Meet Your AAPPN Board Members
A talented group of dedicated volunteers leading your professional association.
Kristine Highlander
President
I come to advanced practice psychiatric nursing through an undergraduate degree in English literature from the UW, 15 years in retail service and management mostly at Nordstrom, and a lifelong interest in psychiatry.
Danielle DeOliveira
Co-President-Elect
Since moving from North Carolina three years ago, Danielle has worked at Peninsula Behavioral Health in Port Angeles. She enjoys community mental health and the challenges of working with a wide variety of mental health struggles.
Jean Tang
Co-President-Elect
I hope to be an effective liaison connecting practice, teaching and research science. I am inspired by the AAPPN mission and its members’ dedication to the profession. It is my honor to serve on the AAPPN leadership team.
Mary Ellen O’Keefe
Past President
AAPPN has been fundamental to my success as a nurse clinician. The founders were colleagues of mine at the University of Washington who envisioned AAPPN as a user-friendly organization to enhance education, nurture leadership, and lend supports to advanced practice psychiatric nurses.
Nikki Behner
Secretary
I am sole practitioner in Mount Vernon, Washington and also work a prescriber in the Skagit County Jail. I have extensive experience in community mental health. Since 1987, I have managed medication and therapeutic interventions for acute and chronic behavioral health issues.
Danielle Waldron
Treasurer
I have been practicing for the past five years after graduating from Seattle University in 2013. I practice in community mental health and focus on addictions.
Steven Pline
Student Board Member
Steven is in the final year of a PMHNP DNP program at the University of Washington. His population of interest for practice is with adolescents living with substance use and co-occurring disorders. He has been involved in AAPPN during the last two years by attending AAPPN conferences, chapter meetings, student events, and as a volunteer.
Ginni Buccola
Member At Large
I have been a Nurse since 1994, working first as an RN in Public Health and then in Mental Health. I completed my MSN in 2012 and DNP in 2013, both through the University of Washington. I am currently working in Primary Care as a Psychiatric Consultant.
Piper Buersmeyer
Member At Large
Piper is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner over the lifespan and is the co-founder of Med Rx Partners and TMS NW. She worked for Western Psychological and Counseling for 6-1/2 years until transitioning to full-time private practice in 2014. In 2017, Piper was one of three PMHNPs who founded the first and only deep TMS treatment clinic, TMS NW in Vancouver, WA.
Leslie Hite
Member At Large
Leslie has been practicing in mental health care as a RN for over 12 years. After graduating as a PMHNP, she moved to Okanogan County and currently practices in a rural primary care clinic. She has been an AAPPN member since graduating and moving to Washington. She also serves on the AAPPN legislative committee, learning more about advocacy and connecting with other members throughout the state.
Meet the AAPPN Advisory Board
A talented group of dedicated volunteers helping the association in the community.
Damaris Aragon
Spokane Chapter Chair
Damaris has chaired the Spokane Chapter since September 2018.
Danielle DeOliveira
Legislative Committee Chair
Danielle has chaired the Legislative Committee since March 2019.
Bernie Gilroy
Awards Committee Chair
Bernie has chaired the Awards Committee since January 2019.
Connie Huffine
Past AAPPN Administrator and Lois Price Spratlen Foundation liaison
Connie, along with Claire Foot, recently completed a chronicle of AAPPN’s early days.