Annual Election of Board of Directors
The APHON Election is open from Monday, July 27 to Friday, August 7, 2026.
Active and Emeritus APHON Members will be called to vote in APHON’s Annual Election.
APHON has a Leadership Development Committee charged with the creation of a ‘slate ballot’. This includes oversight for the call for candidates, vetting, interviewing, and the selection of one candidate for each available position that will be recommended to the APHON Board and to the membership.
Take a few moments to acquaint yourself with each candidate by watching their personal video recording and reading their candidate profile.
“The Leadership Development Committee of APHON is proud to have participated in the process of identifying a slate of candidates who are well-suited to serve on the Board of Directors for the 2026 election cycle. Each of the candidates has demonstrated their passion and commitment to the mission and vision of APHON and will bring unique experience, talents, and perspectives in their service to APHON.”
– Dyane Bunnell, DNP APRN AOCNS® CPON® NPD-BC
APHON Leadership Development Committee Chair 2025-2027 and APHON Immediate Past President
Candidate for President-Elect
(1 position for a 3-year term)
Mary Newman, DNP RN CPON® NEA-BC®
Mary serves as the Enterprise Senior Director of Nursing, Cancer and Blood Disorders, Lisa Dean Moseley Foundation Institute for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Nemours Children’s Health in Wilmington, DE. She has been an APHON member since 2005 and a member of the First State Chapter.
Candidate for Secretary
(1 position for a 3-year term)
Scarlett Czarnecki, MSN RN CPHON® FAPHON
Scarlett is the Director of Patient Care, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Service Line and Child Life Department at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital in Loma Linda, CA. She’s been an APHON member since 2001 and a member of the Southern California Chapter (SCAPHON).
Candidates for Director-at-Large
(2 positions for a 3-year term)
Ijeoma Julie Eche-Ugwu, PhD MPH FNP-BC AOCNP CPHON® TCTCN®
Ijeoma Julie is a Nurse Scientist at The Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She serves as the Associate Director of the Pediatric and Family Health Core, Precision Health Symptom Science Program at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She is also an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She’s been an APHON member since 2007 and is a member of the Boston Chapter.
Mylynda Livingston, MSN APRN CPNP-AC/PC CPON®
Mylynda is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at the Cancer and Blood Disorders Program, Leukemia/Lymphoma Specialty at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. She has been an APHON member since 2007 and is a member of the Metro Minnesota Chapter.
Timeline of Events
Call for Candidates Timeline
June/July 2026
APHON Elections are held, validated, and announced
September 2026
Newly elected candidates are invited to attend the APHON Board meeting to observe, held at the APHON Annual Conference in Memphis, TN.
Installation of the 2026-2027 APHON Board of Directors
Leadership Development Committee Member Selection Timeline
September 2026
LDC 2026-2027 term begins.
Have Questions about APHON’s Election Process?
In 2024, the Nominating Committee transitioned to serving as the Leadership Development Committee, a change instituted as part of the 2023 bylaws amendments. This reflects our commitment to fostering leadership and ensuring that our board is composed of individuals who are not only deeply committed to our mission but also bring a wealth of experience and insight to the table.
In 2027, there will be 3 board vacancies for the roles of Treasurer and two Directors-at-Large. If you would like to be considered as a candidate or nominate a candidate for a future open position on the APHON Board, please respond to the call for candidates that will take place in Q1 2027.
