Advisory/Ad Hoc Committees and Workgroups

The Board establishes and appoints advisory/ad hoc committees and workgroups as needed to complete specific tasks. The current committees and workgroups and their functions are as follows:

Nurse Practitioner Advisory Committee

The board shall establish a Nurse Practitioner Advisory Committee to advise and make recommendations to the board on all matters relating to nurse practitioners, including, but not limited to, education, appropriate standard of care, and other matters specified by the board. The committee shall provide recommendations or guidance to the board when the board is considering disciplinary action against a nurse practitioner. The committee shall consist of four qualified nurse practitioners, two physicians and surgeons with demonstrated experience working with nurse practitioners, and one public member.

Name Classification Appointment Date Term Expiration
Samantha Gambles Farr, RN, MSN, FNP-C, CCRN, RNFA - Chair Nurse Practitioner February 9, 2021 February 28, 2025
Edward Ray, MD, FACS - Vice Chair Physician March 16, 2021 February 28, 2025
Andrea Espinosa, MD Physician February 9, 2021 February 28, 2024
Jan Johnson Griffin, MSN, APRN Nurse Practitioner February 9, 2021 February 28, 2023
Kevin Maxwell, PhD, DNP, FNP-BC, RN Nurse Practitioner February 9, 2021 February 28, 2024
Sally Pham, MSN, RN, FNP-BC Nurse Practitioner February 9, 2021 February 28, 2025
Betha Schnelle, MBA, MPH Public Member February 9, 2021 February 28, 2025

NPAC Subcommittees

The committee may establish subcommittees to study issues/topics relevant to the purpose of the committee. If you would like to make recommendations to the members of one or more of the subcommittees, please send an email to BRN.NPAC@dca.ca.gov and specify what subcommittee you are making the recommendation to.

Subcommittee Committee Members
2837.101 Transition to Practice• Edward Ray, MD, FACS
• Betha Schnelle, MBA, MPH
2837.103 • Sally Pham, MSN, RN, FNP-BC
• Andrea Espinosa, MD
2837.104 • Kevin Maxwell, PhD, DNP, FNP-BC, RN
• Jan Johnson Griffin, MSN, APRN

Nurse-Midwifery Advisory Committee

The board shall appoint a committee of qualified physicians and surgeons and nurses called the Nurse-Midwifery Advisory Committee. The committee shall make recommendations to the board on all matters related to midwifery practice, education, appropriate standard of care, and other matters as specified by the board. The committee shall provide recommendations or guidance on care when the board is considering disciplinary action against a certified nurse-midwife. The committee shall consist of four qualified nurse-midwives, two qualified physicians and surgeons, including, but not limited to, obstetricians or family physicians, and one public member.

Name Classification Appointment Date Term Expiration
Mary Phillips, PhD, CNM - Chair Certified Nurse-Midwife February 9, 2021 February 28, 2024
Jenna Shaw-Battista, PhD, RN, PHN, NP, CNM, FACNM - Vice Chair Certified Nurse-Midwife February 9, 2021 February 28, 2025
James Byrne, MD Physician February 9, 2021 February 28, 2025
Rebecca DeSantis Public Member February 9, 2021 February 28, 2025
Ruth Mielke, PhD, CNM, FACNM, WHNP-BC Certified Nurse-Midwife February 9, 2021 February 28, 2025
Kenneth James, MD Physician February 15, 2023 February 28, 2024
Vacant Certified Nurse-Midwife    

NMAC Subcommittees

The committee may establish subcommittees to study issues/topics relevant to the purpose of the committee. If you would like to make recommendations to the members of one or more of the subcommittees, please send an email to BRN.NMAC@dca.ca.gov and specify what subcommittee you are making the recommendation to.

Subcommittee Committee Members
Public Engagement and Website• Mary Phillips, PhD, CNM
Nurse Midwifery Scope of Practice • Jenna Shaw-Battista, PhD, RN, PHN, NP, CNM, FACNM
• Ruth Mielke, PhD, CNM, FACNM, WHNP-BC
Regulations • James Byrne, MD
• Vacant position
Nurse Midwifery Education • Rebecca DeSantis
• Kenneth James, MD

Nursing Education and Workforce Advisory Committee

There is created within the jurisdiction of the board a Nursing Education and Workforce Advisory Committee, which shall solicit input from approved nursing programs and members of the nursing and health care professions to study and recommend nursing education standards and solutions to workforce issues to the board. The committee shall meet a minimum of two times per year and shall appoint officers annually.

The committee shall dedicate a minimum of one meeting each towards nursing education issues and nursing workforce issues.

The committee may establish subcommittees to study issues specific to education, workforce, or any other topic relevant to the purpose of the committee.

The committee shall study and recommend standards for simulated clinical experiences based on the best practices published by the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, or equivalent standards.

Name Classification Appointment Date Term Expiration
Garrett Chan, PhD, RN, APRN, FAEN, FPCN, FCNS, FNAP, FAAN - HealthImpact - Chair Employer Representative: Professional Nursing Organization May 25, 2022 May 31, 2024
Jeannine Graves, MPA, MSN, RN, OCN, CNOR - Sutter Cancer Center - Vice Chair Workforce Representative: Currently Practicing RN Representative May 25, 2022 May 31, 2026
Tanya Altmann, PhD, RN - California State University, Sacramento Education Representative: Nursing Program Director who is a member of CACN May 25, 2022 May 31, 2024
Tammy Vant Hul, PhD, RN, ACNP, CNE - Riverside City College Education Representative: Nursing Program Director who is a member of COADN May 25, 2022 May 31, 2025
Lynda Phan - Community College Chancellor's Office Education Representative: College Chancellor’s Office Representative December 6, 2022 December 31, 2026
Wendy Hansbrough, PHN, RN, CNE - California State University, San Marcos Education Representative: College Chancellor’s Office Representative January 1, 2023 January 31, 2027
Sagie De Guzman, PhD, A-CNS, ANP-C - Los Angeles Community Hospital and Saint John’s Cancer and Research Institute Workforce Representative: Currently Practicing APRN Representative May 25, 2022 May 31, 2025
Kim Quang Dâu, MS, CNM, FACNM - San Francisco General Hospital Workforce Representative: Currently Practicing APRN Representative May 25, 2022 May 31, 2024
Hazel Torres, MN, RN - Kaiser Permanente Employer Representative: Nursing Services Administration May 25, 2022 May 31, 2025
Barbara Barney-Knox, MBA, MA, BSN, RN - Deputy Director Nursing, Statewide Chief Nurse Executive, California Correctional Health Care Services Employer Representative: Nursing Services Administration May 25, 2022 May 31, 2026
Kathy Hughes, RN - Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Union Organization Representative May 25, 2022 Ongoing
Jacqueline Bowman - United Nurses Association of California Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) Union Organization Representative May 25, 2022 Ongoing
Carmen Comsti - California Nurses Association/National Nurses United Union Organization Representative May 25, 2022 Ongoing
Caryn Rizell - Deputy Director, Healthcare Workforce Development Division Data Representative: HCAI: Health Workforce Development Division May 25, 2022 Ongoing
Joanne Spetz, PhD - Phillip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies UCSF Data Representative: BRN Research Vendor May 25, 2022 Ongoing
Sandra Miller, MBA - Assessment Technologies Institute Public Member May 25, 2022 May 31, 2026

NEWAC Subcommittees

The committee may establish subcommittees to study issues specific to education, workforce, or any other topic relevant to the purpose of the committee. If you would like to make recommendations to the members of one or more of the subcommittees, please send an email to BRN.NEWAC@dca.ca.gov and specify what subcommittee you are making the recommendation to.

Subcommittee Committee Members
Workforce Survey• Hazel Torres, MN, RN
• Joanne Spetz, PhD
Simulation Standards • Sandra Miller, MBA
• Garrett Chan, PhD, RN, APRN, FAEN, FPCN, FCNS, FNAP, FAAN
Clinical Placement and Impaction TBD
Cultural Competency, Diversity Pathway to Nursing TBD
Theory Practice Gap and New Grad Orientation TBD
Workforce Retention TBD
Curriculum Standards and Guidelines TBD
Faculty TBD