Kiara Whitney, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, AGACNP-BC, EBP-CH, is a Nurse Scientist at Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center. With 14 years of nursing experience, including a decade in advanced practice, she specializes in gynecologic oncology with a focus on improving outcomes for women with ovarian cancer. Her research emphasizes strengthening discharge readiness, reducing hospital readmissions and advancing nurse-driven innovation through interprofessional collaboration to enhance quality, safety and system efficiency across complex care environments.

Alexis Elizabeth Hayes, PhD, MSN-Ed, APRN, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, is a Nurse Scientist at Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center. She is also a family nurse practitioner. She enjoys mentoring nursing students and nurses through their journey in nursing practice and nursing science. Dr. Hayes has a continued interest in women’s health, BRCA mutations, breast cancer prophylaxis, racial disparities in breast cancer and its effects on psychosexual functioning. She is passionate about clinical practice advancement, nursing education and research.

Deltra Muoki, PhD, APRN, AGNP-C, CMSRN, CNE, NE-BC, CPHQ, is a Nurse Scientist at Houston Methodist Sugar Land. She is a PhD-prepared nursing scholar and adult geriatric primary care nurse practitioner with over 15 years of nursing experience. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Prairie View A&M University. She received her Master of Science and PhD in Nursing Science from Texas Woman’s University. Dr. Muoki’s nursing career started as a certified nursing assistant in a community-based facility. Her first job as a registered nurse was at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. She has since served as a charge nurse, nurse practitioner, faculty and undergraduate nursing program director. Dr. Muoki’s research interests include healthcare disparities, patient outcomes and innovative pedagogies in nursing education.

Catherine Mbango, PhD, MBA, MSN, RN, OCN is a Nurse Scientist at Houston Methodist Clear Lake. She is a researcher, nurse scientist and educator whose work advances health equity in cancer care. With over two decades of experience spanning clinical practice, executive nursing leadership and academia, she has integrated research, education and systems leadership to improve outcomes for individuals with cancer and other serious illnesses. Dr. Mbango began her nursing career at MD Anderson Cancer Center, specializing in stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy, CAR-T cell therapy and later served in senior nursing leadership roles overseeing inpatient and ambulatory oncology services. Her research focuses on cancer care, health disparities, pain management inequities and palliative care. She has published and presented nationally and internationally and is a 2026 PRISM Fellow at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Dr. Mbango also serves as a Fulbright Specialist and a board director at the Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS) and Houston Chapter Oncology Nursing Society (HCONS). Her scholarship reflects a sustained commitment to advancing nursing science, strengthening global partnerships and improving quality of life for vulnerable populations.

Pinky Shani, PhD, MSN, RN, NE-BC, is a Nurse Scientist at Houston Methodist West. She is a PhD-prepared Nursing Scholar with over 16 years of nursing clinical, research and education experience. Her research focuses on the multidisciplinary evaluation of integrative medicine, particularly mind-body exercise interventions, to improve quality of life and reduce symptoms such as sleep disturbances among cancer survivors and caregivers. As a Nurse Scientist at Houston Methodist West Hospital, she oversees over 100 projects advancing patient care through research, evidence-based practice and quality improvement. With more than 15 years of experience developing and implementing mind-body interventions, Dr. Shani completed the first Integrative Therapies Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she specialized in research methodology in Nursing. Dr. Shani has authored over 29 publications in oncology and caregiver research, presented internationally and collaborated with the Belize Cancer Society to implement survivorship programs for underserved populations.

Teresa Kathleen Sparks, PhD, JD, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, is a Nurse Scientist at Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center. She is a dedicated academic and registered nurse committed to advancing positive health outcomes through research. With over 20 years of experience in academia and nearly a decade as a practicing registered nurse, she brings a practical perspective to nursing science. Her diverse nursing background includes medical-surgical nursing, labor and delivery, occupational health, community/public health and health facility regulation. Teresa's research interests include medical errors, healthcare legislation and health policy, with an expertise in qualitative research methods. She is dedicated to mentoring others on how to conceptualize, design and operationalize research in real-world settings.

Joanne D. Muyco, DNP, RN, NE-BC, NPD-BC, CNOR, is a Nurse Scientist at Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center. She has been a nurse for over 13 years, with a clinical background in perioperative nursing and nursing leadership. Her research interests include changes in patient conditions and patient outcomes within the perioperative setting, diversity/equity/inclusion in perioperative practice, nursing professional development and nursing leadership. Outside of work, Dr. Muyco is an active member of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and sits on several national committees, including the AORN National Nominating Committee and the DEI Nursing Committee. She is also on the AORN Journal Editorial Board and has active leadership roles in AORN’s Nurse Scientist Specialty Assembly and Clinical Nurse Educator Specialty Assembly. When not at work, Dr. Muyco loves to spend time with her husband and three daughters.