Executive Leadership
Board of Advisors
Chair, Kyle Salyers is a Co-founder and Managing Director of CHV Capital, Inc. (CHV), a wholly owned venture capital affiliate of Indiana's largest integrated delivery network, Indiana University Health. He is responsible for leading CHV’s investment in NeoChordd, Celleration, Noxilizer, MindFrame, NICO Corporation and MedVentive. Salyers started his career as the Economic Development Manager for Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, and was a member of the founding management team of the Indiana Technology Partnership, now TechPoint, and later served as the organization's Vice-President.
From 2001-2005, Salyers worked for Thomas P. Miller & Associates (TPMA) as the Senior Vice President for Economic Development & Business. In 2005, Indiana University engaged Salyers to develop the University’s first economic development strategy and serve as a Special Advisor to the President and Executive Director of Advancing Indiana. Salyers is a graduate of DePauw University with degrees in Economics and Sociology, has an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and completed Harvard University's Making Corporate Boards More Effective executive education program.
Carol S. Applegate, BSN, MSEd, JD, MSN
Carol Applegate is managing partner of Applegate & Harden, an elder care law firm founded in 2009 that provides legal expertise for seniors and their families. In addition, Applegate is a risk management consultant, certified family mediator and registered nurse. She has a deep background in the field of health care and served as director of nursing for hospitals and long-term care facilities. Applegate teaches medical law and ethics at several Indiana colleges and universities, and chairs the $16 million Impact IUPUI Campaign supporting the IU School of Nursing. She earned her BSN from IU School of Nursing, her Master of Science in Education from IU-PUI at Fort Wayne, her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing Michigan, and her Master of Science in Nursing Education from the University of Indianapolis here in Indianapolis. Applegate is a member of the Indiana Bar Association, Sigma Theta Tau International, the American Association of Nurse Attorneys, Rotary Club of Indianapolis and sits on the Board of Directors of CICO and also its Foundation.
Brenda L. Cleary, PhD, RN, FAAN
Brenda Cleary is currently consulting with Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society on ageing initiatives, including developing a Center for Nursing Excellence in Long Term Care and broader leadership initiatives in aging. From 2008-2011, she served as the inaugural director of the Center to Champion Nursing in America--a joint initiative of AARP, the AARP Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation—to address the growing nurse and nurse faculty shortage. Cleary is also an expert in healthcare workforce research and policy and for fourteen years prior to joining AARP, she held the position of Executive Director of the North Carolina Center for Nursing. Formerly, Cleary was Regional Dean and Professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing. Cleary received a BSN and MSN from Indiana University and a PhD in Nursing from The University of Texas at Austin and was recognized as a distinguished alumna by both schools of nursing.
Mark Douglas currently serves as the Director of Clinical Project Coordination for the Aetna Medicaid Business Unit. He leads the Aetna Medicaid national efforts for the Patient-Centered Medical Home, pay-for-performance and provider clinical profiling, and serves as the Deputy to the Aetna Medicaid Chief Medical Officer consulting on program development and health reform. Before joining Aetna, he worked as a health law attorney for Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman and before practicing law, Douglas worked as a family nurse practitioner for a local community clinic, Gennesaret Free Clinic. He began his nursing career working several years in the surgical intensive care unit at Indiana University Hospital. A two-time graduate of the IU School of Nursing, Douglas received his Bachelor’s degree in 1992, with his Master’s degree in 1999. He later completed his law degree at Indiana University-Indianapolis with a concentration in health law.
Linda Q. Everett, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Linda Everett is the Executive Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis, Indiana. Also she serves as associate dean for clinical affairs at the Indiana University School of Nursing. Previously, she was the long-time chief nursing officer at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. Everett earned her nursing diploma from Riverside White-Cross School of Nursing; a bachelor of science in nursing from Kent State University; and a master’s of science in nursing at Case Western, all Ohio schools. Her doctorate in nursing administration/nursing systems is from The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Everett began her career as a staff nurse in the operating room and the psychiatric/medical unit at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She later became an associate administrator of nursing at Sinai Hospital of Detroit and a director of nursing and vice president of patient services at Detroit Medical Center, Grace Hospital, in Michigan. Her move to the University of Iowa system in Iowa City carried with it teaching responsibilities in the College of Nursing.
Melissa A. Fitzpatrick, RN, MSN, FAAN
Melissa Fitzpatrick, Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer, Hill-Rom, has held a variety of nursing and healthcare leadership roles including Vice President of Critical Care and Cardiac Services at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Senior Associate Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nurse Executive at Duke University Medical Center. She joined Hill-Rom in 2007 as the first ever Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer. She provides domain expertise, thought leadership and clinical guidance to the teams at Hill-Rom as they work to achieve the vision of enhancing outcomes for patients and their caregivers. Fitzpatrick earned her BSN at Gwynedd-Mercy College and her MSN at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a nationally and internationally recognized consultant, speaker and author on clinical and leadership issues in healthcare, with many peer reviewed publications and book chapters to her credit.
Anita Harden is president and CEO, Interim Executives, LLP, and president emeritus of Community Hospital East. Harden was with Community Health Network for over 35 years and became president of Community Hospital East in April 2004 after serving as interim president for five months. Prior to her current role, Harden was vice president of behavioral health for Community Health Network. She is a nursing graduate of Indiana University, where she also received her master’s of nursing and master’s of business administration degrees. Prior to her post at Community Health Network, she taught at the Indiana University School of Nursing, where she currently holds an adjunct associate professorship appointment with the university. Harden is active in the Indianapolis community as a volunteer and board member for many nonprofit and community organizations, including Citizen’s Energy Group, Rotary Foundation, Christian Theological Seminary and the Indianapolis Zoological Society.
Betsy Kovacik is an account sales manager with Royal Philips Electronics, Medical Division for the last 15 years, has an extensive background in nursing. Kovacik previously worked at Indiana University (IU) Hospital in critical care nursing, was a Corporate Nurse Coordinator at Vital Incorporated, Cardiac Rehabilitation and a Clinical Nurse Specialist with Hewlett Packard Medical Division. She earned an associate degree in respiratory therapy from IU and worked for several years as a respiratory therapist at IU Hospital. In addition, Kovacik earned a BSN degree from IU. She worked a summer as a Nurse for Camp Riley, a specialized camp for physically and mentally challenged children, and participates as a team member and offers nursing assistance for IndySurviveOars--a floating, racing support group for Breast Cancer Survivors.
Barbara McElroy-Kunkler is a community activist, nurse, and former hospital administrator, received her GN from the IU School of Nursing in 1951. She was a charge nurse in emergency admitting and out-patient clinics as well as the first director in the United States for a new surgery intensive care unit. Kunkler has over 28 years experience in hospital administration in various directorship positions including patient referrals, admissions, utilization review, and physician relocation. She has been active in the Woodburn Guild Board, IU Alumni Association (IUAA) Insurance Committee, and was president of the IU Alumni Association. Kunkler retired in 1994 and spends her time with her husband, Arnold W. Kunkler, traveling between Indianapolis and Fort Myers, Florida, where she is active in the Gulf Coast Symphony Society and Fort Myers Hope Hospice Foundation.
Rick Markoff, retired Simon Youth Foundation executive vice president, serves as a visiting senior advisor in the IUPUI Office of the Chancellor. As a senior advisor, Markoff works primarily as the chancellor’s consultant for The Talent Alliance, a coalition of more than 30 community partners, including Butler University, Marian University, Franklin College, IUPUI, Ivy Tech, Martin University, the University of Indianapolis, and dozens of agencies and groups. Markoff provides ongoing leadership support for the initiative whose goal is to create an infrastructure so that every student in the Central Indiana is prepared to succeed academically – earning a high school diploma, enrolling in some form of postsecondary education, then graduating and entering a career. Markoff also serves as a visiting lecturer in the organizational leadership and supervision degree program in the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI. He earned his master’s of education degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University, and holds a doctorate from The University of Toledo.
Ronald L. May is the current Owner and President of BrightStar Healthcare of Indianapolis since 2007, a provider of home healthcare and medical staffing services. May is a healthcare industry professional in pharmaceutical, biotech product sales. His management experience includes being a recruiter, trainer and developer of high performing sales teams. He worked as a District Sales Manager, Pharmaceutical Sales (Indiana, Illinois, Missouri), Assistant to the Regional Sales Manager (Illinois) and Institutional Healthcare Sales Representative (Indiana), Powers Rx Division; was a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, Pratt Division; Account Manager for Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Division of Allied Signal Corporation and Purchasing Materials Analyst for Bendix. May is a Founding Committee Member of local African American Sales Professionals. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1979 from Purdue University, Krannert School of Management.
Amy Minick Peterson, former First Lady of Indianapolis, is currently, the owner of Down Home Up North, a home accessories and gift store operating in Mackinaw City, Michigan. She also owns Minick Peterson, LLC, a consulting firm with an emphasis on strategy, marketing and communications. She was formerly Managing Director of Copper Advertising, a full-service advertising firm. Former positions include serving as Director of Marketing Communications for Community Hospitals Indianapolis and in community relations at Catherine McAuley Health Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She developed the Immigrant Welcome Center which serves the basic needs of immigrants in the Indianapolis area and is President of its Board of Directors. Minick Peterson serves on the boards of the International Center of Indianapolis and the Immigrant Welcome Center and supports many other civic efforts. She received a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Nancy C. Sharts-Hopko, PhD, RN, FAAN
Nancy Sharts-Hopko is a Professor in the College of Nursing at Villanova University, and Director of the Doctoral Program. In the mid-1980s she lived most of three years in Asia, where she served as a short-term consultant for the World Health Organization in Bangladesh, and taught and conducted research in at St. Luke’s College of Nursing, Tokyo. Her master of arts degree in Nursing Education and doctoral degree were completed at New York University in 1983. With a background in maternal-infant and women’s health nursing, Sharts-Hopko served on the FDA’s Advisory Committee on Maternal Health and Fertility Drugs 1992-1995, and was a member of the FDA’s Advisory Committee on Obstetrical and Gynecological Devices from 1999-2003. Since its inception through 2011 she has served as a member and chair of the National League for Nursing Certification Commission. Sharts-Hopko served on the 2003-2007 Boards of Sigma Theta Tau International.
Mary Tempel has forty years of nursing experience with an emphasis on adult primary care and dermatology. Since 1997 she has served as a nurse practitioner at Dermatology, Inc. in Indianapolis. Previously she held positions as RN supervisor, RN surgical assistant, and RN charge nurse. Tempel received a diploma in nursing from Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing in Louisville, KY. In 1994 she completed the mobility program at the Indiana University School of Nursing and completed the Masters of Science in Nursing in 1997. She is a board certified adult nurse practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Mary is a member of the Dermatology Nurses Association, the Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses of Indiana, the American Nurses Association, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Since 2005, Mary has served on the Executive Board of Outrun the Sun, is also active on the Executive Advisory Committee and Women of the Rule of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, IN, as well as a steering committee member of the Colloquium for Women of Indiana University.
Jonathan West is Executive Vice President-Chief Operating Officer, Business Operations for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBI). West is responsible for the overall management of the products, including member credit, mortgage acquisitions, affordable housing and marketing/sales. He oversees FHLBI’s government outreach effort, legal, corporate communications, human resources, including its Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, and facilities. West came to FHLBI in 1985 from a general corporate practice with the Indianapolis law firm of White & Raub. West is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from Indiana University, double majoring in Political Science and Psychology, and also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Indiana University Graduate School of Business. His Doctorate of Jurisprudence is from the Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis. West was the IUSON Board of Advisors Chair from 2008-2011. Professional memberships include the American and Indiana Bar Associations.
Virginia A. Caine, MD
Virginia Caine is director of the Marion County Health Department and associate professor at Indiana University School of Medicine. Prior to her appointment at IU, she was assistant professor of medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She earned her MD from the State University of New York, Upstate Medical School, Syracuse, and took her residency in internal medicine at the University of Cincinnati. She then completed a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Washington in Seattle. Professional commitments include serving on numerous expert panels and chairing both the AIDS Section and the Infectious Disease Section of the National Medical Association. In 1999, she was selected by the Association as Internist of the Year.
Patricia Allen
Patricia Allen, President, IU School of Nursing Alumni Association Board is also a clinical assistant professor on the Bloomington campus. She received a MSN, NP, from Indiana University, Indianapolis in 1999 and a BSN, Indiana University, Indianapolis in 1995. Her research interests focus on Gerontology, Science of Teaching & Learning. Her nursing experience includes Adult NP 2005-present, Critical Care Nurse 1995-2005, Part-time Instructor Indiana University 1996 to May 1999, and Full-time Faculty Indiana University August 1999 to date. Allen’s professional affiliations are American Association of Critical Care Nurses, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Sigma Theta Tau - Alpha Chapter, and National League of Nursing.
