As we celebrate Nurses Month, we at USAHS wanted to get a sense of what a typical workday is like for a nurse manager. We asked alum Ahnnya Slaughter, DNP, to tell us all about a day in her life. Dr. Slaughter graduated in 2021 from USAHS’ Doctor of Nursing Practice program, the Nurse Executive role specialty.
Coming from a military family, she began working at a VA hospital in the Los Angeles area 30 years ago as a critical care RN. “Veterans deserve the best care,” she says. “My calling wasn’t to be in the military. This is my way of being able to serve the country.”
Over the years, she worked her way up, through positions such as informatics specialist, deputy nurse executive, and director of clinical staff development. She began Read more
OTD, University of Southern California
MA in Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California
BS in Human Development, University of California Davis
Research Interests
Chronic pain management
Occupational Science
BACKGROUND
Dr. Susan MacDermott has more than 15 years of experience as a practicing therapist and educator. In addition to her role as a core faculty member and Doctoral Coordinator in the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program, she currently serves as an occupational therapist at Lasting Recovery, a substance abuse and recovery program in San Diego.
Prior to joining the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, she was an adjunct professor of clinical occupational therapy for the University of Southern California. Dr. MacDermott also has a range of professional experience, including as the occupational therapy director for Mariposa Women and Family Center in Orange, California, a senior occupational therapist for Community Mental Health Centre and St. Loman’s Hospital Mullingar in Ireland.
Dr. MacDermott has presented on occupational approaches in addiction and chronic pain and headache management at conferences and organizations. Dr. MacDermott serves on the board of Occupational Therapy Association of California as the Region 1 Director.
