Chamberlain University

Dr. Joanne Disch serves as chair of the Chamberlain University Board of Trustees. She is currently Professor ad Honorem at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing and also serves as chair of the board of directors of Advocate Aurora Health.

Dr. Disch began her career as a staff nurse in cardiovascular intensive care. She has served as a chief nurse executive in two major medical centers and as interim dean at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. She has also served as president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and the American Academy of Nursing, and as board member and chair of the national board of AARP.

Her research has centered on nurse-physician relationships and on quality and safety within healthcare organizations. In 2014, she and two colleagues co-authored the award-winning text Person and Family Centered Care. She has received many awards for her work including two from Sigma Theta Tau International; the President’s Award from the American Academy of Nursing; and the Marguerite Rodgers Kinney Award for a Distinguished Career from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. She has also received the Distinguished Alumna Award from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Most recently, Dr. Disch was named by the American Academy of Nursing as a Living Legend.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; her Master of Science in Nursing  in Cardiovascular Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham; and her Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Rhonda Anderson is a member of the Chamberlain University Board of Trustees. She is currently a healthcare consultant for RMA Consulting of Arizona and a consultant/surveyor for Global Healthcare Accreditation. From 2009 to 2016, she was Chief Executive Officer of Cardon Children's Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona, a Banner Health hospital. Prior to that she held CEO, COO and CNO positions for healthcare organizations in the East Coast, Midwest and Southwest. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and a member of American Hospital Association Committee of Performance Improvement.

Dr. Anderson is a trustee of the Arizona Perinatal Trust and has been involved as member of the Chair of State, National Patient Safety and Quality Committee, and the Performance Measurement Committees for the past twenty years. She serves her church as an elder and executive committee member, chairs the personnel committee and the organ committee.

Dr. Anderson has received a number of awards for her service to the nursing and business communities. In addition to receiving the Distinguished Achievement Award from Arizona State University College of Nursing, Dr. Anderson was a selected participant in The First International Institute: Executive Nurse Leadership in the United Kingdom and the United States, Florence Nightingale Trust in London, England. She was also awarded the American Organization of Nurse Executives Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. In addition, Dr. Anderson was named Arizona Business Magazine's 2012 Healthcare Leadership Award "Hospital Executive of the Year" and one of their “Fifty Most Influential Women in Arizona Business.”

As president of Chamberlain University since July 2018, Karen Cox provides leadership and support for all facets of the organization, which serves more than 38,000 students across 23 campuses as well as online programs. She co-authored the Social Determinants of Learning ™, Chamberlain’s research-based framework to inform and advance nationwide efforts to create a pipeline of more diverse students entering the nursing profession. Previously, she served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Children’s Mercy - Kansas City, an independent academic medical center. During her more than 30 years with that organization, she also served as senior vice president for patient care services and as chief nursing officer. Additionally, she led the organization to its Magnet designation — a credential signaling excellence in nursing — in 2003. Children’s Mercy was the first hospital in its region to receive such recognition.

Dr. Cox began her healthcare career as a licensed practical nurse and has distinguished herself in the fields of nursing leadership and nursing education. A Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow (1999-2002), she was later appointed to a term on the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice, U.S. Health and Human Services (2006-2011). Cox also served as board chair of the National Initiative for Children’s Health Quality, as board member and chair of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City Board of Directors (2009-2015), and was an inaugural member of the National League for Nursing Foundation Advisory Council (2016-present). She was elected to the American Hospital Association, Section on Maternal and Child Health Governing Council (2013-2016) and was appointed to the Children’s Hospital Association, Child Health Committee (2013-2017). An innovator in practice, she received a 2015 American Academy of Nursing Edge Runner award for her work promoting leadership among staff nurses.

Dr. Cox is a fellow and past president of the American Academy of Nursing and a fellow in the American College of Health Care Executives. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Kansas and master’s and PhD degrees in nursing from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Selected Publications

Cox, K. with Sanderson, C., & Hollinger-Smith, L. (2021). Developing a Social Determinants of Learning ™ Framework: A Case Study. Nursing Education Perspectives, 42(4), 205-211 https://journals.lww.com/neponline/Fulltext/2021/07000/Developing_a_Social_Determinants_of_Learning_.3.aspx

Cox, K. with Sanderson, C., & Disch, J. (2020). Virtual nursing, virtual learning. Nurse Leader, 18(2), 134–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mnl.2019.12.005

Cox, K. Commentary: Making vaccine education a critical part of the patient conversation. (2019, July 15). Modern Healthcare. https://www.modernhealthcare.com/opinion-editorial/commentary-making-vaccine-education-critical-part-patient-conversation

Cox K, Rising maternal morbidity, mortality rates in the US. (2018). NBNA News (Fall), 18–19. https://www.nbna.org/files/NBNA_FALL_2019_FINAL.pdf

Cox, K. Global maternal mortality rate declines—except in America. (2018). Nursing Outlook, 66(5), 428–429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2018.08.001

Cox, K. with Sullivan C., Olshansky E., Czubaruk K., Lacey B., Scott L., Willems Van Dijk J. (2018). Critical conversation: Toxic stress in children living in poverty. (2018). Nursing Outlook, 66(2), 204–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2018.02.009

Cox, K. Reducing toxic stress experienced by children living in poverty. (2018). Nursing Outlook, 66(2), 108–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2018.02.010

Cox, K. Mindfulness and the work of the Academy. (2018). Nursing Outlook, 66(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2018.01.001

Cox, K. with Hickam T., White, P. H., Modrcin, A., & McManus, M. (2018). Implementing a nationally recognized pediatric-to-adult transitional care approach in a major children’s hospital. Journal of Health and Social Work, 43(1), 3–5. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlx049 

Cox, K. with Goodyear-Bruch, C., & Altman, M. (2017, November 30). Empowering nurses to innovate at the bedside, then spread their innovations. Health Affairs. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20171121.831571/full/

Cox, K. with Westbrook, D. H., Hospital leadership recognizes need to create partnerships to treat consequences of poverty. (2017). Current Problems in Pediatric Adolescent Health Care. 47(9), 229–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cppeds.2017.07.009

Cox, K. Nurses and the social determinants of health. (2016). Public Health Nursing, 33(1), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.12244

Cox, K. with Lacey, S. R., Ives Erickson J., Rich V. L. (2015). The contemporary work environment of nursing. In D. J. Mason, D. B. Gardner, F. H. Outlaw, & E. T. O’Grady (Eds.), Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care (7th ed., pp. 523–532). Elsevier.

Interviews, Presentations and Appearances

Clinician well-being: Chamberlain President Karen Cox and Provost Carla Sanderson[Video]. (2020). Cox and Sanderson discuss the moral and ethical challenges facing health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Fim-M3Je54

High tech to high touch[Video]. (2019). Invited comments at the National Academy of Medicine, Seattle Town Hall [Video].https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHVqJUABACU

An interview with Dr. Karen Cox. (2018, September). JONA: Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(9), 417- 418.https://www.nursingcenter.com/journalarticle?Article_ID=4761642&Journal_ID=54024&Issue_ID=4761622

Rita Wray is a member of the Chamberlain University Board of Trustees. She is the founder and chief executive officer of Wray Enterprises, Inc., a national independent healthcare consulting firm. Previously, she served as deputy executive director of the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration and held the position for nearly a decade.

With more than 35 years of service, Rita has made significant contributions as a leader in numerous professional organizations. She is secretary for the International Women’s Forum/MS; member of the board of directors for the International Ballet Competition; former treasurer for the National Black Nurses Association; chairperson of the State Initiative for the American Academy of Nursing, Institute for Nursing Leadership, National Advisory Council; chairperson of Sustainability Committee for the Nurses On Boards Coalition; former national first vice president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women; commissioner for the MS Commission on the Status of Women; vice chairperson of the MS Public Service Contract Review Board; co-lead for the Mississippi Action Coalition – Future of Nursing/Campaign for Action.

Among many notable recognitions, Rita was named one of Mississippi’s Top Ten Leading Business Women in 2000, inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2008 and named Honorary Secretary of State of Louisiana by Louisiana’s Secretary of State Tom Schedler in 2012.

Rita holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of North Alabama and a Master of Business Administration degree from Jackson State University. She is certified in nursing administration through the American Nurses Association and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.

Dr. Angie Millan is a member of the Chamberlain University Board of Trustees. She formerly served as Nursing Director for Children’s Medical Services (CMS) at the County of Los Angeles’ Department of Public Health. She currently serves as an adjunct nurse educator at several nursing programs in the Los Angeles district.

Dr. Millan was previously national president and board member of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), past member of Nursing Advisory Council of the Joint Commission and a member of the Commission to End Healthcare Disparities. She currently serves as a board member for NAHN, as commissioner for the office of Statewide Health Planning and Development and California Healthcare Workforce Policy Commission, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and Women’s Preventive Services Initiative (WPSI).

Dr. Millan was inducted as fellow of the American Nursing Academy in 2012 and is a recipient of 2015 NAHN Nurse of the Year and 22ndSenate Woman of the Year award.

Dr. Millan holds both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nursing from California State University. She earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Western University of Health Sciences and she is licensed to practice nursing in the state of California and Washington, D.C.

Eric Rosow is a member of the Chamberlain University Board of Trustees. He serves as CEO of Diameter Health, a healthcare IT company that offers targeted, proprietary solutions to health providers, health information exchanges, vendors and payers so they can turn data into a strategic asset and succeed in an era of health reform. He has more than 25 years of experience in healthcare technology, new venture creation and executive management.

Prior to co-founding Diameter Health, Eric served as the vice president and general manager of the patient flow business unit for Eclipsys and Allscripts. Preceding that, Eric was the chairman and CEO of Premise, a company he co-founded and led through its sale to Eclipsys. Before founding Premise, Eric was the director of biomedical engineering at Hartford Hospital.

Eric also serves on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Technology Council and is an active member of the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS), the American College of Clinical Engineering (ACCE) and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Eric has previously served on the Executive Committee of the Trinity College National Alumni Association and the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Sports Equipment and Technology Committee. He holds several patents and has authored more than 50 academic papers, several book chapters and a textbook on virtual bioinstrumentation.

Eric earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Trinity College and a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the Hartford Graduate Center/Rensselaer in Hartford.

Lisa Wardell is a member of the Chamberlain University Board of Trustees. She is the former Chairman and CEO of Adtalem Global Education.