AONE Announces New President-Elect and Directors to 2017 Board

The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) membership elected Bob Dent, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, FACHE, senior vice president, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, Texas, as the 2017 president-elect of the AONE Board of Directors. Dent will assume the presidency January 1, 2018, leading the national membership organization whose strategic focus is excellence in nursing leadership.

Dent has more than 25 years of health care experience as a registered nurse, licensed nursing home administrator, chief nursing officer, chief operating and dean of the health sciences center at a community college. He is a member of the AONE Board and is past chair of the AONE Foundation and past board member of Texas Organization of Nurse Executives. Additionally, he serves on several nonprofit and university boards.

Dent earned his doctorate from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Dent was recognized by Modern Healthcare and Witt/Kieffer in 2006 as an Up and Comer in health care administration. He will receive Nursing Management’s 2016 Richard Hader Visionary Leader award in November. He received the Texas Organization of Nurse Executives Excellence in Leadership Award, as well as the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Distinguished Alumni Award for his leadership.

Also elected to the AONE Board of Directors, serving three-year terms beginning January 1, 2017, are the following:

• Erik Martin, DNP, RN, CNML, executive clinical director, heart and vascular service line, The Christ Hospital Health Network, Cincinnati.
• Cole Edmonson, DNP, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas.
• Dana Bjarnason, PhD, RN, NE-BC, vice president and chief nursing officer, associate dean for clinical affairs, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland.

About the American Organization of Nurse Executives
The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) is the national professional organization for nurses who design, facilitate and manage care. With more than 9,700 members, AONE is the leading voice of nursing leadership in health care. Since 1967, the organization has provided leadership, professional development, advocacy and research to advance nursing practice and patient care, promote nursing leadership excellence and shape public policy for health care. AONE is a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association.