Keynote Presentation
Values in Motion: Building a Culture of Integrity, Equity, and Innovation
Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN
Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
Duke University School of Nursing
Immediate Past President- American Nurses Association (ANA)
Dr. Ernest J. Grant is the Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at the Duke University School of Nursing. He is also the immediate past president of the American Nurses Association (ANA), the nation’s largest nurse’s organization representing the interests of the nation’s 4.3 million registered nurses. He is the first man to be elected to the office of president of the American Nurses Association in its 127 years of existence.
A distinguished leader, Dr. Grant has more than 30 years of nursing experience and is an internationally recognized burn-care and fire-safety expert. He also serves as adjunct faculty for the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing, where he works with undergraduate and graduate nursing students in the classroom and clinical settings. For the past four years in a row, Dr. Grant has been recognized by Modern Healthcare Magazine as one of 50 Influential Clinical Executives in Healthcare and as one of 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare. He has been nationally recognized for his work addressing racism, equity, and inclusion within the nursing profession. Modern Healthcare named him as one of 2023 Top Diversity Leaders.
In 2002, President George W. Bush presented Grant with a Nurse of the Year Award for his work treating burn victims from the World Trade Center site. He was inducted as a fellow into the American Academy of Nursing in 2011. Grant holds a BSN degree from North Carolina Central University and MSN and PhD degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Special Performer
They/Them Ty
Comedian
They/Them Ty is Baltimore’s favorite queer comedian and everyone’s only trans friend. With quick punchlines, honest storytelling, and undeniable charm, they create space to laugh, reflect, and feel seen.
Panelists
The Power of Gathering: a panel discussion featuring faculty, staff, and student voices reflecting on shared experiences and community within the school.
Naomi Cross, MSN, RN, C-EFM, CNE(She/Her)
Clinical Instructor
Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice
Emily Welty MS, MBA (She/Her)
Department Administrator
Pain and Translational Symptom Science
Soraya Abediyeh (She/Any)
Graduate Student Representative
SEI Council
Yvette Conyers ,DNP, RN, FNP-C, CTN-B, CFCN, CFCS, CNE, FADLN, CWCN-AP, FNAP (She/Her)
Associate Dean
Strategic Engagement and Impact
