Keynote Speakers

Benita Chatmon, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, FAAN, FADNL, ANEF, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing and the Assistant Dean for Clinical Nursing Education at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center – New Orleans School of Nursing (LSUHSC-NO SON). She also holds dual appointments as a Nurse Researcher at Manning Family Children’s Hospital in New Orleans and within the LSUHSC-NO School of Graduate Studies.

Dr. Chatmon is a committed nurse leader with extensive service to Sigma at the regional and international levels and previously served as the North America Region 6 Coordinator. She is the Immediate Past President of the Louisiana State Nurses Association and holds additional leadership roles, including Immediate past Secretary of the Association of Black Nursing Faculty and a member of the Board of Directors for the National Black Nurses Association. She also serves on the American Nurses Association Professional Policy Committee and as a member of the ANA NextGen Advisory Committee.

Her scholarly work focuses on mentorship, leadership development, and strengthening the nursing workforce. She has presented nationally on mentoring best practices, established two impactful mentoring programs, and published multiple articles advancing the science of mentorship. Her contributions have been recognized through her induction as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the Academy of Diverse Nurse Leaders, and the Academy of Nursing Education.

Dr. Chatmon is a Certified Nurse Educator and a Certified Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor, with teaching experience across undergraduate and graduate levels. She is a proud veteran of the United States Army and is most fulfilled in her roles as wife to Michael and mother to MJ and Mia.

Dr. George Peraza-Smith is Professor & Campus Dean overseeing Post-Licensure Nursing Programs at West Coast University.

He currently serves as president of the Gerontology Nursing Certification Commission and is past President of the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association. George is an active Sigma member and currently serves as Treasurer with the Chi Beta Chapter.

Sagie D. De Guzman, PhD, APRN, A-CNS, ANP-C, is a nurse practitioner specializing in urology and urologic oncology at Providence Saint John’s Cancer and Research Institute in Santa Monica, California.

Dr. De Guzman’s clinical and scholarly interests include prostate cancer care, men’s sexual health, erectile dysfunction, climacturia, and recovery following prostatectomy. His research also examines health-seeking behaviors and barriers to sexual health discussions in nursing practice. He earned his PhD in Nursing and master’s degree in nursing from Azusa Pacific University.

As a clinician, educator, and researcher, Dr. De Guzman emphasizes evidence-based, patient-centered care that addresses both cancer control and quality of life. His presentation explores nursing’s role in prostate cancer management from diagnosis and treatment through rehabilitation and survivorship.

Kristen Kellogg, RN, FNP-C, DNP, is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Point Loma Nazarene University. She teaches in the FNP program and is the Clinic Director of the Health Promotion Center, a free and charitable community clinic.

Dr. Kellogg’s doctoral research examined the integration of food prescription programs and nutrition education to foster healthy eating behaviors in patients with chronic illness. In her dual academic and clinical roles, she actively mentors nursing students on quality improvement and evidence-based practice projects, focusing on health equity, diabetes education, chronic disease management, and food insecurity. She is deeply passionate about immersing students in community health to expand their understanding of preventative medicine and the complex social determinants of health facing vulnerable populations.

Amanda Thurman is a Family Nurse Practitioner and full-time faculty at Azusa Pacific University. Her Doctorate of Nursing Practice studies focus on training healthcare providers to screen for food insecurity in the clinical setting.

Food insecurity, defined as insufficient food to meet the demands of an active and healthy lifestyle, exists in one in five households in California and disproportionately affects low-income, Hispanic and Black families; especially those with children. Food insecurity causes poor health outcomes including obesity, poor control of blood sugar, depression, difficulty concentrating in children and low birth weight. Integration of food insecurity screening and appropriate food resource referrals in the health care setting is imperative for the health and well-being of all patients who suffer the ill health effects of food insecurity.