Wisdom Dialogue Series

About the Wisdom Dialogue Series

The Wisdom Dialogue Series connects thought leaders with nurses and other stakeholders to explore career lessons and wisdom gleaned over time. Thought leaders are nursing influencers who have distinguished themselves in the profession through their exemplary leadership roles.

The goals of this project are to harvest the personal and professional wisdom of leaders and stimulate dialogue and insights among invited participants. At the program’s close, a summary of themes generated by the conversation will be shared with participants.

Thought Leaders

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Eleanor Sullivan

About Eleanor Sullivan

Eleanor J. Sullivan, PhD, RN, FAAN, is a previous associate dean in the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, the former dean of the University of Kansas School of Nursing, past president of Sigma Theta Tau International, and prior editor of the Journal of Professional Nursing. Dr. Sullivan is known for her publications in nursing, including the award-winning textbook, Effective Leadership Management in Nursing, and Becoming Influential: A Guide for nurses, both recently released in new editions. She has served on the board of directors of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, testified before the U.S. Senate, and served on a National Institutes of Health council. In addition, she is the author of three mysteries featuring nurses and an historical mystery featuring a 19th-century midwife set in the Ohio village of her ancestors. Dr. Sullivan earned nursing degrees from St. Louis Community College, Saint Louis University, and Southern Illinois University and holds a PhD from Saint Louis University.

Jos De Blok

About Jos de Blok

Named the most influential health care director in Holland in 2011, Jos de Blok has transformed home-based health care in Holland by focusing on what nurses should do, not how nurses should do it.

Jos has a long history in community nursing, both delivering care and in management positions. From 2000 to 2003 he played an active role in the National Association of District Nurses (LVW), spearheading a movement by community health nurses to take responsibility for their own professional development and to create a clearer vision for the role of nurses in primary care.

Established in 2007 with one team of four nurses, Buurtzorg currently supports more than 4,700 nurses in 440 teams serving more than 60,000 patients a year. In 2011 Buurtzorg was named the best employer in Holland.

Jeannine Rivet

As Executive Vice President of UnitedHealth Group, Jeannine Rivet, RN, MPH, FAAN, works with and on behalf of all business segments in areas focused on strategic business relationships, customer relations, social responsibility and nursing advancement.

For three consecutive years, 1998-2000, Jeannine was recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the fifty most powerful women in American business. In 1999 she was named by Minnesota’s City Business as one of the most influential women in business. She received a Boston University School of Public Health Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999 as well as a 2005 Boston University Alumni Award. In 2009, she was honored with the Career Achievement Award from the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal. In 2012, she received the Trailblazer Award from the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys and was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing. She has also been recognized by AAHP for her involvement in the evolution of managed care and her commitment to and participation on various boards and committees over the past 20+ years. She is a driving force in challenging the industry to enhance health and well being through information, collaboration and advancement of optimal healthcare.