak, states, "Sally is an amazing nurse leader who will listen to the nurses' concerns and will boldly address their issues and lead change. She knows nursing issues and has the energy and insight to command solutions that will improve healthcare in Ohio. ONA is fortunate to have her leadership as well as the leadership of all our newly elected leadership. The voice of nurses in Ohio is a trusted and strong one which will continue to make a difference for those who need our care."

The new ONA leadership includes:

Sally Morgan, Columbus - President
Barbara Brunt, Barbara Brunt - 1^st Vice President
Brian Burger, Cincinnati - 2^nd Vice President
Jonathan Stump, Canton - Treasurer
Heather Foley, Gahanna - Secretary
Mary Bales, Lima
Iris Marcentile, Coshocton
Jeannette Porter, Cincinnati
Benitha Garrett, North Olmstead
Barbara Welch, Upper Arlington
Joylynn Daniels, Loveland
Lori Hornberger, Youngstown
Joyce Powell, Akron

Sarah Strohminger, Eric Williams, Diane Winfrey, Paula Anderson and Jessica Frymyer were not term limited and thus will continue serving in leadership positions for the Ohio Nurses Association.

About ONA: Formed in 1904, the Ohio Nurses Association is the premier professional association for registered nurses in Ohio. ONA has nearly 10,000 members across Ohio and represents the interests of all 190,000 professional registered nurses in the state.

Photographs available upon request.

SOURCE Ohio Nurses Association