Integrative Nursing Conference 2025

Donna Amado (she/her) has been a dedicated nurse since 1987 and has specialized in perioperative nursing since 1988. With 15 years of experience as an operating room (OR) nurse on the South Shore, Donna transitioned into nursing education, combining her technical expertise with a passion for teaching. She is a Nursing Professional Development Specialist in the perioperative division at Boston Medical Center (BMC). Donna is an active Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) member and teaches Periop 101 at Curry College. She co-chairs BMC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Nursing Council, advocating for safe surgery, effective communication, and teamwork through education and lifelong learning.

Alongside her professional achievements, Donna embraces a holistic approach to health and wellness. She is a Reiki Master/Instructor, a BMC’s Integrative Nursing Council member, and is completing her 200-hour Fluid Yoga Teacher Training certification. When not working, Donna enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling, hiking, scuba diving, and relaxing at the beach.

Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes is a nationally recognized nutrition expert with over 15 years of experience. A registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist, Sue-Ellen specializes in women's health, diabetes, and fitness, focusing on holistic and plant-based nutrition. She is the founder and CEO of 360Girls&Women®, a wellness company dedicated to empowering girls and women, and co-founder of Cultured Health. This global digital app connects clients to dietitians based on culture. Sue-Ellen holds certifications as a personal trainer and women's fitness specialist. She actively contributes to numerous boards, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Diabetes Association, where she promotes health equity, black maternal health, and wellness education. Her academic achievements include earning her Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida and a Master of Science in nutrition and wellness from Andrews University, where she graduated summa cum laude.

Sue-Ellen has been featured in notable outlets like Forbes Health, the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Harvard Health Publishing, and NBC10 Boston. She serves as a national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and actively participates in health panels, presentations, and cooking demonstrations. A recipient of numerous awards, she was recently honored with the 2024 Emerging Dietetic Leader Award and the Abbott Nutrition Award in Women's Health. Sue-Ellen is also celebrated for addressing health inequities and advancing gestational diabetes care globally. When she's not shaping the future of nutrition, she enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors with her husband and two children.

William is an experienced acute care psychiatric nurse with 14 years in the field. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and is board-certified in psychiatric and holistic nursing. With a deep interest in Anthroposophy, William has studied philosophy for over 20 years, including completing two foundational courses. His passion for integrating mindfulness into nursing led him to create Brief Intentional Grounding, a mindfulness-based modality designed to reduce stress, strengthen therapeutic relationships, and mitigate workplace violence. He first presented this approach at the 2021 AHNA Virtual Conference and has since participated in numerous studies showcasing its potential benefits (publications pending).

William's dedication to advancing psychiatric nursing practices includes presenting at national conferences such as the AHNA and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association in 2024, where he shared his insights on reducing workplace violence through mindfulness. He collaborates with Laurie, using Brief Intentional Grounding to embody the 12 Gestures of Anthroposophic Nursing Care. William brings expertise from his studies in psychology, meditation, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), along with his extensive nursing experience, to enhance patient care and workplace well-being. Ongoing studies continue to evaluate the positive impact of his methods across the country.

Jen is a certified mindfulness and yoga instructor with over a decade of experience helping individuals improve their well-being. After overcoming 20 years of chronic insomnia through mindfulness and yoga, she developed a passion for supporting others on their path to better sleep and overall health. Jen specializes in Sleep Therapy and Coaching, offering one-on-one sessions that are approachable, warm, and tailored to each individual's needs. Her "Get to Sleep" program has helped countless people find freedom from insomnia, using a mindfulness-based approach rooted in her training with Fluid Yoga.

Alongside her work as a coach, Jen owns Village Yoga in Southern Vermont, a community-focused studio she established in 2014. She also leads yoga and meditation workshops and joint and back health classes. She is a lead instructor for the Fluid Yoga School 200-Hour Teacher Trainings held annually in Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine, and Virginia. Whether guiding teachers or supporting individuals, Jen's mission is to empower others with the tools needed for a healthier mind and body.

Christina Muccio, known affectionately as "Mooch," is a dynamic leader in holistic health, fitness, and wellness. Drawing on her experience as a Division 1 athlete, she has transformed her competitive spirit into a multifaceted career that spans corporate sales, entrepreneurship, investing, and coaching. As a mindset and performance coach, Mooch empowers individuals to overcome limitations, unlock their potential, and achieve meaningful transformation in life and business. Her approach focuses on blending movement, mindset, and emotional fitness, helping people redefine success and reach their full potential with energy and purpose.

Mooch's passion for health and well-being took on even greater significance when her father was diagnosed with ALS. This life-altering experience shaped her perspective on vitality and resilience. Witnessing the effects of the disease firsthand deepened her commitment to helping others take ownership of their physical, mental, and emotional health. She is dedicated to expanding the wellness space and passionate about building communities prioritizing well-being and peak performance. Through teaching, hosting retreats, and live coaching, Mooch's relatable and high-energy style inspires others to make mindful shifts that lead to lasting change.

Julie is a national board-certified acupuncturist (Dipl.Ac.), licensed to practice in Massachusetts by the MA Board of Registration in Medicine (Lic.Ac). With a Master's in Acupuncture from the New England School of Acupuncture at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and a Master's in Public Health from Boston University, Julie brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and a deep understanding of health policy and management to her practice. Her own experiences with acupuncture's healing benefits inspired her to pursue this path, and she is passionate about helping patients harness their innate internal ability to heal and stay well.  Julie focuses on creating compassionate, patient-focused treatment plans incorporating techniques such as cupping, gua sha, tui na, qigong, food energetics, and moxibustion. Julie is a clinical acupuncturist at Boston Medical Center, seeing patients in the Family Medicine division and the Employee Wellness clinic. She also teaches at a student clinic at BMC and is a member of the adjunct clinical faculty at the New England School of Acupuncture. Julie founded and owned her private practice, Your Healing Qi, which offers acupuncture and qigong classes.  

Julie promotes the importance of movement and mindfulness as foundations of health and well-being through the ancient healing art of qigong, a practice rooted in Chinese Medicine and supported by modern-day science. She shares this philosophy through wellness events, her signature class, "AcuMove," and mini-meditations, drawing from her qigong training and her certification as a 200-hour yoga teacher. Her classes aim to promote the free flow of qi (life force energy) by clearing energetic blockages, leaving participants feeling energized and deeply relaxed.  Outside clinical practice, teaching, and leading classes, she finds joy in hiking, walking the beach, and relaxing with a good book in her hammock. Julie also values spending quality time with family and friends - a balance she believes is essential for a healthy life. 

Joshua Rosenthal brings a unique blend of experience from his 14 years of service in the Army National Guard and 8 years in the fast-paced world of startups. Following his second overseas deployment, Josh developed a passion for exploring the intricate connections between physical and mental well-being and how life's experiences shape them. Trained as a somatic coach, men's work facilitator with Sacred Sons, and a sound healing practitioner under Avery Whitmore, Josh began focusing his work on helping veterans heal and reconnect with their purpose.

As the co-founder of Sanctuary Wellness Center, an experiential wellness community, Josh collaborates with his partner, Christina Muccio, to guide individuals on meaningful wellness journeys. His unique approach bridges ancient healing practices with modern science, empowering clients to trust the process and forge deeper connections to their truth, mission, and purpose. Through his work, Josh remains committed to fostering environments where personal growth and well-being thrive.

Laurie holds a Master's Degree from UCSF as a Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist and has worked in both a high-risk maternity center and a small rural hospital. She began her career by owning a childbirth educator and lactation specialist business before transitioning into wellness practices. Currently, Laurie provides BodyTalk, a mind-body healing modality, and Psychosynthesis Life Coaching. She also offers Anthroposophic Nursing Care in collaboration with an Anthroposophic doctor and teaches others about this holistic approach to care. Laurie has been studying Anthroposophic Nursing since 2009, becoming certified as an Anthroposophic Nurse Specialist in 2017, and teaching in this field since 2018.

A passionate educator and presenter, Laurie has shared her expertise at several conferences, including speaking on the "12 Nursing Gestures" at the AHNA conference 2017 and presenting on spiritual assessment based on Anthroposophic principles in 2020. She has also published articles, including her work on the Anthroposophic Nursing Gestures in the Journal of Holistic Nursing. Laurie's training includes certifications as a Rhythmical Einreibung Specialist (2019) and a Psychosynthesis Life Coach (2022). Her collaborations with like-minded professionals, including through the Holistic Nurses Association, continue to advance her contributions to holistic and integrative care.