Julie is a nationally certified school nurse who has been employed by DoDEA since 2008. She enjoyed working with students from all three educational levels at Yokota Air Base until she received a transfer to Okinawa, Japan where she remains at Stearley Heights ES on Kadena Air Base. Julie has also worked in a wide variety of medical environments in her thirty-three years as a nurse. She has taken on educational roles such as such as providing nursing Aspen Data Base training/ support and developing nursing continuing education courses for credit. She has been a key contributor in several of the OSHNA conferences in the last few years. This past year she teamed with another international school nurse to write and publish an article on school nursing overseas in the Online Journal in Nursing. Julie considers continuing education vital to her school nurse position by attending not only the Overseas School Health Nurses Association (OSHNA) conferences, but the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) summer conferences as well. This practice provides the much needed information and research required for school nurses to keep their practice not only current, but medically and educationally sound. The connections made at the conferences both professionally and socially nurture a sense of professionalism while maintaining the spirit of what it means to be a nurse and a healthy individual as well. Being active in the OSHNA organization is one way that Julie gives back to fellow nurses that have aided her along the way. Julie remains president for the school year 2018-2019, but has been an active OSHNA board member for the past six years as treasurer for four years, president for one year and president elect for one year. She strongly encourages other nurses to take on leadership roles and share their vast knowledge and experience with peers and the community alike.
Past President Holly Gouldman, BSN, RN, NCSN
Holly has been a school nurse with DoDEA for 18 years. All 18 years have been served in Okinawa, Japan at elementary, middle, and high school levels. She served as the OSHNA President from 2016-2017, President-Elect from 2015-2016, and Secretary from 2013-2015. Holly was awarded the 2012 Overseas School Health Nurses Association's (OSHNA) School Nurse of the Year. Her commitment to School Nursing is also evidenced by her re-certification as a Nationally Certified School Nurse. As OSHNA Past-President, Holly plans to continue working with the OSHNA Board of Directors and members to plan rewarding opportunities for professional growth. "I encourage each of you to become involved in OSHNA, your professional organization and NASN affiliate. By combining our strengths as individual school nurses, our schools, communities, and profession will benefit. What is your strength? How can you grow within your profession?" The OSHNA Board welcomes your participation and ideas.
Secretary Nada Halawi BSN, RN, ATCN
Nada graduated with Bachelor Degree in Nursing and a Teaching Diploma in Health Sciences from the American University of Beirut. She worked as a pediatric nurse for two years at the American University of Beirut – Medical Center before moving in 1994 to become a School Nurse at her current job at the American Community School (ACS) Beirut. In 2005, with the turmoil in the Middle East region, Nada became involved in planning and setting her school to be active in disaster planning and leading the way for other schools in Lebanon to follow the path. She attended several international conferences and presented in several overseas and national ones about “Disaster Preparedness, Sudden Cardiac Death in Youth” and many others. She enjoys teaching her favorite topic, Disaster Preparedness for Students. She created a “Disaster Squad” group from grades 9 to 12 high school students and trains them throughout the school year extensively about first aid and rescue. Nada is a member of NASN and OSHNA and an active Member of Order of Nurses in Lebanon. She loves being a nurse and working for a better health and conditions for children around the world. She is the treasurer on the Administrative Board of School Nurses in Lebanon. This is a collaborative work to update statuses, regulate policies and bring all school nurses in Lebanon together. Nada is certified from AHA with BLS, PALS & ACLS and as a pediatric nurse from ANCC. She holds a “Trauma Nurse” certification from ATCN (Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses). Nada hopes that by joining OSHNA Board, she can help her fellow nurses with all the experience she acquired, and to have a good rapport with all these wonderful connections she has with international nurses.
I have been a nurse for 31 years and know that this is the only profession for me. I graduated from Kent State University where I was also a ROTC cadet. My husband and I married right out of college where we both entered active duty. After leaving the Air Force after nine years, I followed my husband around the world raising a family and taking whatever nursing jobs I could - from Red Cross volunteer, to nurse educator, to school nurse. We stayed in one place long enough for me to complete a master’s degree and receive certification as a family nurse practitioner, but immediately moved overseas one last time. For me, to “grow where you’re planted” really holds water. Being a nurse means that you join your professional organization and hold the responsibility to improve yourself through education and specialty certification. Through my positions with OSHNA, NASN and NBCSN, I have met many of the giants of school nursing and have had the honor to work with progressive school nurse leaders who fuel what our profession means and what it will look like in the future. Challenge yourself and do something to elevate your practice, whether it be to volunteer to take a position on the OSHNA board, take the test to become a nationally certified school nurse, volunteer for NASN, or be a speaker at one of our conferences. We would love to help you on your professional journey!
Technology Coordinator Vacant
Technology coordinator works with the President to update the website and social medial sites. Inquire for this position at oshnaboardofdirectors@gmail.com.
President-Elect Peggy Moore RN, CCRN, TNCC
This is my first year with School Nursing. I have been a Nurse for almost twenty years. I have my CCRN (Critical Care Certification) as well as my TNCC (Trauma Nurse Core Course Certifications). I am also a trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and belong to American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the International Association of Forensic Nurses. I have worked all over the United States, beginning my nursing career at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota in 1999. I have also worked at many inter city Level 1 Trauma hospitals in Detroit, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, and Cincinnati. I have recently spent the last eight years at Landsthul Regional Medical Center in Landsthul Germany taking care of our critical injured soldiers from the Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa. This is our dream assignment and jobs. My husband is a DoDEA teacher at Kadena Middle school. We have recently become empty nesters and we are enjoying having a similar schedule while being able to pursue our passions and careers. I love nursing. I love the many opportunities and variety of growth and learning that one can have in nursing. This is a new season for me and I am so excited to use my knowledge and skills to serve the community and educate and care for students and families in our community. I am excited to work with the OSHNA board to help be a voice for nurses and to advocate for the safety and health of our communities and students.
The OSHNA Treasurer manages the financial responsibilities of the Private Organization. Contact the Board of Directors for more information. oshnaboardofdirectors@gmail.com
Membership Coordinator Miyoung Cho, BSN, RN, NCSN
It is an honor to serve another year with OSHNA and I look forward to serving as your Membership Coordinator after having served as Parliamentarian for the last two years. I have been a proud member of OSHNA/NASN since 2000. I received my BSN degree from the University of South Carolina and I am a Registered Nurse and a Nationally Certified School Nurse. It has been my privilege to work as a school nurse in Korea for 18 years and as a nurse officer in the US air force for 22 years. I have also been a member of the Korean Council for Overseas Schools (KORCOS) for 12 years and I am a lifetime member of the 38th Parallel Nursing Society. During the course of my service, I have been actively involved with numerous school, community, and host nation initiatives and programs whose focus has been to help promote healthier lifestyles for our students and their families. It brings me great joy to care for the medical, physical, and social needs of our students, staff, and parents.
Parliamentarian
Jennifer Green, BSN, RNC-OB
I am excited to join the OSHNA board of directors as Parliamentarian for school year 2018-2019. This is my 3rd year as a school nurse in DoDEA at Edgren Middle/High School in Misawa, Japan and as a member of OSHNA. I am originally from Shreveport, LA and obtained a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Louisiana-Monroe. After serving as a health education volunteer with the UN, International Red Cross, and US Peace Corps in Turkmenistan, I decided to pursue Nursing. Following graduation from Johns Hopkins University, I spent 11 years working as a labor & delivery and post-partum nurse in Seattle, WA. My family of five moved to Northern Japan in 2015 and I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of switching nursing fields and working with our military population. OSHNA has been a wonderful resource during this process and I look forward to being able to assist others while continuing to learn more about the fascinating world of school nursing.
Professional Development Dana Raye MSN, RN
I am celebrating 20 years in the field of nursing and my 8th school year with DoDEA this year. I worked one school year at Pordenone Elementary School, Italy prior to its closure, three school years at Maxwell E/MS, AL, and currently work at Spangdahlem Middle School, Germany. Before school nursing, I spent many years as an Emergency/Trauma Nurse and Nurse Educator, achieved the Board Certification in Emergency Nursing (BCEN), and was a Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) instructor. I am currently an instructor for AHA Heartsaver, BLS, and a Safe Crisis Management Instructor through JKM Training, Inc. I was recently honored to receive the 2018 Overseas School Health Nurses Association (OSHNA) School Nurse of the Year. I earned my BSN at Auburn University Montgomery in 1998 and MSN (Community and Public Health focus) from the University of South Alabama in 2004. My husband Bryan and I always knew we wanted to work with military families and specifically for DoDEA. He left active military duty to pursue an education degree and currently teaches 5th grade at Spangdahlem Elementary School. We have three children who keep us busy and actively involved in our community. I am excited to help in the role of Professional Development for OSHNA. I believe as school nurses we hold the power to inspire and create healthy schools, communities, and families as our world rapidly changes. We are a vital link between home and school, as well as health liaisons and leaders in our communities. I believe we are challenged with growing in our professional knowledge across many domains to meet the needs of all. We can be influential leaders as school nurses if we effectively communicate within our interdisciplinary teams and lead the way in modeling best practices, policy development, and education. We have an opportunity to make a significant positive impact through our nursing practice!
