Board of Directors

Hi I am Heather Przybyl. I have been in the critical care setting for almost 30 years. Originally from Chicago, IL, I worked at Loyola University Medical Center for 12 years in the Trauma/Surgical ICU (TSICU). After arriving in Arizona, I worked at Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix (BUMCP) again in the TSICU. Shortly after arriving in AZ, I obtained my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a focus on education from Grand Canyon University in 2010 and began pursuing a position in the clinical education department working in the Medical Surgical ICU (MSICU). I graduated with my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a focus on Healthcare Informatics from Loyola University Chicago in 2013, and finally obtained my Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) certification also from Loyola University Chicago in 2023.   Currently, I work as a RN Certified Specialist for the Critical Care area at BUMCP. This position involves process improvement, education, and quality improvement projects. I am also a member of the Speakers Bureau for Baxter/Gambro & Smith & Nephew. I have held my critical care certification (CCRN) since 2007 and am an adjunct faculty at Arizona State University. 

I am a newly elected member of the Chapter Advisor Team (CAT) for the national AACN & cover an out of state region.  

On a personal note, I am an avid CHICAGO Bears & Cubs fan. I have been married for 25 years to my high school sweetheart, Ron Przybyl and have 3 dogs- Peanut, Wrigley & Bagheera

I started my nursing career in a Neuro-Surgical Step-down down unit and quickly transitioned to a Neuro-Surgical ICU at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. After 4 years in the ICU, we made the move back to Arizona where I have served as the Associate Director in the Trauma Surgical ICU at Banner University Medical center in Phoenix for the last 3 years.

Serving on the board will provide valuable networking opportunities and allow me to connect with other passionate professionals in the nursing community. This network can offer support, mentorship, and collaboration that will allow me to not only challenge myself but find opportunities for growth in my nursing career. I am looking to actively contribute and make a tangible difference in the lives of nurses and the quality of healthcare delivery in the Phoenix community. Being on the board would enable me to stay updated on the latest trends, challenges, and innovations within the nursing profession. This knowledge not only enhances my own expertise but also empowers me to be a more effective advocate for nurses and patients alike. By leveraging my skills, experience, and passion, I can contribute to positive change and help shape the future of nursing.

I’m Danielle Coates and I am the treasurer. A little background on me: I have been a nurse for 6 years. I was a part of the first CEP Cohort with ASU and Mesa Community College. While in nursing school I volunteered at Maricopa Integrated Health Systems (MIHS) with the hopes of getting a foot in the door. I was fortunate enough to be hired by this wonderful organization and start the New Grad Program on their Telemetry/Step Down Unit. I loved the fast pace, the diverse patients, and the excitement of the Step-Down unit. The group of RNs and PCTs on this unit became my family. We shared in each other’s joys and comforted each other during our struggles. I feel incredibly lucky to have begun where I did. Just as I was beginning my nursing journey, I also became a new mother. November 2015, I welcomed my daughter and 2 years later in 2017 I was blessed with my son. In 2019, I decided it was time for a change and transitioned into the Medical ICU with the Critical Care Nurse Residency Program.

When I was a young girl, stories of Mother Teresa always inspired me. Nursing has offered me a path to help those in need. It especially rings true with the community our hospital serves. I’m not certain where my nursing journey will take me quite yet, but I know I am ready and excited for the adventure.

Hello! My name is Tracy Thomas, and I am the Secretary for the chapter. I have been a nurse for 19 years, mainly focused on critical care. I started my journey into critical care nursing as an extern in the emergency department (VA Medical Center) and then transitioned as a new graduate nurse into critical care (Medical ICU at St. Joseph’s), and then gained experience in several specialties of critical care: medical, surgical, transplant, post anesthesia, trauma, and neurotrauma.  I obtained my BSN in 2005 from Arizona State University, and then later obtained my MSN as a Clinical Nurse Specialist from Grand Canyon University in 2011. I have been a CCRN since 2008, TCRN since 2016, and a board-certified Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist since 2013. I am a practicing Clinical Nurse Specialist at Mayo Clinic for our Critical Care and in-patient Pulmonary Services. I also serve as a member of the Chapter Advisor Team (CAT) for the national AACN and am a member of the Scope of Practice Committee for the Arizona State Board of Nursing.

Outside of work, I enjoy time with my family – my husband of 17 years, our 7-year-old human and 3 canine children. I enjoy being active in our AACN chapter, gaining knowledge and colleagues from around the state.

Hello! I am Jennifer Caston and I have been a critical care nurse since graduating in 2018. I received my RN through Gateway Community College and I’m currently finishing my BSN through ASU. I spent my first two years in Neuro ICU then transitioned to the Medical ICU at BUMCP.  I love working in critical care and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Outside of work I spend time with my wife, kids and our many pets. We travel as often as we can to explore new cultures and places. I love to scuba dive and have been diving in Hawaii along with Belize. We spend as much family time as we can at the Salt River and at Lake Pleasant kayaking and paddle boarding.

My name is Heather Bauer, and I have been an ICU nurse for 9.5 years. I work in a multidisciplinary ICU mainly with open heart and ECMO patients at Mayo Clinic. I have been an active member in my unit as the chair of our unit-based committee and am a current member of our magnet redesignation team and culture of safety workgroup. I am also a mentor for the Capstone students for our Transition to Practice program. I have a passion for increasing morale in bedside nursing and preventing burnout to not only reduce nursing turnover but also help improve patient outcomes.

I would like to become a board member of the GPAC to help promote our profession and advocate for bedside nurses and patients at a greater level. I think helping to bring members together to not only support each other, but also our practice, is vital to improving morale in the stressful environments we work in. Being on the board to promote events and bring awareness to AACN is something that I can do to give back to the critical care nursing community that I have been a part of for so many years.