2024-2025 Officers
Tara Zacharzuk-Marciano, PhD, RN, President
Tara lives in Highland with her husband and 7 year-old daughter. Tara has been a member of The Professional Nurses of Dutchess/Putnam, INC. for the past five years. She had been a member of the Newsletter committee in the past. In addition, she is a Legal Nurse Consultant with her own business.
Tara received her LPN in 2000. She graduated from Plattsburgh State University in 2004 with her BSN and attended Pace University for her MA in Nursing Education in 2010. Tara received her PhD in Nursing Education in 2017. She held a 4.0 GPA while completing PhD coursework. She has worked as an Assistant Professor, Tara taught in the nursing skills lab and the clinical setting. As a staff nurse, she worked in the surgical services area and recently she worked as the Lead Surgical Services Nurse Educator
Recognizing the equal importance of self-care, Tara’s “free time” is spent enjoying the company of her family, friends, and outdoor activities. Her favorite outdoor activities include walking on the rail trail, hiking, BBQ in the backyard, and skiing/snowboarding.
Vinnie Hopper, RN, Corresponding Secretary
Vincent is a registered nurse who retired from his position as a staff nurse at the Nuvance Heart Center Coumadin Clinic in 2022 completing what was 52 years of nursing excellence. Graduating from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in 1970, he immediately began working on the medical-surgical unit in that facility. In 1971, Vincent enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Following four years as a Corpsman, he was well prepared to assume various leadership positions in both North Carolina and New York hospitals. Vincent has managed Intensive Care Units, Emergency Departments, Residency Programs and Interventional Radiology Departments to name just a few. Vincent has achieved certification as a Basic Life Support (BLS) instructor and he is certified in Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) as well as Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). In addition, Vincent has held the positions of President and Secretary of the Northeast New York Chapter of Central Service Professionals (NENY-CCSP).
Katherine Slagle, RN, Treasurer
Katherine was born and raised in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States prior to achieving her educational goals. She began her career as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), graduating from Dutchess County BOCES in 2019 and in July 2023 Katherine graduated from Dutchess Community College (DCC) with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. In addition she is certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Basic Life Support (BLS) and in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Following graduation from DCC, Katherine accepted employment at Vassar Brothers Hospital (VBH) where she works in the Respiratory Care Unit/ Medical Step-down Unit.
In her spare time, Katherine is a Dutchess County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteer. When not working or volunteering, Katherine loves spending time with her husband and their two pets.
Nicaise William-Douglas, Vice President
Nicaise was born and raised in a small but unique nature island in the Caribbean called Dominica. In 2012 she moved to the United States to further her education. She worked as a bedside nurse for 6 years while earning an Associates Degree in Applied Science in 2015 from Medgar Evers College. Nicaise continued her education and in 2018 she completed a Bachelor of Science degree from Pace University and in 2023 she graduated from Sacred Heart University with a Master's Degree in Nursing Education. Her next educational goal is the pursuit of a post-graduate certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
Her professional experiences range from caring for both inpatients and outpatient s, in both acute and sub-acute settings. She has crossed trained to work in a neuro and spinal cord unit, an orthopedic unit, a cardiopulmonary unit, a stroke unit, and a traumatic brain injury unit. Nicaise worked during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic in a vaccination clinic and has experience administering outpatient infusions as a hematology and oncology nurse. Currently, she works within the Westchester Medical Center Health Network at a level II trauma hospital on the Medical-Surgical and Telemetry units. One of her roles as the unit Charge Nurse is to train and precept new graduates.
On November 30, 2022, Nicaise was recognized for the compassionate and extraordinary care that she provides to her patients. This year she was nominated for the Nurse of Distinction Award. In 2024, Nicaise began teaching at Pace University. She teaches in both the traditional four-year nursing program and in the accelerated nursing program.
Nicaise has held staff, management and supervisory positions and has been actively involved in the education and training of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, and patient care technicians.
Elizabeth (Liz) Berro, MSN, RN, Recording Secretary
Liz earned a nursing diploma from Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing (Charlotte, NC) in 1985, a BSN in 1986, a master’s in nursing in 1993, and a post-masters PNP certificate in 2002 and is currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program at Pace University. She has lived in Westchester and Putnam counties for over 28 years. Her clinical experience is in pediatrics, ranging from critical care to telehealth. Currently, Elizabeth is an Assistant Clinical Faculty at Pace University, responsible for undergraduate nursing simulations. In this role, she designs and facilitates high-fidelity simulations and is a certified healthcare simulation educator (CHSE). Transition to practice has become a challenge and professional nursing organizations, such as the PNA, are positioned to help new graduates address today’s health care challenges. Liz has published in The Journal of Nursing Education on simulation center staffing and the influence of poverty simulations in undergraduate nursing students. Her current area of interest is in the relationships between realism, engagement, and competency in simulation.
Board of Directors
Mary Cohen, MSN, RN
Mary describes her philosophy and vision of nursing as related to her desire to inspire, motivate, and empower individuals to aim for and achieve personal health and well-being through their lifestyle choices. Specifically, her philosophy statement for herself and other nurses includes striving for balance and professional growth through continued lifelong learning, which has been an ongoing goal throughout her career and strengthened during the achievement of obtaining her Master's of Science in Nursing Education and certifications as an Advanced Holistic Nurse, Integrative Health and Wellness Nurse Coach, and Cannabis Consultant/Educator. As a current student at the Integrative Nurse Coach Academy Functional Medicine for Nurses Program, she realizes that many of her values, attributes, and principles related to nursing through experiences have contributed to the transformative learning process throughout her 43 years as a professional registered nurse. Mary's background includes diverse clinical experiences in nursing education, perioperative surgical services, trauma, coronary care, critical care, maternal-child health, and community health school nursing.Currently, Mary enjoys her role as a self-employed nurse entrepreneur who established her business based on nursing and holistic values, expanding human influence and using whole-person knowledge and skill, focusing on innovation and evidence-based integrative interventions to improve patients' health. She has membership in the American Holistic Nurses Association, the Cannabis Nurses Network, American Cannabis Nurses Association, Holistic Healing Network, and the Professional Nurses Association of Dutchess Putnam Inc (PNA). In addition, she previously served as a board member for the PNA and Assistant Chair of the New York State Nurses Association for the Arlington Central School District. She has also served as a member of the Medical Reserve Corps of Dutchess County, NY. Mary is married, the mother of two adult daughters, and enjoys caring for her two-year-old granddaughter, Isla. In addition, Mary enjoys practicing as a Reiki-Master Teacher, yoga-Nidra teacher and enjoys Qi-Gong, and cuddling with any of her four cats for relaxation.
Cindy Paradiso, PhD, RN
Cindy Paradiso has been a nurse for almost two decades. She received her BSN from Binghamton University, her Master's in Nursing Education from Pace University and a PhD from Pace University with her focus on studying nursing students experience of passing medications in the clinical setting for the first time.
Most of her career has been spent at White Plains Hospital. She has experience in med/Surg, critical care and leadership. Currently, she works in the quality dept at White Plains Hospital and as a clinical instructor for Dutchess Community College and Pace University, as her passion is teaching, mentoring and guiding students. She has also successfully passed the Certified Nurse Educator exam. When she is not teaching or working, she enjoys spending time with her three kids, yoga and exercise. She has been part of the PNA leadership team since 2017.
Deborah Williams, RN is a 1974 graduate of Dutchess Community College. She received ANCC certification as a ‘psychiatric mental health nurse’ during her thirty-six & a half years of employment for the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene. Now retired, she maintains her membership in the Dutchess County Medical Reserve Corps and is currently president of the Hudson River State Hospital Nurses Alumni Association. Deborah is the very proud mother of two sons, daughter in law Jaime and has been married for forty-five years;
Her favorite quote by Maya Angelou…” I have learned that people will forget what you said. People will forget what you did, but people will NEVER forget how you made them feel”.
Donna Law, MSN RN
Donna received her BSN from SUNY Plattsburgh and her MSN from SUNY New Paltz in 1996. After a long career at Hudson River Psychiatric Center as a Nurse educator, she retired in 2011. She has served on the NYSNA District 12 Board from 2008- 2015 and has continued as a board member for The Professional Nurses Association of Dutchess/Putnam, Inc. She and her husband travel extensively, worldwide and they reside in Poughkeepsie
Carol Moran, RN, BSN, MPA
Carol’s nursing career began many years ago when she earned her BSN from SUNY Plattsburgh. Carol started working at Vassar Brothers Hospital, where she began on the adolescent unit situated next to pediatrics. While employed there, she coordinated the children's cardiac clinic. A few years later, after working as a staff nurse in Med-Surg at St. Francis Hospital.
Carol worked for New York State in several capacities at the Office of Mental Health and the Department of Health and also taught in the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center School of Nursing diploma program for three years. Soon after, she transferred to Rockland Psychiatric Center, where Carol performed many functions in two mental health outpatient clinics in Peekskill. During these years, she attended Marist College and earned her Masters of Public Administration. In 1997, Carol worked as Public Health Nurse for three years, and then as a Program Director for the Office of Managed Care at the NYS Department of Health, retiring from that position in 2011 with thirty-six years of State service.
Currently, Carol is an adjunct clinical instructor at Dutchess Community College. “I remember going to the College to deliver the students' assignments, and pushing my daughter in a stroller. She now has two children, as does my son. It is great being a grandmother and spending time with the grandchildren whenever I can. I enjoy traveling, volunteering as a docent at the Staatsburgh Historic Site (Mills Mansion), gardening and taking ZUMBA classes.
I consider myself very fortunate to have had such a long and varied career. I have been on the Board of District 12 Nurses Association, now the PNA, in some capacity for over thirty-five years. “
Catherine Tegtmeier MPH, RN retired from the role of Assistant Commissioner for Community Health for the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health she has expertise in many facets of healthcare including direct patient care (critical care), communicable disease, public health communications, volunteer management, and public health emergency preparedness.
Cathi has a Master’s Degree in Public Health (Health Policy and Management) from New York Medical College and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Mount Saint Mary College. She is currently certified as an Associate Emergency Manager by the International Association of Emergency Managers.
Cathi was a member of Dutchess County EMS Taskforce and currently liaisons for the County on Citizens Advisory Committee for EMS. She is a member of the Professional Nurses Association of Dutchess/Putnam, Inc. and sits on the Dutchess Community College Paramedic and Nursing Programs Advisory Boards and is the Rhinebeck Emergency Response Coordinator. Cathi is an inactive Life Member of Roosevelt Volunteer Fire Company #3 and held position of President from 1995- 2015 and currently serves as Treasurer.
She is the recipient of the Dutchess County EMS Leadership Award (2019) and The Professional Nurses Association of Dutchess/Putnam, Inc. Clinical Nurse Excellence Award.
Cathi is the mother of 2 adult children and lives in Rhinebeck with her faithful dog, Bae. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with friends and family and to explore by traveling and reading.
Nominating Committee Members:
Karen Sieverding
Linda Loomis
Cindy Paradiso
President ex-officio:
Maryann Sharpe-Cassese
Historian:
Jan Viola
Maryann Sharpe-Cassese