Bio: Dr. Joan Vitello has over 30 years experience in hospital organizations ranging from a clinical staff nurse to System VP and Chief Nursing Officer. She is now an independent consultant specializing in leadership development, appreciative inquiry, positivity training, emotional intelligence skills building and service excellence. During her tenure in health care, Joan championed the value of collaboration and the need to build linkages with other disciplines outside nursing to ensure the overall excellence of patient care. She combined her clinical expertise with a background in organizational development. She consulted with the Boston Public Schools system in regards to curriculum development of their health careers academy and served as a consultant to several hospitals. Joan is studying positive emotions and how we as human beings can improve upon on our positive words, images and actions. She is proud of the fact that she wants to help young aspiring leaders to become more effective through self-reflection, coaching and feedback. Joan served as the 25th President of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the world’s largest nursing organization. She served on various healthcare and not-for-profit boards and was the President of the Visions of a Better World Foundation. Joan was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and as a Fellow of the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Nursing. Joan received her associate degree from Massasoit Community College, her BSN from the University of Massachusetts and her MSN from the University of Alabama in Birmingham in Cardiovascular/Critical Care. She received her M.A. in Organizational Development and her Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems from The Fielding Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, California. Her dissertation research explored the leadership practices and emotional intelligence of nursing leaders. An internationally recognized author, lecturer, researcher, Joan has received numerous awards and recognitions.