Mary Cleary has over 30 years of professional nursing experience having served: in leadership roles at St. Mary’s Hospital in West Palm Beach and at a major teaching hospital in New Jersey; as the founder and president of Cleary Medical-Legal Consulting Services, Inc.; President of the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities of the Palm Beach Diocese and, founding president of Interfaith Health & Wellness Association. Realizing a need for a collaborative community effort to support the many committed registered nurses working in faith based programs in Palm Beach County, she worked with community foundations to obtain initial funding for IHWA, chaired the Board of Director’s executive search committee to recruit a qualified executive director, and continues to provide leadership to IHWA as it develops into a successful support for faith-based nursing practice.

Dr.Touhy, in 2002, received the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing Faculty Award in Geriatric Nursing Education; has twice received the FAU-College of Nursing Distinguished Teaching Award; is an author of many articles and book chapters related to geriatric nursing; and, is a researcher who focuses on improving the care of people with Alzheimer’s disease, caring in nursing homes and spirituality of older adults and people at the end-of-life.   FAU Faculty link

Guia Brown is an independent Wealth Advisor with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., Chief Financial Officer of Worth Avenue Group, Inc., an accounting, tax and consulting services firm, and a tax professional who specializes in services to non-profit organizations.  Her offices are located at Worth Avenue, Palm Beach, and Bridge Road, Hobe Sound.  She is a member of the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach.

Mrs. Brown formerly was Tax Counsel to DiVosta & Co., Palm Beach Gardens, and founder of G.P Brown & Company, a Jupiter-based accounting and tax firm.  She is a graduate of the University of the Philippines and holds a BS in Business Administration with a major in accounting.  Guia resides in Hobe Sound, Florida.

William Adkins, retired physician, earned his undergraduate degree at Marshall University and his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati Medical School. Dr. Atkins internship and internal residency practice was at the University of Texas Medical Center and Tulane University respectfully. He is licensed to practice medicine in Florida and is a Diplomat in the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Adkins is a member of the: American Medical, Florida Medical, and, Southern Medical Associations; Palm Beach County Medical Society; and, American College of Physicians. With affiliations at Columbia, St. Mary’s and Good Samaritan Hospitals, Dr. Adkins practice in internal medicine spans over 40 years in the West Palm Beach, Florida area. Recently he is providing consulting and sub-investigative work for clinical study trials.

Dr. Adkins is also an active member at the First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach where he serves the Samaritan Gardens Community Health Center and their outreach ministry.

Abbi Bentz, BSN, CRRN

Abbi Bentz, a Connecticut native, graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Nursing. Since graduation, she has achieved certification in rehabilitation nursing and impressive employment credentials as: staff nurse; case manager; clinical supervisor; independent nurse consultant; and, currently as Director of Nursing for Matrix Home Care in Palm Beach County, Florida. She is very active in the Boca Raton community where she serves as a member of the Social Action Committee of Temple Beth El and as a Walk Committee volunteer for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Her experience as treasurer and program committee member for the Rehabilitation Nurses Association of Florida is most valuable to IHWA as it begins operations.

Dr. Thomas Bila arrived in Palm Beach in 2004 as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities.  He began his service as a board member to IHWA that same year.  His thirty year background includes administrative work and teaching in health systems, universities, schools and social service agencies.  His specialty and many of his authored works are on fund raising in the United States and the Fund Raising Professional.

Susan K. Chase, BSN, MA, EdD, APRN, BC

Susan Chase is Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Doctoral Studies at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Chase holds a Doctorate in Education from Harvard University, a MA in Nursing Education from New York University and a BS in Nursing from Columbia University. She is a Family Nurse Practitioner and has completed certificate programs as Parish Nurse and Parish Nurse Educator. She has many years of experience in nursing practice, education and research and has published on nursing presence, relationship centered care and the experience of illness.  FAU Faculty link

• Dr. Chase served as a Parish Nurse in a Lutheran congregation in Massachusetts and is currently a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach, Florida.

• Chase, S.K. (2004). Clinical judgment and communication in nurse practitioner practice. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.

Chase, S.K., & Youngkin, E.Q. (2004) Postmenopausal hormone replacement and cardiovascular disease: Incorporating research into practice. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing (JOGGN), 33, 648-656.

Whittemore, R., Chase, S.K., & Mandle, C.L. (2001). Validity in qualitative research. Qualitative Health Research, 11, 522-537.