ALISON T. FORSYTHE
Litchfield Park,AZ
Summary
I am an experienced nursing professional with 30 years of clinical expertise, leadership skills, and technical knowledge. I am detail-oriented and compassionate, with extensive expertise in various subjects, including medical-surgical and oncology nursing.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Nursing Services
Grand Canyon University
Sun City, AZ
04.2024 - 12.2024
- Accountable for providing leadership and management for fifteen faculty and staff of the hybrid accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) learning site, in collaboration with the university and healthcare partners.
- Plan, develop and implement a strategy for operational management and develop clinical, lab, and simulation activities to meet the organization's and university partners' goals and outcomes.
- Secure and manage equipment and supplies to ensure the implementation of all clinical, lab, and simulation activities.
Instructor
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ
11.2022 - 04.2024
- Instruct Adult Health Nursing I and Transition to Practice courses to undergraduate BSN students.
- Present courses to BSN undergraduate students and create lesson plans, tests, and assignments to ascertain how well students retained class material.
- Met with assigned students individually or in small groups to provide intentional, structured organizational support and mentorship.
Commander
86 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
Ramstein Air Base, Germany
07.2019 - 04.2022
- Led 105 personnel and five specialty units, supporting 104 countries for aeromedical evacuation of patients throughout Europe and Africa.
- Stewarded a 444 thousand dollar budget and 3.8 million dollars in medical equipment, ensuring mission-ready flight nurses and aeromedical technicians within the unit.
Chief Nurse Executive
56 Medical Group
Luke Air Force Base, AZ
07.2017 - 07.2019
- Oversaw ten staff members, 12 programs, a 1 million dollar simulation center, a 3 million dollar budget, provided education and training for 500 medical ground personnel, and Nurse Transition Program course curriculum.
- Enforced nursing practice for 160 Nurses Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and License Practical Nurses for ten clinical areas and ensured compliance with the Department of Defense, Air Force Medical Services, and The Joint Commission.
Commander
375 Surgical Operations Squadron
Yokota Air Base, Japan
06.2015 - 07.2017
- Led 91 personnel and supported four operating rooms, five specialty clinics, and a medical-surgical/obstetric Unit.
- Executed a 940 thousand dollar budget for 11 thousand beneficiaries supporting 15 thousand visits per year and 200 infant deliveries.
Chief Nurse Executive
61 Medical Squadron
Los Angeles, CA
06.2013 - 06.2015
- Led three elements and 45 staff members for four medical services, including Family Health, Mental Health, Pediatrics, Physical therapy, and Education and Training.
- Chief consultant to the Medical Squadron Commander on nursing and medical technician issues; ensures squadron staff is competent and qualified to provide patient care.
Deputy Chief
Aeromedical Evacuation Operations, Air Mobility Command
Scott Air Force Base, IL
08.2012 - 06.2013
- Executive director as the lead command for global Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) expertise to HQ USAF/ MAJCOM/Numbered Air Force.
- Coordinated with Joint, NATO & Coalition forces to develop related international aeromedical evacuation patient movement doctrine.
Executive Officer
HQ Air Mobility Command
Scott AFB, IL
08.2011 - 08.2012
- Provided executive support for one general and three deputies; ensured coordination and effective correspondence. Reviewed activities of 11 divisions and 12 operational locations and detachments.
- Maintained liaison with the AMC directorates, NAFs, unified commands, other major commands, and HQ USAF.
Branch Chief
Aeromedical Evacuations Branch, HQ AMC
Scott AFB, IL
07.2010 - 08.2012
- Responsible for policy/doctrine/concept of operations/procedures; supported 38 thousand personnel in 32 Aeromedical Evacuations Squadrons.
- Oversaw worldwide aeromedical evacuation readiness for 18 Unit Type Codes & 93 million dollars in War Readiness Materiel assets.
Aeromedical Evacuation Fellow
HQ AMC
Scott AFB, IL
07.2009 - 07.2010
- Developed skills in planning, coordinating, scheduling, and executing strategic aeromedical evacuation missions.
- Coordinated/tasked Air Reserve and Guard Components supporting aeromedical evacuation missions, command & control structure, and systems for airlift & mission management.
Aeromedical Evacuation Planner
15 Air Mobility Operations Squadron
Travis AFB, CA
07.2008 - 07.2009
- Planned tasks and executed aeromedical evacuation missions supporting Global/Theater Patient Movement Centers.
- Provided critical operational support to Central Command, the Air Mobility Division Chief, and the Director of Mobility Forces.
Nurse Manager
Flight Medicine Clinic
Nellis AFB, NV
11.2007 - 07.2008
- Directed, supervised, and evaluated nursing care provided by medical technicians and nurses assigned to the element.
- Provided leadership and assisted in establishing standards of care and practice.
Creech Clinical Coordinator
Flight Medicine Flight
Nellis AFB, NV
07.2007 - 11.2007
- Provided acute care, immunizations, fit testing, and mission readiness for 1000-1500 members
- Provided medical lesion services between the military hospital & Creech Air Station; provided readiness stats to the Wing Commander.
Element Chief
Post-Anesthesia/Same Day Surgery Unit
Nellis AFB, NV
08.2005 - 07.2007
- Directed operations and medical care; supported ten surgical services and served over 4.2K patients annually.
- Directly supervised 24 nurses and eight medical technicians.
Assistant Nurse Manager/Clinical Nurse
Medical Surgical Unit
Nellis AFB, NV
10.2004 - 08.2005
- Assisted in directing, planning, and performance of 16 nurses and 16 medical technicians in a 28-bed medical-surgical unit.
- Directly supervised five nurses.
- Accomplish complex nursing treatments, medication administration, patient teaching, discharge planning, and documentation for pediatric and geriatric patients.
Flight Chief
Safety/Standardizations & Evaluations/Evaluator
Ramstein, Germany
04.2003 - 10.2004
- Overhauled the safety program; improved reporting, analysis, & follow-up; maintained 100% class A mishap-free.
- Performed monthly safety inspections, revised safety, and operational risk management (ORM) checklist, and redistributed the material safety data binders for the entire squadron.
Instructor/Senior Flight Nurse
Aircrew Training
Ramstein, Germany
04.2002 - 04.2003
- Accomplished safe and timely AE missions for 600+ patients. Upgraded 22 aircrew members in three different aircraft; increased readiness by 29 percent
- Authored/instituted the first-ever United States Air Forces Europe C-141 certification program and revised AE life support operations and operating instructions.
Flight Nurse
Clinical Mission Planning Element
Ramstein, Germany
05.2001 - 04.2002
- Planned, organized, and coordinated eight inter-theater missions per month.
- Directed in-flight care for approximately 24 patients per mission and supervised four aeromedical evacuation technicians.
Nurse Manager
Flight Medicine Clinic
Scott AFB, IL
01.1999 - 05.2001
- Developed nurse manager job from the ground up; positive effects proven by Department of Defense scores.
- Provided clinical/administrative leadership in the day-to-day clinic operations while overseeing 18 staff members.
Clinical Nurse
Aeromedical Staging Flight
Scott AFB, IL
08.1998 - 01.1999
- Facilitated patient movement of 1,500 patients/attendants on 20 missions per week; 100 percent on-time departures.
- Implemented telephone triage, increased patient access to clinic providers, and improved care to delivery services to 2,100 active duty flyers, family members, and retirees.
Clinical Nurse
Hematology/Oncology Clinic
Lackland AFB, TX
08.1997 - 08.1998
- Assessed/prepared 25 patients per day and decreased the physician appointment times in half.
- Updated the entire infection control program in 100 percent compliance with standards.
Clinical Nurse
Hematology/Oncology Unit
Lackland AFB, TX
02.1995 - 08.1997
- Provided holistic care for 15 acutely ill patients while supervising two registered nurses & 3 medical technicians.
- Enforced compliance with safety standards for chemotherapy.
Education
Master of Science - Nursing Leadership and Management
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN10-2010
Bachelor of Science - Nursing Science
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH05.1994
Ph.D. - Nursing Education
Walden University
Minneapolis, MNSkills
- Critical Thinking
- Creative Problem Solving
- Mentoring and Coaching
- Constructive Feedback
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Computer Skills
- Organizational Skills
- Friendly, Positive Attitude
Licensure
- Arizona RN expires: 04/01/2026
Certification
Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse, Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, since 2004, Expiration: 10/31/2028
Basic Life Support(BLS- Provider, Expiration: 9/21/2026
Professional Memberships
- Sigma Theta Tau; Nu Upsilon Chapter at Grand Canyon University, since 2023
- American Nursing Association, since 2022
- Arizona Nursing Association, since 2022
- Academy of Medical-Surgical Nursing, since 2007
Training
- Emergency Preparedness Response Course, 11/01/2019
- Flight Nurse Course, 06/25/2019
- Air Force Emergency Management Program, 04/02/2018
- Green Belt Training, 10/20/2014
Honors and Awards
- Commander in Chiefs Annual Award for Installation Excellence, 2022
- Mobility Air Forces Outstanding Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron of the Year, 2020 & 2021
- United States Air Education Training Command Clinic of the Year, 2018
- United States Air Force Space Command Nurse Leadership Award, 2015
Timeline
Director of Nursing Services
Grand Canyon University
04.2024 - 12.2024
Instructor
Grand Canyon University
11.2022 - 04.2024
Commander
86 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
07.2019 - 04.2022
Chief Nurse Executive
56 Medical Group
07.2017 - 07.2019
Commander
375 Surgical Operations Squadron
06.2015 - 07.2017
Chief Nurse Executive
61 Medical Squadron
06.2013 - 06.2015
Deputy Chief
Aeromedical Evacuation Operations, Air Mobility Command
08.2012 - 06.2013
Executive Officer
HQ Air Mobility Command
08.2011 - 08.2012
Branch Chief
Aeromedical Evacuations Branch, HQ AMC
07.2010 - 08.2012
Aeromedical Evacuation Fellow
HQ AMC
07.2009 - 07.2010
Aeromedical Evacuation Planner
15 Air Mobility Operations Squadron
07.2008 - 07.2009
Nurse Manager
Flight Medicine Clinic
11.2007 - 07.2008
Creech Clinical Coordinator
Flight Medicine Flight
07.2007 - 11.2007
Element Chief
Post-Anesthesia/Same Day Surgery Unit
08.2005 - 07.2007
Assistant Nurse Manager/Clinical Nurse
Medical Surgical Unit
10.2004 - 08.2005
Flight Chief
Safety/Standardizations & Evaluations/Evaluator
04.2003 - 10.2004
Instructor/Senior Flight Nurse
Aircrew Training
04.2002 - 04.2003
Flight Nurse
Clinical Mission Planning Element
05.2001 - 04.2002
Nurse Manager
Flight Medicine Clinic
01.1999 - 05.2001
Clinical Nurse
Aeromedical Staging Flight
08.1998 - 01.1999
Clinical Nurse
Hematology/Oncology Clinic
08.1997 - 08.1998
Clinical Nurse
Hematology/Oncology Unit
02.1995 - 08.1997
Master of Science - Nursing Leadership and Management
Walden University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing Science
Bowling Green State University
Ph.D. - Nursing Education
Walden University