Gale Danek, PhD, RN, NE-BC, FNAP
Dr. Danek served for ten years as the Administrative Director for Nursing Quality and nine years as the Magnet Program Director at UF Health Shands, successfully leading our hospital through two Magnet re-designations.
She assumed responsibility for Nursing Research in 2010 and under her leadership, the first nursing research fellowship was created. This initiative allowed the novice nurse researcher to develop lines of inquiry and launch innovative projects from the bedside. Over her 33 years at UF Health Shands she was PI, Co-PI and facilitator of numerous research studies and publications.
Her clinical expertise were in acute care pediatrics including teaching, clinical nurse specialist and outcomes management.
Gale received her BSN from the University of Michigan, her MSN form Wayne State University and her PhD from the University of Florida.
Rose Rivers, PhD, RN, NEA-BC
Rose is the Founder, CEO and Consultant for Restoring Joy to Leadership, a Christian Spiritually based organization dedicated to helping leaders maximize their potential to make a difference in the lives of others as well as their own.
Rose served as the Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, a 528 inpatient bed acute care hospital in Jacksonville, Florida where she is known for bringing healing and compassion to the Nursing Division.
Prior to joining St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Rose served as the Vice President and Corporate Chief Nursing Officer for Shands Healthcare facilitating nursing excellence for the Shands Healthcare System (8 hospital system, 2 academic medical centers, 4 community based acute care hospitals, behavioral health hospital and rehabilitation hospital), Gainesville, Florida where is known for her constant pursuit of nursing excellence.
Rose served as the Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Shands at the University of Florida, a 675 inpatient beds medical center with responsibility for overall nursing practice and nursing operations. She is credited for leading Shands Nursing to achieve the coveted status of Magnet TM designation.
Rose is an active American Nurses Credentialing Center magnet TM appraiser. In this role, she has appraised the quality of nursing and patient care services in acute care hospitals in various states across the USA. She is a compassion fatigue educator and crucial conversations facilitator. Due to her extensive leadership and management background, she is often consulted for leadership and management development.
Rose has broken many barriers and received numerous accolades during her nursing and leadership career, which spans more than 40 years. Rose has numerous presentations and publications to her credit.
Although well known for her professional achievement, Rose is well known for her role as a mentor, encourager, advocate, and friend to countless co-workers and people in the community. Rose has a passion for learning and enjoys helping others achieve their maximum potential.
Rose received her BSN, MSN and PhD from the University of Florida.