Honorees represent diverse professionals who excel as leaders in emergency, forensic nursing
PHOENIX, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A nurse manager who developed an AI triage tool, a forensic nurse improving holistic care for sexual assault survivors and a rural nurse advocating for improved access to care are among the exceptional young professionals recognized in the ENA Connection 20 Under 40 Class of 2026.
“Each year when I read the 20 Under 40 profiles, I am impressed by the ways these nurses are already leading and inspiring others in their workplaces, their communities and beyond,” said ENA President Dustin Bass, DNP, MHA, RN, CEN, NEA-BC. “For each of them, ‘nurse’ is much more than a job. They are already shaping the future of their profession through innovation, advocacy and service. Their work is marked by a determination and passion for applying their expertise toward something greater.”
This is the sixth class of the 20 Under 40 program. ENA members are nominated, or may nominate themselves, for the honor before submitting an application that details their professional accomplishments, volunteerism, innovative solutions to challenges in their journeys and their goals for making an impact in the future.
Representing clinical excellence, advocacy, innovation and more, the members of the 20 Under 40 Class of 2026 represent diverse backgrounds and roles, three countries and 11 states.
Selected by a panel of ENA members and staff which reviewed dozens of applications, the honorees, listed below in alphabetical order, are featured in the October issue of ENA Connection, the official member magazine of the Emergency Nurses Association:
Larissa Allen, PhD, RN, CEN, TCRN, SANE-A, SANE-P, of Pennsylvania
Aldrin Ian Alpe, MAN, MRes, RN, CPHQ, FISQua, of the United Arab Emirates
Taylor Barrett, MBA, BS, RN, of Arizona
Mekel Bergschneider, MSN, RN, CEN, NE-BC, LSSBB, of North Carolina
Parker Brigance, DNP, MBA, MHA, RN, CEN, CCRN, CNE, NEA-BC, NI-BC, EMT-P, of Florida
Alfred Dahbi, PhD, DNS, MSN, BSN, RN, CHSE, CEN, TCRN, of the United Arab Emirates
Caterina Fus, BSN, RN, CEN, of Rhode Island
Brooke Johnson, MSN, RN, CNML, of Ohio
Jana M. Kling, MSN, RN, CEN, of Louisiana
Emily Kraft, BSN, RN, CFRN, TCRN, CEN, CPEN, of Ohio
Kayla Lott, MSN, CRNP, FNP-C, ENP-C, CEN, of Alabama
Walter Sergio Lugari, MSHS, RN, FKP-NP, APN, of Germany
Jessica Massey, MSN, BSN, RN, CEN, of North Carolina
Santana N. Olvera, BSN, RN, NREMT, CEN, CTRN, of Texas
Jennifer Pederson, DNP, APRN, AGCNS-BC, of Minnesota
Samantha Poe, MSN, RN, CEN, CNML, of North Carolina
Rachel Porter, MBA, BSN, RN, CEN, EMT-B, of Texas
Paolo Roca, MSN, RN, PHN, CNE, PMH-BC, NE-BC, of California
Samuel Snell, MSN, RN, CEN, CPPS, CPHQ, LSSBB, NEA-BC, of California
Adam Wilson, MSN, RN, of Alabama
The honorees were formally announced during ENA General Assembly, ahead of the Emergency Nursing 2026 education and networking conference, which runs Sept. 28-Oct. 1. Earlier this year, the 20 Under 40 program itself won a Gold National Award for a Group Recognition Program from the American Society of Business Publication Editors’ annual AZBEE awards.
About the Emergency Nurses Association
The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With 40,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines, and guides emergency health care public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org.
ENA Media Contact:
Paige Fumo Fox
Communications and Media Relations Manager
847.460.4042
paige.fumofox@ena.org
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SOURCE Emergency Nurses Association
