Board of Directors

MICU/NCCU Staff/STAT/CHG nurse for almost 38 years and CCRN certified for 32. I've had the pleasure of being a member of PVC for 20+ and honor of being a board member for well over half that time. It is truly an honor to serve all of you. I've served on the CCRN test task force, CSI Academy, NTI planning committee 2020/2021, Fundamental Skills for Preceptors Pilot Testing Group, and as of this year, appointed to the  Chapter Advisor Team (CAT) to Region 4 encompassing Virginia, W. Virginia and D.C. I've been retired from the Air Force Reserves as a flight nurse after serving over 21 years. My hobbies are reading, and baking. Married for 35 yrs, mom of 3 young men and proud mom of a Bernese Mountain dog, Arlo, which continues the tradition of me being the only female in the house.

I retired from critical care nursing in 2023 after 32 years in MICU/SICU/surgical trauma units. I have been a member of the Horizons planning committee since 2008, helping to plan our Region 1 acute and critical care nursing conference, held every other year in Portland, ME.  I was CCRN certified in 1997 but recently moved my CCRN certification to alum status. I have been a Stop the Bleed instructor since 2017 and have taught over 600 people how to control life threatening bleeding.

Bill Donnelly RN PMBA BS CCRN (ret.) 

 Nursing has been a most rewarding career, especially as a member of the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. 

 As a board member of PVC and 2 terms past president, small AACN volunteer opportunities arose and progressed over the years to a dozen review panels, work groups, and committees.   

 It also led to seven published reviews of Clinical Pearls in AJCC as well as speaking engagements at NTI and Horizons, Two terms on AACN’s Evidence-Based Practice Resource Work Group provided mentorship and growth defining AACN’s Mission. 

“Commotio Cordis and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy” and their counter-intuitive nature became a special topic of interest in my program designed to communicate prompt recognition and intervention in sudden cardiac arrest in athletes and victims of trauma.    

Working with talented exemplary Nursing experts who generously share their knowledge and comradery in providing the best Critical Care to our Patients has been an immeasurable rewarding and enlightening experience.  

Surgical-trauma ICU nurse at a level one trauma center and an adjunct nursing faculty member at a local college. Additionally, she serves on the Horizons 2026 conference committee as a PVC representative, contributing to the planning of educational development initiatives for nurses. 

In her ICU role, Horton focuses on direct patient care and supporting colleagues. She is particularly interested in integrating mindfulness, healing arts, and reflective practice into nursing education and daily bedside care while promoting evidence-based best practices to promote the well-being of patients, families, students, and staff. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she enjoys listening to music and cooking as methods to relax and recharge. 

Ember Johnson MSN, RN, NI-BC, CV-BC – Webmaster, AACN Pioneer Valley Chapter

I am an informatics nurse for the Heart & Vascular Department at Baystate Medical Center and serve as the webmaster for the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). I hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in Nursing Informatics and am double board-certified in Cardiovascular Nursing and Nursing Informatics.

The AACN PVC holds a special place in my heart. In 2019, I attended the National Teaching Institute (NTI) conference, where I heard a nurse present an inspiring project in nursing informatics. That presentation opened my eyes to a field I had never known existed, and it became a turning point in my career. Shortly after, I enrolled in a master’s program for Nursing Informatics, a decision to attend NTI re-energized my passion for nursing and saved me from burnout.

AACN represents everything I believe nursing should embody—advancing nursing standards, lifelong learning, mentorship, research, and fostering healthy work environments. I recommend that every nurse attend the NTI conference at least once; it is truly a source of inspiration and a catalyst for personal and professional growth.

On a personal note, I am a proud mom of two boys and a Goldendoodle. I consider myself a DIYPI (Do-It-Yourself Private Investigator) and love immersing myself in true crime podcasts. In my free time, I enjoy hiking and tackling DIY projects around the house—often getting in over my head but loving every second of it.