Stephan Davis, DNP, MHSA, FACHE, has been inducted as a distinguished scholar and fellow to the National Academies of Practice (NAP) Nursing Academy. The induction comes in advance of Davis’ presentation on nursing leadership and workforce development at the American College of Healthcare Executives Congress on Healthcare Leadership on March 28 in Chicago. Two nurse executives from Wellstar Health System will present alongside Davis.

“I congratulate Dr. Davis on his induction as a fellow of the National Academies of Practice Nursing Academy. He is absolutely deserving of this recognition. His commitment to transforming health care to be respectful and effective for underserved and underrepresented populations is simply unparalleled. His efforts and his impact extend far beyond our community,” said Susan L. Parish, PhD, MSW, dean of the VCU College of Health Professions. “This honor is a tribute to his leadership in interprofessional collaboration.”

Davis joined the VCU Department of Health Administration in January and serves as executive director of inclusive leadership education. He is also the assistant dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the VCU College of Health Professions, a nationally recognized leader in the education of healthcare providers and leaders, cultivating an interprofessional approach to training across 9 disciplines.

"His commitment to transforming health care to be respectful and effective for underserved and underrepresented populations is simply unparalleled."

Susan Parish, Dean of the VCU College of Health Professions

The National Academies of Practice is a non-profit organization that advises governmental bodies on the healthcare system. Practitioners and scholars are elected by peers from various health professions disciplines to join the group dedicated to supporting affordable, accessible, and coordinated quality healthcare for all.

“VCU and the National Academies of Practice are both focused on transforming healthcare through interprofessional collaboration while improving quality, increasing access, and reducing costs,” Davis says. “I am honored that a respected national organization like NAP has recognized my work to guide healthcare organizations to become designated leaders in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality, as well as my efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare and academic settings.”

One of the key elements of his interprofessional leadership cited in his nomination was his work with the Josiah Macy Foundation. Davis served as an invited conferee at the 2020 Macy Foundation conference on Addressing Harmful Bias and Eliminating Discrimination in Health Professions Learning Environments. It culminated in a report of recommendations and action steps to advance diversity and inclusion in those settings. Subsequently, Davis has been instrumental in disseminating the report recommendations in collaboration with the Foundation through multiple channels, including webinars, blogs, and podcasts.

Davis will present “21X—From RN to Chief Nursing Officer: Journeys of Leadership and Resiliency Amid Unprecedented Change” on March 28 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the ACHE Congress in Chicago. He will be joined by Wellstar’s Jill Case-Wirth, RN, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive, as well as LeeAnna Spiva, Ph.D, RN, System Assistant Vice President of Nursing Operations and Practice.