David Graham
Board President
David Graham serves as the Associate Chief Nursing Officer at Medical Center Hospital. David oversees critical areas such as the ED, Trauma, SANE, and Observation departments. He brings over 18 years of dedicated nursing experience to the healthcare arena. With a diverse background encompassing ICU, ED, LTACH, Nursing Informatics, and Nursing Administration, he has consistently demonstrated a commitment to providing high-quality patient care. He earned his Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from Odessa College, followed by a BSN from Texas Tech University, and an MSN from Western Governors University in 2020. Known for his hands-on experience, strategic vision, and commitment to nursing excellence, Outside of nursing David enjoys coaching youth baseball and spending time with his family.
Kit Bredimus
Brandi McDonald
Pam currently serves as the RN Fellowship Manager at Midland Memorial Hospital. She is currently a member of ANPD, SGNA, ENA, AORN, ANA, TNA, and AONL. Pam began her career in 1978 as an LVN and continued her lifelong learning by obtaining her ADN in 1989, BSN in 2013, and ultimately her MSN from Chamberlain in 2021. Pam has served in many areas including flight nursing, home health, hospital leadership, and education. Pam loves interacting with patients, teaching, mentoring, and advocating for nurses, and has a knack for helping nurses find their professional niche. Outside of nursing, Pam enjoys spending time with her family.
Sharon Cannon
Brandi McDonald
Dr. Lea Keesee has served as a nurse educator since 1998 and has been teaching in the Permian Basin since 2001. She taught at Midland College for 17 years and began teaching at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center of the Permian Basin in 2018. She has a BSN (1991) from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center - Lubbock, a MSN from West Texas A&M University (2001), and a DNP from Boise State University (2017). She holds a certificate as a Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE). She has articles published in professional nursing journals and has presented at international, national, and state conferences.
Melonye Huber
Brandi McDonald
Sherice Matthews has worked at MCH for 15 years as a bedside nurse, charge nurse, Unit Director and now ACNO over Inpatient Units, Central Monitoring, and Dialysis. She loves nursing and the achievements she have been afforded. She has a Master’s degree in Nursing Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington as well as both CMSRN and NE-BC certifications. Her goal is to create a culture and environment where patients in our community want to come to receive care, and where nurses want to come to work. She has 3 grown children, 3 grandchildren, one dog, and one cat. She loves to read and enjoy the outdoors.
Pam Castellano Past President
Lea Keesee
Secretary
Sherice Matthews
Treasurer
Ross Padget
President-elect
Ross began his Nursing Career in 1987 as a graduate from Midland College-LVN program. Ross went into acute care case management, served in leadership roles, as well as served as founder and president of the West Texas Society of Case Managers, later affiliated with the Case Management Society of America. He serves on the advisory board of the American Academy of Case Management. He has worked in acute care, long term care, rehabilitation, workers compensation, behavioral health and consulted in case management. He currently serves as the Director of Revenue Cycle/Patient access with ORMC and SMMC. Ross continued his education at Grand Canyon University. Ross has 2 sons and one daughter, enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends.
Natalie Sandell
Natalie Sandell serves as the Associate Chief Nursing Officer of Nursing Administration at Medical Center Hospital. She manages multiple departments including the house supervisors, transfer center, flex pool, critical care, cardiopulmonary and care coordination. She has prior experience as a critical care nurse, house supervisor and nursing director and is completing certification as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. She enjoys spending her free time with her husband Chad while keeping up with their four children, Aubrey, Addyson, Cannon and Case, reading, traveling and watching her Red Raiders when she gets the chance.
Vacant
Treasurer-elect
Vacant
Ross Padget President-elect
Sonya Garcia
Sonya has been employed at Medical Center Health System for 23 years and currently serves as the Lead Care Coordinator in the Care Management Department.
She holds multiple nationally recognized case management certifications, including CMGT‑BC, ACM‑RN, and CCM.
She began her nursing career in 1989 after graduating from Sul Ross State University’s LVN program in Alpine, Texas. She later earned her ADN from Odessa College and her BSN from Grand Canyon University.
Her extensive nursing background spans Med‑Surgical Nursing, Surgical Services, Emergency Care, and Employee Health & Wellness.
She is committed to supporting her team and delivering compassionate care to every patient. In her role in Care Management, she helps strengthen care coordination, reduce barriers, and support interdepartmental collaboration and community partnerships that enhance patient outcomes and experience. She remains deeply passionate about advocating for underserved and marginalized populations.
Sonya enjoys sharing her love of plants with her coworkers and values the time she spends with her family. Above all, she takes the greatest pride in her two sons.
“A life not lived for others is not a life” Mother Teresa
Yvette Woody
Yvette has 34 years of nursing experience ranging from extensive quality and regulatory roles. Over the years she has included teaching and mentoring nurses in all specialties. Her biggest accomplishment is receiving the Healthcare leadership alumni Texas Tech Health Science Center in 2018 and Permian Basin Great 25 nurse 2022. Joining the rural setting has given her a new passion to create new challenges to give the very best quality care in a unique environment. Yvette earned her Bachelors in Nursing and Master’s in Nursing at Texas Tech Health Science Center. She maintains her Healthcare Accreditation Certification to keep her knowledge in quality current. Yvette has been married to Milton for 27 years and has 5 children. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with kids and grandkids.
Dr. Lori Forbus
Dr. Lori Forbus is the Recognition Program Manager at Midland Health, where she champions nursing excellence through accreditation support, professional governance, and meaningful recognition. She leads nationally recognized programs such as the DAISY and BEE Awards and collaborates with hospital leadership to strengthen engagement and outcomes reflected in national benchmarks.
With 25 years of nursing experience, Dr. Forbus is committed to supporting nurses across the Permian Basin through leadership, advocacy, and culture-building. Her work has contributed to Midland Health’s pursuit of Pathway to Excellence and Practice Transition Accreditation, reinforcing environments where nurses feel valued, supported, and connected.
Dr. Forbus serves as President of Texas Nurses Association District 21 and remains an active voice at the state and national levels. A 2025 Doctor of Nursing Practice graduate and 2025 Permian Basin Great 25 Nurse honoree, she is known for her collaborative spirit and belief that when nurses thrive, communities do too.
Kit Bredimus
Brandi McDonald
Julica Manning
Julica Manning serves as the Perioperative Educator at Midland Memorial Hospital, where she brings over five years of nursing experience and a deep passion for clinical education. She began her nursing career after earning her Associate Degree in Nursing from Midland College in 2020 and later completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Texas Tech University in 2022. A committed advocate for professional development, she is an active member of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), the Association of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN), and the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA). She is known for her creative and engaging approach to nursing education, always striving to inspire and empower others through innovative learning experiences. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures.
Sharon Cannon
Julica
Nancy Ornelas
Nancy is currently the Program and Project specialist at Midland Memorial Hospital. With over 30 years of diverse clinical experience spanning Labor & Delivery, NICU, Mother–Baby, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Surgical Scrub, Internal Medicine, Orthopedics, and Neuro Spine care. Based in Midland, Texas, Nancy is recognized for her leadership in workplace violence prevention, evidence‑based practice, and nursing advocacy.
Nancy is the first LVN to present at the Texas Nurses Association Annual Conference and will now serve on the TNA Board of Directors. She has advocated for LVN membership at the American Nurses Association Annual Conference, and has been an active advocate for nursing policy at both state and federal levels, in Austin and in Washington, D.C.
She is a trained de-escalation facilitator, a key contributor to workplace violence prevention initiatives funded through the Texas DSHS, and a coordinator for major LEAD educational programs at Midland Health. Nancy is also a Permian Basin Great 25 Nurse, Class of 2025, a Daisy Lifetime Achievement Award nominee, and a former Employee of the Year at Odessa Regional Medical Center.
Nancy has a published article in Nursing Made Incredibly Easy! and continues to promote evidence‑based practice as a member of TNA’s inaugural EBP Fellowship cohort. Expanding her professional expertise, she will earn her Associate of Applied Arts with a Concentration in Business in May 2026, adding administrative and organizational depth to her extensive clinical background.
Nancy enjoys spending time with her family and finds her greatest joy in being a mother to two daughters and a grandmother to two grandchildren—soon to be a great-grandmother. Her deep commitment to caring for others began early in life after witnessing her grandmother’s struggle with diabetes. That experience inspired her passion for nursing and shaped her belief that nursing is more than a calling; it is a natural expression of compassion, empathy, and respect for human life.
Melonye Huber
Brandi McDonald
Vacant
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Julica Manning