Healthy Mom&Baby Editorial Advisory Board
LaShea Thompson, M.Ed, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, RNC, C-EFM
Editor in Chief
Lashea Haynes, MEd, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, RNC, C-EFM, has obstetrical and perinatal nursing experience and expertise that spans 28 years in labor and delivery, antepartum, and mother/baby. She’s worked as a board-certified clinical nurse specialist, nursing instructor, and perinatal outreach educator. She’s provided high-risk perinatal education to various hospitals and audiences throughout her region. LaShea is the founder and owner of her nursing mentoring and education consulting company. She’s also a Designated Instructor Trainer in Fetal Monitoring and Obstetric Patient Safety. LaShea is an active AWHONN member, former Vice Chair of the AWHONN Section Advisory Committee, and past two-term Georgia section chair. In 2022, she received the AWHONN Distinguished Professional Service Award and The Award of Excellence in Education.
Aliah Jones, MSN/Ed, RNC-OB
Aliah Jones, MSN/Ed, RNC-OB, has been a perinatal nurse for 15 years. She provides antepartum, labor, and postpartum care to expectant mothers nationwide. She also teaches childbirth education classes as a women’s health patient educator. Aliah serves as co-chair on the Health Equity committee for the Georgia chapter of AWHONN, where she advances equitable care to all birthing families.
Chevair Mustafa, BSN, C-ONQS, RNC-OB, CCE
Chevair Mustafa, BSN, C-ONQS, RNC-OB, CCE, has been a medical professional for 15+ years via multiple specialties serving in various clinic and hospital settings, ranging from rural to teaching facilities across the United States. Her passion and enthusiasm for Women’s Health have led her to become determined to implement a positive impact in confronting maternal health disparities by building relationships and prioritizing the health of women for a stronger and healthier community. She currently resides in Central Georgia with her husband of 20 years and their 2 boys and 3 girls.
Danielle Beasley, PhD, RN, RNC-OB, CNE
Danielle Beasley, PhD, RN, RNC-OB, CNE, is a faculty program director in the Bachelor and Master of Science nursing programs at Excelsior University School of Nursing. Her extensive nursing career has focused on maternal-child nursing, specifically obstetrics. She’s a simulation expert and has created several clinical-based scenarios spanning medical-surgical, pediatric, and obstetrical nursing. Dr. Beasley’s published works emphasize the health and well-being of women and neonates and her research includes antepartum and postpartum depression, preeclampsia, and postpartum hemorrhage. Dr. Beasley is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and Southern Nursing Research Society. Dr. Beasley chairs various committees and has received numerous awards for her academic leadership.
Jamie Vincent, MSN, APRN-CNS, RNC-OB, C-EFM, C-ONQS
Jamie Vincent, MSN, APRN-CNS, RNC-OB, C-EFM, C-ONQS, is a Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist at a Maternity Level IV Community Medical Center in Northern California. She has a passion for embracing the art of caring with respect for the uniqueness of each person. With over 35 years of experience in Obstetric and Perinatal Nursing, she actively serves as an expert in the perinatal community, and since 2015 has volunteered as a contributor and Editorial Advisory Board member of Healthy Mom&Baby. In addition, she has co-authored two articles in the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative OB Hemorrhage Toolkit V3.0.
Jessica McNeil-Santiel, DNP, APRN, CNM, RNC-OB, C-EFM
Jessica McNeil-Santiel, DNP, APRN, CNM, RNC-OB, C-EFM, is a certified nurse midwife and adjunct professor. Her career focus is on maternal-child health and she’s served in positions ranging from perinatal educator to women’s services manager. In 2015, Jessica was selected as an AWHONN Emerging Leader and was the AWHONN Convention Host Committee Chair in 2016 and 2020. Currently, she serves as an AWHONN section advisory leader, an ACOG maternal levels of care surveyor, and on the Institute for Perinatal Quality Improvement Advisory Board. Previously, Jessica served as a contributing author to the 7th edition of Foundations of Maternal-Newborn and Women’s Health Nursing. In 2019, she was recognized as a D magazine top 100 nurse.
Lakisa Ballard, MSN, RN, C-EFM, RNC-OB
Lakisa Ballard, MSN, RN, C-EFM, RNC-OB, is a Clinical Nurse Education Specialist in Labor and Delivery. Her years of nursing experience span labor and delivery, high-risk antepartum, and postpartum in hospitals across the US. Her mission is to impact the perinatal workforce through tools, knowledge, and support that produce the best patient outcomes. She’s passionate about fostering supportive learning environments derived from evidence-based practice. Lakisa is a Maryland Maternal Mortality Review Team board member. In November 2022, she was awarded the Sandy Chapman Rising Star award at the National Perinatal Leadership Conference. She enjoys trivia, karaoke, surfing, tennis, public speaking, and spending time with her family and friends.
Maria Meyer, MS, RN, WHNP-BC
Maria Meyer, MS, RN, WHNP-BC, is a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Boston College Connell School of Nursing in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. She has years of experience taking care of high-risk pregnant patients and their families. Currently, Maria practices as a WHNP at the largest federally qualified health center system in Oklahoma providing primary, obstetric, and gynecological care to women from puberty through their lifespan. She also holds positions as adjunct faculty at the University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Community College, and the University of Oklahoma.
Nikita Johnson, CPM-S, CBE, COBST, CNA, CD
Nikita Johnson, CPM-S, CBE, COBST, CNA, CD, is a midwifery student, doula and doula trainer in Baltimore Md. She is the Founder of DMV Birth Doulas, LLC and the Black Doula Training.
Shawana S. Moore, PhD, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, PNAP, FAAN
Shawana S. Moore, PhD, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, PNAP, FAAN, is a nationally recognized, board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner who specializes in providing care throughout the lifespan. She’s an Associate Professor and MSN and DNP Program Director at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing.
She developed the nurse-led Girls Empowerment Program, to support the healthy growth and development of adolescent girls as part of her commitment to providing reproductive health care to underserved populations. Dr. Moore is a Past President of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH). One of her many current research efforts includes maternal health stories through oral histories and portrait paintings. She is an alumnus of the National League for Nursing LEAD Institute.
Susan Bedwell, DNP, APRN, CCNS-N
Dr. Susan Bedwell, DNP, APRN, CCNS-N, a doctoral-prepared Clinical Nurse Specialist, holds a dual role at OUHSC College of Medicine and the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing. Over her 35-year career, she has spearheaded transformative clinical practices, focusing on research, evidence-based methods, and quality improvement. Her work aims to reduce morbidity and mortality in neonatal care significantly. Dr. Bedwell’s research covers nursing interventions for preterm infants, strategies to minimize NICU admissions, and the impact of feeding practices on low-birth-weight infants. In her current position, she directs quality initiatives and mentors the next generation of neonatal care providers.
Tischara Walter, MSN, RNC-MNN, IBCLC, CPST
Tischara Walter, MSN, RNC-MNN, IBCLC, CPST, is an RN manager of a high-risk mother/baby and lactation department. Her 28 years of nursing experience spans med-surg, orthopedics, observation, level IV labor & delivery, high-risk antepartum, and postpartum in Texas hospitals. Her focus is maternal-child health. She’s a 2024-2025 AWHONN Emerging Leader. She enjoys being an adjunct nursing instructor and educator of future nurses. She enjoys planting, reading, time with friends and family, and her grandkids.
