In this episode of the Healthcare Plus Podcast, Quint Studer is joined by two visionary nurse leaders from Georgetown University: Dr. Roberta Waite, inaugural dean of the relaunched independent Berkley School of Nursing (BSON), and Dr. Stephan Davis, the inaugural executive director of leadership, policy, and doctor of nursing practice (DNP) education and an associate professor at the Berkley School of Nursing.

Together, they explore what the future of nursing looks like and why leadership built on humanity is the most powerful tool we have. Dean Waite and Dr. Davis discuss the qualities that define great nurse leaders today, from courage and compassion to vulnerability and clarity of purpose. They explain why passion for the profession matters, because when leaders love nursing out loud, they inspire others to do the same. They share how empathy remains essential even in the most complex clinical situations and why centering the full humanity of every patient is nonnegotiable.

Listeners will hear:

• Why the three Cs—courage, compassion, and clarity—are foundational to nurse leadership
• How empathy helps nurses provide care without judgment, even when behavior is challenging
• Why AI should be viewed as augmented intelligence: a tool that frees nurses to focus more on patients
• How technology and robotics can reduce administrative and physical burdens, making leadership roles more sustainable
• Why advocacy skills are becoming just as critical as clinical skills, and how nurses can use their voice to influence policy and protect vulnerable populations
• How nursing must shift from using technology to building it, ensuring nurses are shaping the tools that will shape care

This episode is a powerful reminder that while technology may transform how nursing is delivered, it will never replace the human connection that defines the profession. It’s a must-listen for any current or future nurse leader who wants to influence how care evolves and ensure compassion stays at the center of it all.

Roberta Waite, EdD, PMHCNS, RN, ANEF, FADLN, FAAN, is a nationally recognized nursing leader whose work centers on health equity, social justice, anti-Black racism, and mental health. As the inaugural dean of the relaunched Berkeley School of Nursing at Georgetown University, she provides academic and operational leadership across a full range of nursing programs, shaping the school’s mission and strategic vision. Her career integrates education, practice, research, and community partnership to advance innovative and transformative approaches in nursing.

Previously, Dr. Waite served as professor and associate dean at Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions, where she also led the Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services, a federally qualified health center. Her leadership in socially accountable education led to the creation of the Macy Leadership Program, focused on developing health professionals through a social justice framework. Dr. Waite has held numerous high-profile board and advisory roles, delivered national and international presentations, and authored more than 100 publications. A fellow of multiple national academies, she has been honored with major recognitions, including the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Black Nurses Association and the Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

Stephan Davis, DNP, MHSA, NEA-BC, CENP, FACHE, ANEF, FAAN, is an award-winning healthcare leader and educator and serves as the inaugural executive director of leadership, policy, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) education and associate professor at Georgetown University. Since returning to Georgetown in 2024, he has led strategic initiatives that have expanded the program’s reach, visibility, and effectiveness—resulting in nearly 150 percent enrollment growth. Key accomplishments include launching the Nurse Executives in Residence Program, adding seven of the nation’s foremost executive nursing leaders to the Georgetown Executive DNP faculty; and integrating the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Advocacy Academy into the Executive DNP curriculum.

Dr. Davis is a fellow and national faculty member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves on the faculty of AONL. He holds six other national fellowship designations, including fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and in December he will be inducted into the New York Academy of Medicine. Dr. Davis’s graduate education includes a DNP in healthcare leadership, systems, and policy from Yale; a post-graduate certificate in evidence-based teaching in the health professions from Johns Hopkins; and a Master of Science in health systems administration from Georgetown.