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Debbie Yohn Instructor Bio Debbie Yohn, CPP began her nursing career in 1984 when she graduated as a Registered Nurse. Has a BSN & a MA in Biblical Counseling. Her first job was with the state at Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS)/Montebello on the Brain Injury Unit. After a year she transferred to The Shock Trauma Unit in Baltimore, Maryland and worked from 1985-2011 in various nursing positions. Ms. Yohn is a survivor of a drunk driving crash that occurred in 1979 at the age of 17. Believing a picture is worth a thousand words and young people could learn from her story, in 1996 she became a Certified Prevention Professional and building her expertise of injury prevention. Working with juveniles, Ms. Yohn developed and implemented programs for school based assemblies, health classes and small group sessions held at the hospital. In 1995 she co-founded Positive Alternatives to Dangerous and Destructive Decisions (PADDD), a 501c3 program to provide more educational alternative sentencing programs to local communities. Ms. Yohn is a participating member of the many local grass root efforts to educate and advocate safe driving practices. Ms. Yohn has been a speaker for National Safety Counsel, Mid-Atlantic DUI Conference, Prom Promise Assemblies & guest speaker on local radio and TV shows. She has also presented various jails and detention centers for adults and teens. She has taught for Comcast, BG&E, US Military Safety Stand Down Days, High Schools, and Universities. PADDD was awarded a grant with MHSO (Maryland Highway Safety Office) for five years and continues to attend and support programs offered throughout Maryland. A new program developed in 2012 is Positive Choices for Life. This program is currently available for teens in Frederick and Washington Counties. The program was developed by Ms. Yohn for the Frederick County States Attorney’s office to offer education to youth in the judicial system. Parents have also attended the class with their teens and have benefited from the knowledge of injury prevention. |
In 2014 Ms. Yohn provided services at River Valley Ranch after a storm or microburst hit the camp injuring many children and killing one. The night of the storm she volunteered as a nurse caring for children & providing resources for camp directors Ms. Yohn also provided Critical Incident Stress Management & Debriefing for staff and campers directly involved in the storm's destruction and rescue efforts. She remained at the camp for 5 weeks serving as a biblical counselor. Ms. Yohn resides in Maryland with her husband, two son's, daughter and two grandsons. Mr. Yohn is a retired army reserve Master Sergeant injured in Iraq in 2005/06 tour of duty. Together they are involved in their church community and volunteer for various organizations. |
Past awards include a Governor's award, many local awards for community involvement and the Daily Record Health Care Hero in 2005. Mrs. Yohn has authored two books for children and families of soldiers past and present. The first book, “Keep My Daddy Safe” was written as a gift to her five year old son as her husband deployed to Iraq. The second, “PTSD Through The Eyes Of A Child” highlights the journey of emotional healing for a family after a loved on returns from war.
Debbie Hardy Instructor Bio Debbie Hardy, RN, begun public speaking in 2004, four months after the crash that killed daughter, Janet. Ms. Hardy shares the story of Janet's life and death and the events that lead to the tragic crash and how life has changed since the crash. Janet’s Story is a story of hope, courage and loss. It’s the story of Janet Hardy, a thirteen year old who was killed by a drunk driver. It’s the story of her Mom finding hope in a world of grief. Janet’s Story begins with the life of Janet as told in her own words. Her story continues with the events that lead to the crash caused by a drunk driver, the impact of the crash and drunk driving on family's and surviving life after the loss of a child. Ms. Hardy has continued her journey of public speaking in the hopes of changing lives while changing how people view drunk driving. Ms. Hardy’s belief is that one person can make a difference and her life is a testimony to such. |  |
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Patricia Y. Wilson Instructor Bio Patricia Y. Wilson, MA, BSN, RN, FCN is a Clinical Practice and Professional Development Coordinator at the University of Maryland Medical Center for the office of Clinical Practice and Professional Development. She is known at the Medical Center as PJ.PJ earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland School Of Nursing, and a Master of Arts in Theology and Christian counseling from Capital Bible Seminary and Lancaster Bible College. She also holds a certification in Faith Based Community Nursing. She began her career as a trauma nurse at the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. She has served at Northrop Grumman as an occupational health nurse, Good Samaritan Hospital as an assistant nurse manager, Baltimore City Public Schools as a school nurse, and on the Maryland Hospital Association’s speaker’s bureau. She also works in partnership at the University of Maryland Medical Center with the Baltimore City Public High Schools to promote Nursing through Career Development. PJ has educated many nurses and unlicensed staff at the Medical Center. She specializes in teaching new graduate nurses stress management, clinical practice, end of life and ethics, leadership development, patient safety, teamwork, communication, conflict resolution, healthy work environment and health-related issues, and best practice standards. She mentors and coaches nurses throughout their career paths. She is a mentor and coach for the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Student Nurse Residency Program and the University Of Maryland School Of Nursing Scholars Program. She is also a mentor and educator for new graduate nurses on the medical and surgical units at the Medical Center. She is a member of many committees and councils. |
PJ is a member of the Philippine Nurses Association Maryland Chapter and has traveled to the Philippines where she and many University of Maryland nurses set up a clinic, providing medical care to over 800 people in the mountains of Benguet, funded a mobile clinic and a Boy’s home. She also presented at the International Philippine Nurses Association conference 2012 where her topic was, “Strategies on How to be a Successful Nurse in the United States.” |
PJ has been a motivational speaker for Positive Alternatives to Dangerous and Destructive Decisions (PADDD), the Alternative Sentencing Program and Positive Choices for Life for over 15 years. These programs are designed to prevent impaired and unsafe driving which is tailored to “at risk” audiences. The courses are taught in collaboration with local law enforcement, paramedics, fire fighters, and the funeral service industry as well as victims and offenders.