Hayley joined Hartford HealthCare’s Cancer Clinical Research Office as a Clinical Research Nurse/ Scientist in fall of 2022. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Connecticut School of Nursing in 2014 and started working at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in inpatient oncology. She then moved to the outpatient cancer center, working in both infusion and radiation oncology. She obtained her PhD from the University of Connecticut School of Nursing in spring of 2022.

Hayley is a member of American Nurses Association (ANA), Connecticut Nurses Association (CNA), Sigma Theta Tau, and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). She is a director-at-large for the local Central Connecticut chapter of ONS. She is currently the treasurer for the CNA. She holds two certifications: Med-Surg Nursing and Oncology Nursing.

She has received several awards, including the Nightingale Award for Nursing Excellence and the Emerging Chapter Leader Award from ONS. She has multiple peer-reviewed publications and national presentations and has research collaborations across numerous cancer institutes. Her research interests include interprofessional and mobile health approaches to symptom management across the cancer care trajectory.

Hayley is committed to improving healthcare delivery, particularly cancer care delivery, for CT residents and beyond. She looks forward to advocating for CT nurses and their patients through the CT Nurses Association.​​​​​​

I am a nurse educator and healthcare professional committed to advancing nursing education, leadership, and advocacy. I currently serves as nursing faculty currently pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in Education Leadership at Post University. With experience in both clinical practice and nursing education, she is passionate about advocacy, fiscal responsibility, and strengthening the nursing profession through collaborative leadership. I am dedicated to supporting nurses, promoting professional growth, and will contribute to the mission of the Connecticut Nurses Association through collaborative and responsible leadership.

​

​​​​​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​​​

Kaitlin “Katie” Cuas, MSN, RN, ACM‑RN, GERO‑BC, CDP, is a proud nurse of nearly two decades with experience spanning geriatrics, transitions of care, cardiac critical care, leadership, and health policy. She currently serves as a Medical Oncology Case Coordinator at Hartford Hospital, assessing patients for appropriate levels of care and coordinating services across the continuum. Katie is deeply committed to advocacy, public health, and advancing both patient outcomes and the nursing profession.

Her career includes roles as a Patient‑Centered Medical Home Practice Manager, Assisted Living Resident Care Director, Transitional Care Nurse, and acute care nurse, giving her broad operational insight and a strong foundation in resource stewardship.

Katie brings extensive governance experience to her candidacy for Treasurer. She has served the Connecticut Nurses Association as Secretary, and on the Government Relations, Nominations and Elections, and Finance Committees. Nationally, she has contributed through the American Nurses Association’s Nominations and Elections Committee and as Connecticut’s representative to the American Nurse Advocacy Institute.

Katie earned her BSN from Saint Anselm College and MSN from the University of Hartford. She has been honored with multiple awards which include the Connecticut General Assembly Citation and University of Hartford Regent Honor Award recognizing her advocacy and community impact. Outside of work, she enjoys creating memories with her family, especially her two boys, through beach days, walks, and travel.​​​

Dr. Peter M. Donato is Vice President of Clinical Services at Apple Rehab, overseeing clinical operations across 20 skilled nursing facilities in Connecticut and Rhode Island. He leads all aspects of nursing administration, regulatory compliance, and interdisciplinary coordination, driving measurable improvements in quality and leadership development. Dr. Donato pioneered the integration of substance use disorder and medication for opioid use disorder programs into the long‑term care setting, securing regulatory approvals, creating safe care transitions, and reducing stigma among staff and residents. He launched Apple Core Learning & Competency Days, a company‑wide skills initiative standardizing training for RNs, LPNs, and CNAs, and designed a formal Director of Nursing orientation and leadership development track to strengthen recruitment, retention, and performance of clinical leaders. Dr. Donato’s system‑wide QAPI redesign and corrective‑action framework have enhanced survey outcomes and interdisciplinary accountability. His career reflects innovation, empowerment of nurses, measurable quality outcomes, and advancement of nursing administration in complex care settings.

​

​

​​

​

​

​

​

Roseann Sillasen is a Public Health Nurse/Case Investigator for the Middletown Health Department. Her combined 25+ years in bedside nursing and construction management provided resources to monitor and improve the health of people and their communities. She started nursing school as an adult, while working full time where she formed collaborative relationships with the Connecticut Nurses Association. She was a past president of the Connecticut Student Nurses Association.

The Nominations Committee is responsible for developing members in organizational leadership roles and organizational positions across the span of their careers. Roseann is an advocate for promoting professional membership. She understands the depth, breadth and diversity of our profession and the ongoing need to cultivate relationships with students as they enter the nursing profession. She supports new members and new leadership to be successful in their CNA positions.

Roseann also gives back as a volunteer for DonateLife Connecticut and is an AARP volunteer and mentor. Roseann has served on ANA’s Committee on Honorary Awards Subcommittee, currently serves on the CNA Finance Committee and is Practice Chair for the CT Association of Public Health Nursing. Her heart lies in Public Health Nursing and advocacy, where she passionately works to make a difference in her community. With a BSN in Nursing, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, a Tobacco Treatment Specialist and recently became Certified in Disease intervention. She truly embodies the spirit of lifelong learning.

As a proud mother of three and grandmother of six, spending time with her family is what she cherishes most. When she’s not nurturing her loved ones, you can find her dabbling in art—whether it’s watercolors, acrylics, pencil sketches, or pastels or tending to her raised garden bed.