Advisory Council
Irene Bean
Irene Bean, DNP, FNP/PMHNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN is a Family Nurse Practitioner and Board Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She graduated in 2001 with a Master of Science in Nursing and a concentration in the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. She completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Loyola University of New Orleans in 2012, and in 2018 she received her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner post-master certification from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2018. In 2008, Dr. Bean became an entrepreneur as the CEO/owner of Serenity Health Care, PC in Madison, TN where she currently serves an integrated population for family and behavioral health care.
In 2014, Dr. Bean became the founder and Executive Director of the only TN statewide nurse practitioner association, Tennessee Nurse Practitioner Association (TNNPA). The organization is designed to empower Tennessee Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in providing quality, accessible and compassionate healthcare through education, leadership and advocacy. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her leadership and was selected by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners as the 2016 recipient of the Tennessee State Excellence Award. Dr. Bean was inducted as a fellow in numerous organizations, such as, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the Duke Johnson & Johnson Leadership Nursing Program, the National Academies of Practice, the American Academy of Nurses, and the National Academies of Practice.
Dr. Bean is an active member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and was recently elected to serve as the Regional Director where she will oversee Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Also, she is an incoming member of the AANP Board of Directors. She served as the State Liaison for Tennessee, for four consecutive years. She was a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive (DEI) committee, member of the Awards Committee, and Annual Conference Committee. Dr. Bean has presented as a state and national lecturer, keynote speaker, and contributor on podcasts, radio, and Doximity Op-Med. She has led numerous healthcare fairs for the community and churches in TN. She has been extremely impactful to many APRNs, RNs, and others in the health care field.
BRIAN GRAVES
Brian Graves PhD, APRN, ACNP-BC is the Senior Director of Advanced Practice at Tampa General Hospital (TGH). His responsibilities include providing leadership and practice support for all Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) within the Division of Advanced Practice. More specifically, under his leadership, he works collaboratively with the APPs as well as the inter-professional and administrative leadership teams to execute TGH’s mission and achieve its vision of being the safest and most innovative academic health system in America.
Dr. Graves is a 2017-2018 Duke – Johnson and Johnson Nurse Leadership Program for Advanced Practice Providers Fellow. He also served as a project coach for the Duke Advanced Practice Provider Leadership Insitute during 2022-2024. Additionally, prior to his position at TGH, Dr. Graves was Assistant Dean of the Master’s Program and Clinical Education Resources for the University of South Florida (USF) College of Nursing. He has over 25 years of experience in clinical practice, 16 years in nursing education, and 25 years as a researcher.
Preceding his position at USF, Dr. Graves was with the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) in roles spanning research, academia, and clinical practice. His latest role at URMC was to lead an inter-professional team charged with vetting all clinical content and workflows in the implementation of their electronic health record (Epic) within their flagship university hospital and smaller community hospital. Additionally, a significant part of that role was providing leadership, education, and support to all clinicians during one of the largest organizational change projects in the history of the institution.
Laure Marino
Laure Marino, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE is a family nurse practitioner, board certified in Family Practice. She has maintained a primary care practice in West Virginia since 1997. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Marino is an Associate Clinical Professor and Program Coordinator for the Doctor of Nursing Practice Executive Nurse Leadership Track with Baylor University School of Nursing in Dallas, TX.
Dr Marino is the CEO/owner of The Concierge NP, a direct access, primary care practice. She is also the co-owner of a multi-specialty NP practice, Health Path Medical and Psychiatric Care, LLC. Dr. Marino founded the Aila Accad Center for Nurse Entrepreneurship to help nurses open health related businesses. The Center provides business coaching, support, and networking. She was named WV Nurse Practitioner of the year in 2024.
Dr. Marino is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Nurses Association, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, AONL and the National Small Business Association. She is the past Executive Director for The Future of Nursing WV Action Coalition.
Naomi Myrick
Naomi Myrick, MSN, PMHNP-BC is a highly experienced Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with over five years of experience in private practice. Currently, Naomi practices autonomously in the state of Virginia, where she operates two successful offices. As the CEO and practice owner of Cardinal Care Psychiatric Services since 2020, Naomi has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to improving mental health care access and quality of care.
Naomi is deeply passionate about preceptorship and has precepted over 20 PMHNP students, earning the Outstanding Nurse Practitioner Preceptor Award in 2023 from the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners. This recognition highlights Naomi’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of nurse practitioners. With a strong focus on health equity in behavioral health, particularly for underserved and rural populations, Naomi is an advocate for comprehensive and accessible mental health care. Their research and practice interests include Adult ADHD, especially in women, girls, and underserved populations. Naomi provides care to patients across the lifespan and diagnostic spectrum, ensuring holistic and inclusive treatment.
In addition to clinical practice, Naomi is the founder and instructor of Cardinal Academy, an innovative online education platform designed for psychiatric nurse practitioners. The academy offers essential education on topics such as billing and coding, Pediatric Psychiatry, and Adult ADHD, reflecting Naomi’s dedication to continuous learning and professional development.
Naomi actively contributes to the field of mental health through various professional affiliations, serving on the membership committee and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force for the American Professional Society for ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD). Naomi is also a member of the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance (CAADRA), the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, and the American Nurses Association. Her involvement in these organizations underscores her commitment to advancing the profession and advocating for better mental health policies. Naomi also serves on the Mental Health Advisory Board for Tebra Technologies.
Brenda Nevidjon
Brenda Nevidjon, RN, MSN, FAAN, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), a professional association that represents a 100,000 oncology nurses. Her career has included clinical, academic, and executive positions in oncology and general health care settings. She was the first nurse and the first women to be chief operating officer of Duke University Hospital and has worked in Switzerland, Canada, and Seattle.
Immediately before joining ONS, she was a professor of nursing at the Duke School of Nursing and retains statue as Professor Emeritus. She has helped develop professional nursing organizations at the local, national, and international levels and served on several advisory boards. She has published and presented extensively on nursing and cancer care topics. Among her honors is being a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.
Richard Ricciardi
Richard Ricciardi, CRNP, PhD, FAANP, FAAN is a Professor and Associate Dean for Clinical Practice & Community Engagement at The George Washington University School of Nursing (GW). Dr. Ricciardi also serves as the Executive Director for The Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement at GW. Before his current faculty appointment at GW, Dr. Ricciardi served as the Director of the Division of Practice Improvement and the Senior Advisor for Nursing at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) within the United States Department of Health and Human Services. At AHRQ, Dr. Ricciardi’s research focused on primary care practice improvement in the areas of team-based care, quality and safety, and the management of patients with complex needs, including those with multiple chronic conditions, and those with opioid use disorder. Dr. Ricciardi served on active duty in the United States Army for 31 years where he held numerous positions as a nurse practitioner, clinical scientist and senior leader.
Dr. Ricciardi also had the privilege of serving on the board of directors of multiple professional associations and organizations and is honored to have served as president of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Alongside these roles, Dr. Ricciardi continues to offer primary care services as a nurse practitioner at Mercy Health Clinic, focusing on uninsured and underserved communities.
Schquthia Peacock
Schquthia Peacock, FNP is a family nurse practitioner and visionary leader. She discovered her passion for nursing early in life, setting her sights on a career in nursing while in middle school. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the UNC-Chapel Hill in 1992. She worked as a Registered Nurse for 5 years before returning to UNC and earning master’s degree in advanced Practice Nursing in the Family Nurse Practitioner Role. With a keen eye for impactful leadership opportunities, Schquthia became a business owner and partner with Preston Medical Associates in 2000 and later created Avance Care Preston in 2022. Her private practice has thrived under her leadership, providing access to evidence-based primary care to more than 7000 discrete clients across the life cycle. While Schquthia excels in caring for people of all ages, she is passionate about women’s health.
Schquthia extends her leadership skills to advocating for patients and to increased access to healthcare for all North Carolinians. She has served in numerous executive leadership roles in NCNA, the leading professional organization for North Carolina’s registered nurses, by equipping nurses at all stages to thrive in an ever-changing healthcare environment. Schquthia is currently serving as the chair of the Council of Nurse Practitioners. Under her leadership, The Council works collaboratively with the NCNA Board of Directors to identify issues important to NPs and their patients and to develop strategies to address these needs. Schquthia’s clinical acumen and her leadership skills are recognized by her peers. In 2014, she was awarded the NCNA Nurse of the year. She also was honored as the recipient of the 2017 Legislative Nurse of the year award, the AANP 2021 State Advocate Award, and the recipient of the UNC Chapel Hill 2021 SON Outstanding Alumni Service Award. In 2023, Schquthia was selected as one of the Great 100 Nurses in North Carolina.
Wendy Wright
Wendy L. Wright, DNP, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, FNAP received her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2019 from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. She is a 1992 graduate of the Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program at Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts and completed a family nurse practitioner post-master’s program in 1995. She is an adult and family nurse practitioner and the owner of a nurse practitioner owned and operated clinic within New Hampshire. Her family practice has won numerous awards, including Top Providers in New Hampshire 2020, Top 20 Fastest Growing Family Business, and Top 20 Women-Owned Business in New Hampshire. In addition, she is the Owner of Partners in Healthcare Education, a medical education company. Wendy is the Chief Clinical Officer of Duet Technologies, a start-up company designed to assist NP owned clinics in the United States. She is the Past President of NPACE and the Senior lecturer for Fitzgerald Health Education Associates.
She is the recipient of numerous awards and was chosen by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners as the 1999 recipient of the New Hampshire State Excellence Award. In addition, she received the 2009 NH Nurse Practitioner of the Year, the 2014 Top 5 Women in New Hampshire Business Award and in 2018, One of the Top 10 NPs in America. In 2020 and 2022, Dr. Wright won the Top Doctor in Souhegan Valley and the 2021 State of NH Advocate of the Year Award. In 2005, she was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners; in October 2014, a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, and in March 2017, a Fellow into the National Academies of Practice.
She is the founder of the NH Chamber of Entrepreneurial Nurse Practitioners, an organization designed to assist nurse practitioners with independent practice issues. In addition to full-time clinical practice, she presents nationally to different audiences and has been a speaker at over 1000 conferences in 48 states. She has been a medical media spokesperson for numerous companies and has appeared on radio, television, and in print magazines. In October 2020, Dr. Wright was featured in the Wall Street Journal for her Nurse Practitioner Led Clinics and the care they provide. Wendy is frequently consulted by malpractice attorneys around the area of clinical practice and has worked on more than 125 malpractice cases involving nurses and nurse practitioners.
