By Teresa Hicks
Four University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing faculty members have been selected for the National League for Nursing LEAD program and the Leadership Development for Simulation Educators program. These prestigious, one-year initiatives are designed to advance leadership capacity in nursing education through the NLN Leadership Institute.
Assistant Professor and Co-Director of BSN Pathway – Junior Year Sarah Gallups, PhD, MPH, RN (BSN 2010), Associate Professor and Vice Chair Department of Acute, Chronic and Continuing Care Bryan Wilbanks, PhD, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN (DNP 2012, PhD 2016), and Assistant Professor and Interim Director of the Nurse Anesthesia Pathway Amy Yerdon, DNP, CRNA, CNE, CHSE, FAANA (MNA 2011), have all been selected as part of the 2026 LEAD Cohort. Assistant Professor and Simulation Coordinator Jennifer Ledlow, PhD, RN, CCRN, CNL, CNE, CHSE (BSN 2014, MSN 2016, PhD 2024), will participate in the Leadership Development for Simulation Educators program.
Participants in the LEAD and Leadership Development for Simulation Educators programs are selected based on professional accomplishments, letters of recommendation, and demonstrated organizational responsibility. Through the LEAD program, nurses in education and practice strengthen their leadership skills by setting goals, examining leadership theory, receiving one-on-one coaching, completing a leadership project and strategically aligning their skills and experiences to meet individual and institutional benchmarks.
In the Leadership Development for Simulation Educators program, experienced simulation nurse educators focus on advancing simulation initiatives by maximizing their leadership potential. Participants engage in executive coaching, take part in monthly group meetings and retreats, and explore the expanding role of simulation in interprofessional education.
Sarah Gallups, PhD, MPH, RN (BSN 2010)
Gallups began her career at the School in 2020 as an Assistant Professor. She also is an Associate Scientist with the UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center and currently serves as BSN Co-Director for the junior level. She previously served as Co-Director of the BSN Honors Program from 2024 to 2025. Her academic and professional work reflects a strong commitment to advancing nursing education by preparing nursing students to care for vulnerable populations, promoting health equity and fostering psychologically safe learning environments. She also holds a Master’s in Public Health from the UAB School of Public Health.
Bryan Wilbanks, PhD, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN (DNP 2012, PhD 2016)
Since 2016, Wilbanks has been an Associate Professor in the School and also serves as Vice Chair for the Department of Acute, Chronic and Continuing Care and as Academic Integrity Officer for the School’s doctoral programs. He is a nurse anesthetist with over 22 years of clinical experience. His expertise is in human factors and usability of information technology, as well as improving perioperative anesthesia-related outcomes. In addition, he has served as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiologists Foundation since 2022.
Amy Yerdon, DNP, CRNA, CNE, CHSE, FAANA (MNA 2011)
Yerdon currently serves as Interim Director of the DNP Nurse Anesthesia Pathway, a role she assumed in May 2025. She joined the School as an Assistant Professor in 2021. Previously, Yerdon served as an adjunct instructor from 2018 to 2021 and as a Nurse Anesthesia Assistant Pathway Director from 2021 to 2025. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Practice Committee and will assume the role of Chair for 2026–2027. In addition, she was inducted as a Fellow of the AANA in 2025. Yerdon brings extensive experience providing anesthesia care in high-acuity Level I trauma centers, with expertise in quality improvement and clinical education.
Jennifer Ledlow PhD, RN, CCRN, CNL, CNE, CHSE (BSN 2014, MSN 2016, PhD 2024)
Ledlow joined the School as an Adjunct Clinical Instructor in 2016, becoming a full-time Instructor 2018 and an Assistant Professor in 2025. She currently serves as a Simulation Coordinator at the School and maintains a faculty practice as a Nurse Scientist with UAB Medicine. She brings more than 22 years of nursing experience across diverse clinical and professional settings, including medical-surgical care, hospice, critical care and nursing administration. Her extensive clinical background, combined with her expertise in simulation-based education, informs her commitment to advancing high-quality, evidence-based learning experiences for students and interprofessional teams.