Science and Soul
Speakers
Cameron Duncan, PhD, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, FAANP
Professor and Director of University of San Francisco/Kaiser Permanente Partnership Watson Caring Science Faculty Associate and Director of the Caritas Leadership Program
Dr. Horton-Deutsch has led in academic and practice settings for over 30 years as an advanced practice psychiatric/mental health nurse, educator, consultant, program director, caring science endowed chair, coach, and academic/practice partnerships director. Throughout her educational and practice career, she has contributed to developing evidence-informed knowledge to ensure compassionate, safe, and high-quality care. As a reflective leader, she emphasizes inward development to foster positive change. She has co-authored several books on Reflective Practice, Caring Science, and Caritas Coaching. She is a Caritas Coach, Leader, and Healing Circle Facilitator. Her passion is facilitating critical, deep, authentic connections that promote regeneration, renewal, and the profession's evolution. Her most recent books, Visionary Leadership in Healthcare (2022) and Reflective Practice: Reimagining Ourselves, Reimagining Nursing (2024), were published through SIGMA, with the former winning the AJN first-place Book of the Year award in Leadership. Currently, she champions the integration of the ANCC Essentials within the USF School of Nursing and Health Professions through the lens of Caring Science and Jesuit Values. She is co-director of the Caritas Leadership Program at the Watson Caring Science Institute. She was inducted as fellow in the International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 2026 for her service as the organizations president and for integrating Caring Science into the Scope and Standards for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. For Sara, each meaningful connection, each moment of authentic presence, and each step toward a more compassionate healthcare system isn't just work—it's what makes her heart sing.
Cameron Duncan, PhD, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, FAANP
Holli Rockwell Trubinsky Eminent Dean of Nursing
Chief Executive Officer | FAU/NCHA Community Health Centers
Helen K. Persson Eminent Scholar
Cameron Duncan is the Holli Rockwell Trubinsky Eminent Dean of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University, where his leadership is deeply grounded in caring science and a commitment to human dignity, equity, and moral agency in healthcare. A nationally recognized nurse leader and scholar, Dr. Duncan advances caring science as a transformative framework for education, leadership, and practice, one that situates relationships, compassion, and social justice at the heart of nursing’s future. As dean, he champions innovation, inclusive excellence, and community-engaged partnerships that translate caring theory into meaningful impact for students, the profession, and the communities nursing serves.
Danny G. Willis, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, HS-GAHN, FAAN
Dean and Professor University of Rhode Island College of Nursing
Dr. Willis serves as Dean and Professor at the University of Rhode Island College of Nursing. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and chaired the Academy’s Expert Panel on Theory-Guided Practice. His program of research and scholarship focuses on promotion of wellbeing and healing in the aftermath of trauma and abuse. His work has been recognized with research and leadership awards, including the Eastern Nursing Research Society "Rising Star" Award, American Psychiatric Nurses Association Nancy Valentine "Outstanding Leadership" Award, and federal R-level NIH research funding as Principal Investigator. He served as chair of the American Psychiatric Nursing Association Research Council. He is the current Chair of the Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS) Research Interest Group on qualitative research. Dr. Willis publishes widely in nursing and health-related journals with over 6,600 citations and 60 peer-reviewed journal publications. His scholarship has garnered national and international recognition for its relevance to nursing resulting in invitations to speak nationally and internationally for keynotes and presentations in Chile, Colombia, Ireland, England, Japan, Italy, and Portugal.
Mona Elshazly Giraud, MSN, RN, AHN-BC, Caritas Coach®
Caritas Council Advisor Nurse Specialist for Center of Clinical Excellence
Mona Elshazly Giraud is a Nurse Specialist for the Center of Clinical Excellence at University of Miami Health System. She is a Watson Caring Science Institute Caritas Coach, CCEP Faculty, former Caritas Council Chair, and current Executive Advisor. She established the Caritas Council in October 2022 and served as Chair for over two and a half years. During her leadership, she assisted in developing four award categories recognizing nurses, non-nurses, nurse leaders, and teams, while also advancing Caring Carts and micro-practice badge buddies throughout the organization for nurses wellbeing. In addition, Mona spearheaded the 10 Caritas Processes with the Caritas Council Chair Thomas Benel to be in the EHR throughout the system.
With extensive RN experience, Mona is recognized for leadership in Caring Science, including the Caritas Council receiving the Lotus Recognition Award in 2024 under her Chairmanship. And proud to share that UHealth received Watson Caring Science Affiliate Distinction in 2025. She has led numerous initiatives to expand Caring Science throughout the system, including teaching weekly Caring Science sessions for five years to newly onboarding nurses, technicians, medical assistants, and CNAs.
Mona also teaches the New Leadership Academy quarterly, where she provides her original (signature style) experiential micro-practice bags featuring the 10 Caritas Processes, signature essential oil blends, lotions, and bath bombs to support wellbeing and reflective practice. She extends these experiences to nurse residents and participants whenever she teaches Caring Science.
Over the past six years, Mona had also served as a Magnet Nurse Specialist, supporting the organization in achieving Magnet Designation with Distinction, advancing professional governance, and strengthening staff development. Mona has further supported nurse residents through Caring Science education focused on compassionate, patient-centered practice, self-care, and wellbeing, including developing a workbook curriculum to foster their growth and professional development.
Anide Telfort, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Sr. Nurse Manager Transition to Practice, University of Miami Health System Center of Clinical Excellence
Anide Telfort is an accomplished nursing leader and educator with extensive experience in practice transition, professional development, and workforce readiness. She serves at the University of Miami Health System, where she leads programs focused on supporting newly licensed nurses and advancing clinical excellence across multiple practice settings.
She is best known for her leadership of the Titan ’Canes Nurse Residency Program, an evidence-based transition-to-practice program designed to help novice nurses successfully enter the profession through structured orientation, competency development, mentorship, simulation, and professional growth opportunities. Under her leadership, the program earned ANCC Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP) accreditation and achieved strong outcomes in nurse retention, engagement, and readiness to practice.
Anide has also spearheaded initiatives in onboarding redesign, interdisciplinary collaboration, and educational strategies to improve both patient outcomes and employee experience. Her work has supported nursing excellence within an organization recognized through the Magnet Recognition Program with Distinction.
Passionate about mentoring the next generation of nurses and leaders, Anide is dedicated to creating supportive learning environments, fostering professional growth, and sharing best practices through presentations and national speaking engagements.
Have a question?
Contact Vanderbilt School of Nursing’s Office of External Learning.