| Dear ASTNA Member: The election of new members to the Board of Directors of the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association* (ASTNA) is upon us. The Nominations Committee is pleased to present a well-qualified slate of candidates for Director-at-Large. It is the Board’s responsibility to represent your interests and needs. The Board’s qualifications, interests, and commitments continue to reflect the dedication and excellence of this specialty nursing organization. All candidates went through a thorough review and interview process. To reduce our carbon footprint and to make it easier for our members to vote, all candidate profiles as well as the Ballot will be available below.If you are unable to access the Ballot or locate the profiles, please call the ASTNA National Office at 303-344-0457. Please review and consider the candidates’ background information in relation to the position they are running for and then exercise your right to vote. A link to their CV/Resume has been added. Please select three (3) candidates for Director at Large. If you vote for more candidates than this, your Ballot will not be counted. OneBallot per eligible member allowed!(An Eligible Member is a member in the ACTIVE member category defined as aregistered nurseactively participating (on a full or part-time basis) as a care provider, educator and/or administrator in patient transport, regardless of mode.)
BALLOTS MUST BE COMPLETED BY August 23, 2023.
Please vote today!
Election results will be announced in September and the new Board members will be inducted at the ASTNA Annual Membership Meeting in at AMTC in Columbus, OH on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 12:00pm! We hope you will join us! Sincerely, Sue Hollowell, BSN, RN, CMTE, CFRN, FP-C
ASTNA
Nominations Committee Chairperson
shollowell@astna.org VOTE TODAY! Director-at-Large-7 Candidates (Choose 3) William Cyr,CCRN, CFRN, CMTE 
Review CV/Resume What are the contributions that you plan to bring to ASTNA in the position you areapplying for? This year I am seeking re-election to the ASTNA Board of Directors as a Director at Large for another term of 3 years. I can’t believe 3 years has passed so quickly! I feel I am only just getting settled in my role, learning the needs of our organization and being able to help lead ASTNA. Over the past 3 years, I have learned so much about our great organization. Working with the other members of the board has been great learning and humbling experience. We are so very lucky to have such a diverse group leading ASTNA. I feel it takes more than one term to truly learn the role and make difference.
I am passionate about safety in transport, both team member safety and patient safety. One of the initiatives I have been working on is the development of a multidisciplinary safety committee. I created the ASTNA safety committee, which you will all hear about very soon! The goal of this group is to work collaboratively with like safety minded people from ICAPP, NEMSPA, AMPA and IAMTCS to promote air and ground transport safety, through collaborative brain storming, group discussions and consensus about safety processes, analyzing problems and finding solutions. The goal of this multi-association group is to make critical care transport by air or ground as safe as possible.
Through my safety initiatives, we at ASTNA developed a scholarship for an individual to attend AAMS’s Safety Training Management Academy. This 2-year program is the only safety education developed specifically for transport clinicians to develop and lead safety initiatives at their programs. ASTNA sponsors 1 person every 2 years to attend SMTA through a funded scholarship.
I’m asking for your support and vote to allow me to remain on the board of directors for another term to I can continue this very important work. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions at wcyr@ASTNA.org or by text/call at 207-814-0507.
Sincerely,
Bill Cyr RN, NRP, MHA
ASTNA Board Member at Large
Philosophy Statement/Goals for Serving ASTNA on the Board of Directors I would like to advance the field of transport nursing. My background in Air and ground transport and with both adult/Peds teams and specialty Neo/Peds teams, will allow me to increase the inclusivity of all groups of transport nursing. I have worked to develop the ASTNA safety committee and will continue to build collaborative relationships with the other specialty transport group to improve the awareness and education of safety in transport.
Rob Jones, CFRN 
Review CV/Resume Philosophy Statement/Goals for Serving ASTNA on the Board of Directors It is my goal to promote professionalism and forward patient care for those that we serve as an ASTNA Board Member. I would like to encourage my fellow providers to strive for high standards and a never ending effort toward constant improvement. I believe this is best accomplished with shared responsibility. I would be honored if you chose me to take my turn and do my part to represent fellow transport nurses who cannot do so at this time. Jonas C. Landstrom, MBA, RN, CFRN, CMTE 
Review CV/Resume What are the contributions that you plan to bring to ASTNA in the position you areapplying for? If I would be fortunate to become a board member of ASTNA I would bring my experience from various leadership roles to support all of ASTNA's work. I would really like to focus on Diversity and Inclusion in our industry. Find ways to support transport programs to become a more diverse and inclusive work force. It might not be a problem today, but are there ways that we can get better? I would also like to support different ways that ASTNA members can collaborate in their local area of operations with neighboring transport programs and always be patient focused. Support ASTNA members with safety issues they have identified. I think the board members of ASTNA has a lot of experience, we should share that experience with our members and support them with potential unbiased solutions to their safety issue. Sharing knowledge to improve how we do our jobs are very important. Without collaboration our work environment will not continue to evolve. We need to continue to support those efforts and make it less about a competition and make it more about the care we provide to our patients on what might be the worst day of their lives for both themselves and their families. Philosophy Statement/Goals for Serving ASTNA on the Board of Directors My aim is to actively serve as a catalyst to grow the diversity of the work force in the medical transport industry. Increasing diversity will enable us to further our efforts to provide culturally competent care for the communities we serve. Additionally, as our industry grows in complexity, my goal is to keep a focus on excellence and safety for crew and patients by serving as a hub to identify and disseminate best practices. Lisa Pruitt, C-NPT, CMTE 
Review CV/Resume
What are the contributions that you plan to bring to ASTNA in the position you are applying for?
My personal goals and contributions I hope to achieve/contribute over the next three years, should I be honored with reelection, include (but are certainly not limited to) the following:
• Discuss/introduce and/or develop a specialty teams (pediatric, neonatal, maternal, etc.) committee
• Support the mental health needs of front-line providers
• Promote and increase networking opportunities for members and transport professionals (participate in additional conference including specialty and local conferences)
• Facilitate industry relationships with other organizations (i.e., GAMUT, American Academy of Pediatrics, etc.)
• Educate and promote professional growth and development (i.e., Maternal fetal resources)
• Target new transport nurses and other healthcare professionals (RTs, Paramedics, Communication Specialists, etc.)
• Promote membership for less represented groups in the industry (pediatric and neonatal nurses, maternal nurses, etc.)
As an advocate for our industry heroes, as well as the safe and quality care of all patients that require critical care transport, I would be humbled and eager to serve on the Board of Directors for ASTNA.
Philosophy Statement/Goals for Serving ASTNA on the Board of Directors
If re-appointed as an ASTNA Director at Large, I am eager to continue dedicating my time, pediatric/neonatal expertise and passion to ASTNA’s mission and vision. The last three years serving ASTNA’s members has given me a greater knowledge of the intricacies surrounding the industry, expanded networking opportunities, and opportunity to contribute to many of the resources, education, and support ASTNA has provided its members.
Jessica Rispoli,NP-C, CFRN, CEN, CMTE, PHRN, EMT-P 
Review CV/Resume What are the contributions that you plan to bring to ASTNA in the position you areapplying for? I have been working as a flight and ground critical care transport nurse for the last 7 years for a busy system in eastern North Carolina. This area is very rural, with a poor payor mix and has allowed me to be exposed to some of the challenges facing the critical care transport community in today's environment. Between this exposure, working as an emergency department nurse practitioning, and working towards obtaining my DNP, I feel like I can bring a unique perspective to the ASTNA board. I plan tocontributeeducationally as well as operationally with my background. Philosophy Statement/Goals for Serving ASTNA on the Board of Directors The critical care transport industry has encountered unique challenges over the past few years between the pandemic and passing of the No Surprises Act. It has been an honor to work and serve alongside many selfless, intelligent, and creative individuals. As a current rotor wing and ground critical care transport nurse, emergency department nurse practitioner, and doctoral student, I can bring a unique and insightful perspective to the board. I am passionate about providing care to all members of the community and bring an empathetic approach to patient care. I have been encouraged by the industry’s active pursuit of diversity and am excited to discuss, share, explore, and learn methods of providing the highest possible level of care to everyone who calls for aid. I am eager to serve ASTNA and its members in a way that is impactful and positively benefits the industry. Casey Seckel,RN, BSN, CEN, CFRN 
Review CV/Resume What are the contributions that you plan to bring to ASTNA in the position you areapplying for? Continue to advocate for quality, safety and excellence in transport nursing with a strong focus on taking care of our own. Philosophy Statement/Goals for Serving ASTNA on the Board of Directors As a member of the Air and Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA) board of directors over the last three years, my philosophy has been rooted in the unwavering commitment to enhancing patient care and safety in the realm of air and surface transport. I believe in fostering a culture of excellence by promoting continuous education and professional development for transport nurses. During my tenure, I have advocated for collaboration and open communication, valuing the diverse perspectives and expertise of our members. I intend to continue to champion access to education and resources for all our members, supporting the strategic initiatives of ASTNA. Recognizing the critical nature of our work, I prioritize ethical decision-making and uphold the highest standards of integrity. Through proactive leadership, innovation, and advocacy, I am dedicated to continuing my passion of advancing ASTNA's mission and supporting the well-being of patients and transport nurses alike. Nichole Shimko,CCRN, CPN, C-NPT 
Review CV/Resume What are the contributions that you plan to bring to ASTNA in the position you areapplying for? I hope to bring experience from a variety of aspects from operations, marketing, and promoting our field. Disaster planning has become a great topic and would love to assist and contribute to this knowledge. Philosophy Statement/Goals for Serving ASTNA on the Board of Directors As part of the Board of Directors, I would like to enhance and support transport nursing research, as well as continue with outreach education with developing more of a state presence across the nation for disaster response. | 
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