2026 Nurses of Influence Awardees

Nancy Colobong Smith (MN, ARNP, ANP-BC, CNN, FANNA), Clinical Nurse Specialist, University of Washington Medical Center 

Nancy has over 30 years of experience as a nephrology nurse in multiple roles from direct care to leadership. She earned her master’s in nursing from the University of Washington with dual focus as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Practice Specialist. Currently, Nancy is a Clinical Nurse Specialist for inpatient nephrology, dialysis & transplant at the University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC). She was the lead RN in the first FDA trial in the United States of the Wearable Artificial Kidney. She is an active member in the UWMC Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Committee, is an EDI Peer Trainer, and member of UW Medicine Bias Incident Report Committee. She is passionate about education, mentoring, and creating resources and systems that support individuals in optimizing their health. Nancy has served on regional and national boards including American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) Board of Directors, Nephrology Nursing Journal Editorial Board, and the Nursing Organizations Alliance. Nancy was honored to serve as the 55th National President of ANNA, and the first Asian American to do so. Some highlights during 

her term were ANNA launched the DAISY Award for Nephrology Nurses Advancing Health Equity, established The Fellow of the American Nephrology Nurses Association (FANNA) distinction, and partnered with award winning director Carolyn Jones on creating a documentary “I Want to Live: The Impact of Nephrology Nurses” to increase public awareness of individuals living with kidney disease and those who care for them. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, exploring National Parks with her spouse & 2 adult children, spending time with her large extended Filipino & Irish family, and reading or crafting while cuddling with her dog.

Christine McCarthy (MN, RN, NPD-BC), Professional Development & Nursing Excellence, Harborview Medical Center

Christine graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation Psychology and worked with adults with developmental disabilities for 10 years before deciding to go to nursing school. She then moved to Seattle and graduated from Shoreline Nursing School in 2007. Her nursing career started at Harborview Medical Center where her work and her heart still live, 19 years later. She then completed both her BSN and MN through the University of Washington and loved both of these programs. Christine is currently working as an Acute Care Clinical Nurse Educator and is a fierce advocate for acute care nurses and the specialty work they do with the mission population.

John Marrin (ARNP), Provider Lead for HIV Prevention Services, International Community Health Services 

John Marrin is an advanced practice provider based at the ICHS Bellevue Medical Clinic. Originally from Kansas City, he was inspired to become a healthcare provider after working as a case manager for migrant farmworker families. He received his doctor of nursing practice (DNP) at the University of Washington and completed an advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) residency at SeaMar Community Health Center in Seattle. In addition to seeing patients at the ICHS Bellevue Clinic, he is also the provider lead for HIV prevention services at ICHS.

Karla Ballew (DNP, ARNP, FAACM), CEO of Novari Primary Care, Primary Care DNP 

Dr. Karla Ballew, DNP, ARNP, AGNP-C, FAACM, is a nurse practitioner, healthcare leader, and advocate committed to bringing compassionate, high-quality care to older adults and medically complex patients throughout Washington State.

Her journey in healthcare began as a nursing assistant, where she learned that meaningful care is grounded in presence, humility, and service. She later became a registered nurse and an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner. Throughout every stage of her career, Dr. Ballew has remained guided by the belief that every patient deserves to be seen, heard, and treated with dignity.

In 2018, Dr. Ballew founded Novari Primary Care to meet the growing need for accessible, thoughtful home-based medical care. What began as a solo practice has grown into a nurse practitioner-led organization now 19 providers strong, serving patients in private homes, adult family homes, assisted-living communities, and other settings where dependable care can be difficult to access.

Under Dr. Ballew’s leadership, Novari has pursued a model in which quality, not volume, remains central. The practice’s strong patient-health outcomes and reduced reliance on avoidable emergency-department visits and hospitalizations led to invitations to participate in value-based care arrangements. Novari also integrates psychiatric mental-health services with home-based primary care, helping patients access more complete, coordinated care in the places they call home.

A member of the American Academy of Home Care Medicine for three consecutive years, Novari has contributed to conversations with healthcare leaders and policymakers about sustainable models for high-quality home-based care. Dr. Ballew is passionate about advancing nurse practitioners as clinical leaders and cultivating a practice culture rooted in cultural awareness, diversity, humility, and genuine human connection. She has invested in mentoring clinicians, strengthening care standards, and building a team united by a shared calling to make a lasting difference in patients’ lives.

Dr. Ballew accepts the University of Washington School of Nursing’s 2026 Distinguished Practitioner Award with deep gratitude and humility. To her, this recognition reflects the trust of the patients and families Novari serves, the faithful work of her colleagues, and the enduring impact of nurses who lead with skill, courage, compassion, and love.

Mayumi Willgerodt (PhD, MPH, RN, FNASN, FAAN), University of Washington 

Dr. Willgerodt is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in The Graduate School at the University of Washington and the Mary S. Tschudin Endowed Professor in Nursing Education within the Department of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing at the University of Washington. Her career is devoted to enhancing the health and educational outcomes of marginalized and vulnerable children and youth through advancements in school health policy, research, practice, and workforce capacity building.  

Her research and scholarly interests focus on school health, school nursing, and interprofessional education and collaborative practice. Dr. Willgerodt is committed to improving health equity and outcomes for youth, especially those from vulnerable and minority populations. She is the founder and co-advisor of the Center for School Health Innovation and Quality and served as the founding associate editor of the Journal of Interprofessional Education and Practice. In November 2022, she co-chaired the workshop “Sharing and Exchanging Ideas and Global Experiences on Community-Engaged Approaches to Oral Health,” hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). In 2024, Dr. Willgerodt was selected by NASEM to serve on a committee of experts to conduct a consensus study on the learning and development of low-income youth in out-of-school time (OST) settings across the K-12 age span. 

Her landmark 2018 study of the school nursing workforce was the first nationally representative analysis, demonstrating the essential role of school nurses in strengthening community care systems. The study was cited by the Congressional Research Service to highlight the importance of school nursing in reducing health and educational disparities. 

The second National School Nurse Workforce Study   builds upon this work, with significant findings expected to shape school health policy. Her research in Washington State focuses on models of school health service delivery, emphasizing the role of school communities and nurses in providing equitable healthcare and improving academic outcomes. This work aims to further elucidate the needs and development of the school health workforce. For more information, see the Landscape Assessment of School Health Services in Washington.  As education and public health systems face growing challenges, this research provides critical evidence to help schools prioritize integrated health and academic interventions so all students can reach their full potential.

Joycelyn Thomas (FNP, NP, ARNP), Associate Teaching Professor, FNP Specialty Director, Director of Manning Price Spratlen Center for Anti-Racism and Equity in Nursing, University of Washington School of Nursing

Dr. Joycelyn R. Thomas, DNP, MN, FNP-BC, is an Associate Teaching Professor and Family Nurse Practitioner Specialty Director at the University of Washington School of Nursing. She is also Director of the Manning Price Spratlen Center for Antiracism and Equity in Nursing (MPS CARES), where she advances equity, cultural humility, and antiracist approaches in nursing education, research, and practice. Throughout her career as a clinician, educator, and leader, Dr. Thomas has championed culturally responsive care, community engagement, and meaningful partnerships with historically underserved communities. Her work focuses on improving communication, fostering trust in healthcare relationships, and preparing future nurses to provide compassionate, equitable care across diverse cultures and lived experiences. In recognition of her contributions to nursing, education, and community service, she has received numerous honors, including the University of Washington School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award and the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award.

Joanne Montgomery, BSN 

Joanne Montgomery is a 1977 graduate of University of Washington School of Nursing. She enjoyed a full career specializing in Medical/Surgical Intensive Care, Emergency Room and Recovery Room Bedside Nursing. 

After retirement, she was reunited with the UW School of Nursing. In 2002, former Dean Nancy Woods asked her to join the School of Nursing Advisory Board, which she served until 2021. In 2010, she joined the UW Foundation Board as Nursing School Unit Director and would eventually move on to being an Emeritus Director in Fall 2021. In addition, she has been a member of ARCS (Achievement Awards to College Scientists) for over two decades. She spearheaded efforts for approval for the School of Nursing to be eligible for Graduate level ARCS Fellowships. With her husband, Bruce Montgomery, they have donated two ARCS endowments and led others to create three more endowments. 

Joanne has spearheaded many other initiatives as a School of Nursing Advisory Board Member. She created and initially funded the Nursing Dawg Tank event (formerly Nursing Shark Tank) to promote and showcase nursing science innovation. She co-chaired the UW “Be Boundless” Campaign for the School of Nursing, raising over 40 million dollars. She also co-initiated the Magnusson Health Sciences courtyard beautification project. She avidly supported the stewardship of the UW School of Nursing’s Nurse Camp to inspire high school students to become future nurses. Not to mention, she has also recruited new board members through her alumni and friends outreach.