Past Presidents

DeAnna S. Gillespie BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN

I graduated from LVN school in 1992 and RN school in 1994. In 2011, I returned to school to obtain my BSN. I have been an ER nurse for my entire career. I currently work for ALLY MEDICAL ER in Bastrop (formerly known as Physicians Premier ER). I opened the Bastrop location in 2018 and currently am a bedside/staff RN and the system educator. Prior to this, I worked at DCMC in the ED for 12 years after having been a nurse manager in a rural ER for 15 years.

I believe I have been a member of ENA since 2001 and have been active at the local and state levels for the last 10 years. I have served as a Texas Delegate at several National conventions and serve on multiple committees at the state level. I was the chair for the IQSIP/Injury Prevention committee for Texas ENA for the last 3 years.

I enjoy public speaking and I absolutely love to teach. One of my favorite parts of our profession is caring for patients and families at their most vulnerable times. I truly feel it is an honor for patients and their families to trust us with their care.

Thank you for allowing me to as the President of the Austin ENA for 2021.

Trudy Meehan MBA, MSN, APRN, NP-C - 2020

Picture to follow.

I have been a nurse over forty years in both clinical and administrative roles. Most of my practice has been in the Emergency Department. Presently I am pursing my ENP. Throughout my career I have been actively involved in ENA. I am a past President for Louisiana and now for Austin ENA. I have served on the ENA Manager's Committee and been a reviewer for JEN articles.

I enjoy spending time with my husband, son, stepdaughter and two grandsons. When the weather is decent you may find me on my Harley enjoying the sun and wind. I also enjoy reading and cooking.

Diana Gersan RN, CEN - 2019

Bio to follow.

Shannon Metcalfe 2016-2018

I have been an ER nurse for 9 years and it’s definitely my home, currently I’m one of the clinical managers at Dell Children’s Medical Center. I have been active at my hospital network level in our nursing shared Governance Emergency Services Council since 2008, where I started off running as an officer (secretary) I held that position for 5 years and then ran for vice-chair and now am currently chair. I am also very active at the local and state level advocating for domestic violence, the pediatric population has always been my specialty but over the last two years I’ve branched out and now am an expert witness for strangulation and domestic violence in Travis County. I also serve on Austin’s coalition against human trafficking, Allies against Slavery.

Debra Rodriguez MSN, RN, CPEN

Curtis Townsend, RN, BSN, CEN

Curtis is the Director of Emergency and Trauma Services at Baylor Scott and White-Lakeway Regional Medical Center as well as Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, the Primary Stroke Program and Trauma Programing. He has over 32 years of experience as an Emergency Nurse.

He was named a “Fab 5” nurse and a “Health Care Hero” nominee. As a former Director of the Texas Emergency Nurses Association and current past president of the Austin Chapter of the ENA, Curtis stays very active professionally. He has presented at local, state, and national conferences on a variety of Emergency Medicine topics and served as a content expert to the national ENA on acute coronary syndromes and heart failure. He has served as a delegate to the ENA General Assembly for the past 15 years and an active participant in several state and national ENA committees.

He is a contributing editor of the Emergency Nurses Association Certification for Emergency Nurses Exam (CEN) and is also a contributing editor for the current ENA CEN Review Manual. He is also nearing completion of his Masters in Healthcare Administration degree this year.