2025 ANNPNA Educational Conference

Dr. Charlotte Nwogwugwu is a nationally recognized expert in behavioral health, global mental health integration, and health systems innovation. A board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), and Substance Abuse Professional (SAP), Dr. Nwogwugwu brings more than 18 years of interdisciplinary leadership across clinical, academic, research, and public health settings. Dr. Nwogwugwu currently serves as the Director of the Office of Global Health at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, where she leads cross-continental capacity-building initiatives and curriculum development focused on mental health and health equity. Her international work includes the development and implementation of culturally adapted mental health interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly among HIV-affected populations in Nigeria. She is also the founder and president of Oakley Brown Corporation, a global behavioral health consultancy that partners with ministries of health, universities, and multilateral agencies to expand access to trauma-informed, evidence-based care. As Medical Director of Insightful Life Therapeutic Services (ILTS), a Maryland-based outpatient mental health practice, Dr. Nwogwugwu oversees psychotropic medication management, psychotherapy, and psychiatric rehabilitation programs for diverse, underserved populations. She has authored and operationalized numerous clinical policies that align with CARF and Joint Commission standards, with a focus on suicide prevention, substance use treatment, and telehealth safety protocols. Dr. Nwogwugwu’s scholarship centers on integrating mental health into primary care and infectious disease platforms. She is principal investigator of several implementation science projects exploring the intersection of stigma, depression, trauma, and HIV care engagement. She has published in peer-reviewed journals on culturally responsive mental health practices and interdisciplinary care models. Her professional service includes appointments to the Baltimore City HIV Planning Group, where she advises on behavioral health inclusion in local service delivery, and membership in Maryland Swimming, where she promotes youth safety as a certified stroke and turn judge. Additionally, she serves as a volunteer Health Officer for the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets, contributing her clinical expertise to youth military preparedness programs. An advocate for health equity and interprofessional education, Dr. Nwogwugwu is an invited keynote speaker, TED-style presenter, and faculty mentor. She continues to be a leading voice in behavioral health system transformation, interdisciplinary leadership, and global mental health education.

Dr. Bode is a family nurse practitioner and educator with a strong focus on health policy and advocacy. She serves as Legislative Committee Chair for the Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland (NPAM), a role she has held since 2018, where she leads initiatives to influence state-level healthcare legislation and promotes the interests of nurse practitioners in Maryland. A past member of the Maryland Nurses Association (MNA) legislative committee, Dr. Bode has consistently advocated for nursing voices in policymaking at the state and federal level. Dr. Bode was recognized for her health policy advocacy efforts the American Association of Nurse Practitioners with the 2023 AANP State Award for Excellence. Her policy leadership is complemented by her academic role as Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, where she has worked since 2007 and now prepares future family nurse practitioners not only in clinical excellence but also in systems-level thinking.

Tia Adaba is a Registered Nurse, Executive Educator, and Clinical Innovation Strategist specializing in nursing informatics and technology-enhanced healthcare delivery. With extensive leadership experience in home care and primary care, Tia designs systems that improve clinical operations, optimize medication safety, and elevate the quality of patient experiences. She is the author of *Me First: The Selfish Shift That Transforms Healthcare Teams*—a guide to empowering leaders through sustainable workplace culture—and *From Heart to Table*—a compassionate resource for families navigating nutrition and hydration at the end of life. Tia's work sits at the intersection of compassionate care and digital innovation. She is passionate about leveraging emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to close care gaps, especially in underserved populations. Her mission is to equip clinicians with smarter tools to make safer, faster, and more informed decisions across the care continuum.

Dr. Viscomi graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor of science in biotechnology in 2009. In 2013, I graduated from Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy with a PharmD. I am a licensed pharmacist and immunizer in the state of New Jersey. I worked at Rite Aid Pharmacy for 8 years as a per diem Pharmacist. In 2014, I joined Forest Labs / Actavis / Allergan and worked in pharmacovigilance for 5 years. Most recently, I was a Medical Science Liaison in Psychiatry at Allergan/AbbVie for 5 years supporting Vraylar, along with two launches in bipolar depression and adjunctive MDD. Currently, I joined Lundbeck in Oct-2024 as a senior medical science liaison in psychiatry in the medical affairs department.

Dr. Devang Gandhi is a board-certified psychiatrist with additional board certifications in addiction psychiatry and addiction medicine. He is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He has served as director of the addiction psychiatry fellowship program at the University of Maryland Medical Center since 2007 and was also the director of their addiction medicine fellowship for 13 years. He is a consultant for the Maryland Addiction Consultation Service overseeing the TeleECHO Project. Dr. Gandhi earned his medical degree from Baroda Medical College, Maharaja Sayajirao University in India and received qualifications in psychiatry from India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He is a Distinguished Fellow of The American Psychiatric Association and The American Society of Addiction Medicine, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the U.K. o Clinician/educator/researcher/administrator in psychiatry, addiction psychiatry and addiction medicine for over 27 years. Board certified in psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and addiction medicine. Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at University of Maryland School of Medicine and George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Extensive teaching experience at all levels, from medical students to fellows, as well as other medical and healthcare professionals. Director of Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Maryland for the past 17 years. I also directed their Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program for 13 years.

Dr. Stella Ujunne Akpuaka is a double Board-Certified Family and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner licensed to practice in the states of Maryland and Washington, DC. She has more than thirty-five years of clinical practice, leadership, Research, and Academic experiences. She has trained undergraduate and graduate nursing students for over nineteen years. Dr. Akpuaka is a Tenured Associate Professor in the Division of Nursing, Allied Health, Life and Physical Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). She is the Founder/Owner of Vastcare Medical Clinic, Lanham, MD (An independently nurse owned and managed Primary Medical and Psychiatric Mental Health clinic). Dr. Akpuaka is also a research scholar. She has several publications in peer reviewed journals and has received several research excellences awards. Her publications include; “Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on allied health programs at the University of the District of Columbia Community College (UDC-CC): an analytical case study.” This article was published in the MedCrave Online Journal of Public Health Oct. 27, 2022; “A qualitative Study to Explore the Male Nursing Students’ Coping with Experiences in Maternal Newborn Nursing Course (Journal of NBNA, July 2017 Vol 28, 1); “Nurse Educators in the 21st century (NBNA Special Issue, May 2017); and “Thirteen Lessons Learned During a Nursing Program Accreditation Process (NBNA Fall 2017 newsletter). As a Clinician, Nurse Educator, and Nurse Researcher, she has traveled widely in the USA and made several national presentations of her work and speaking engagements on Women health issues. In March 2016, she was one of the few “Women in Science - Technology - Engineering - Math (STEM) and Allied Health” featured in celebration of Women History Month at the University of the District of Columbia. Dr. Stella Akpuaka holds active professional memberships in the National League of Nursing, UDC Faculty/National Education Association, and Association of Nigerian Nurse Practitioners in North America in which she serves in the capacity of the National secretary and ANNPNA EDUCATION CONFERENCE 2025 -Chairperson. Dr. Stella Akpuaka is married and has 5 wonderful adult professional children (A Doctor of Pharmacy, A Dentist, A Medical Doctor, A Registered Nurse and A Registered Dental Hygienist) and one grandson. She is passionate about community service and has contributed towards community healthcare and education. She has been honored with numerous professional and community service awards. Dr. Stella Akpuaka believes in lifelong learning and respect to all human. She is of strong Christian faith and is an ordained lady auxiliary of the Knights of St. Johns International. Her life motto is to “Do unto others as you want them to do unto you.”

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