Making the case for “so what” outcomes in EBP for real-world impact and ROI

Dr. Bernadette Melnyk is a nationally recognized leader, speaker, author, and innovator in evidence-based practice, mental health, and organizational culture change, with over 600 publications and more than $36 million in sponsored research funding from NIH, AHRQ, and major foundations. She is the founder of COPE2Thrive and EBP Solutions, and served as Chief Wellness Officer and Vice President for Health Promotion at The Ohio State University, where she also held professorships in nursing, pediatrics, and psychiatry. Dr. Melnyk is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Nursing — recognized three times as an Edge Runner — as well as the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academies of Practice, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She has edited 10 books, developed the widely adopted COPE program for mental health, and continues to shape national health policy through leadership roles, including chairing the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention and serving as editor-in-chief of Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing.

Dr. Lynn Gallagher-Ford is a nationally recognized expert in evidence-based practice (EBP), with a career dedicated to advancing EBP through research, education, and consultation in both academic and clinical settings. With over 30 years of experience in maternal-child health and nursing administration, she has held roles from bedside clinician to chief nursing officer, and most recently served as chief operating officer and clinical core director of the Helene Fuld National Institute for EBP at The Ohio State University. Dr. Gallagher-Ford is a sought-after keynote speaker and consultant, co-editor of Implementing the EBP Competencies in Healthcare, and a contributor to influential publications including the award-winning American Journal of Nursing EBP Series. Her research focuses on the science of EBP, particularly the role of nurse leaders and contextual factors in its implementation. She serves as assistant editor of Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing and editor of its column on sustaining EBP in real-world settings. She was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow into the National Academies of Practice and the American Academy of Nursing.

David Troy is the National Business Development Manager and Key Opinion Leader for Ovid Synthesis at Wolters Kluwer Health. With over 25 years of experience in sales, editorial, and business development across medical and academic research sectors, David partners with pharmacy, nursing, and medical education institutions to deliver innovative solutions that enhance healthcare outcomes, patient care, and ROI. David was a recipient of the 2022 Wolters Kluwer Global Innovation Award for the award-winning Ovid Synthesis platform. Passionate about advancing residency, magnet, and research programs, David leverages deep market expertise to deliver impactful, technology-driven results.

Rachel Dicker is a Product Management Associate at Wolters Kluwer, Health Learning, Research & Practice. She is responsible for creating and implementing product strategies, innovation, and market outreach for new clinical research and information solutions. Her current focus is supporting academic and clinical leadership to teach, adopt, implement and disseminate best practices to improve quality, safety, investments, and patient outcomes. She received the 2021 Health Learning, Research & Practice High Performance Recognition Award and the 2021 Wolters Kluwer Global Innovation Award..