Chapter Leaders

Kathy Klimpel, PhD, CNS, ACHIP
Clinical Associate Professor
University of San Diego

Dr. Kathy Klimpel is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of San Diego, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science teaching in the Healthcare Informatics Program. Her research interest includes how the use of electronic health records (EHR) and technology, specifically the use of clinical decision support, can positively impact nursing practice and patient outcomes.

Dr. Kathy Klimpel has over 40 years of healthcare experience as a registered nurse, clinical nurse specialist, and clinical informaticist. For three decades as a CNS, she was a leader of healthcare teams striving to improve and optimize the care provided to children in critical care units. She has had positions in several places across the country (Washington University in St. Louis, National Institutes of Health’s Clinical Center, University of Maryland in Baltimore, and currently Rady Children’s Health-San Diego). Those experiences have been invaluable as she took on her role as an informaticist. In the past 20 years, Dr. Klimpel was the operational lead for the implementation of two electronic health records (EHR), Meditech and Epic. Once implemented, Dr. Klimpel became Epic certified in two applications. In her current position as a Senior Clinical Informaticist at Rady Children’s Health-San Diego, she continues to work with clinicians to maintain and optimize the EHR to support clinicians while enhancing patient outcomes.

She has been a member of the American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA) since 2014 and has served on the board of San Diego ANIA since 2019 in various positions. She is also a member of the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) and an AMIA Certified Health Informatics Professional (ACHIP).


President-Elect

Jessica Cheverie, MSN, RN
Director of Clinical Services
TRL Systems

As Director of Clinical Services at TRL Systems, Jessica Cheverie, MSN, RN, plays a pivotal role in helping healthcare organizations across Southern California leverage technology to improve patient care, enhance safety and optimize workflows. With more than 20 years of experience in nursing and healthcare leadership, Jessica collaborates with nursing executives and hospital teams to address complex challenges and implement innovative solutions that create more efficient and productive healthcare environments.

With a master’s degree in nursing informatics, Jessica brings a unique combination of clinical expertise and data-driven insight to her role. She works closely with TRL clients on training and education, workflow optimization, and the implementation of emerging technologies. Her background includes a strong foundation in metrics, informatics, and leadership, making her a key resource for advancing healthcare technology solutions.

Jessica’s career journey reflects a deep commitment to healthcare innovation. She began her nursing career at the bedside before transitioning to nursing informatics. She led data collection and metrics projects for government healthcare systems, including the world's second-largest labor and delivery unit. She has contributed to pilot programs, supported hospital informatics initiatives, and become a sought-after speaker on healthcare workflows and patient-centered technology.

Jessica is a member of the American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA), the Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). San Diego ANIA served in the past as secretary and currently serving as chapter treasurer.

Treasurer

Rebecca Kjonegaard, PhD, RN
Retired Senior Healthcare Leader
Sharp Healthcare

Rebecca Kjonegaard, PhD, RN, is a retired senior healthcare leader with over forty years of experience advancing quality, patient safety, and digital transformation within a large, integrated health system. She has served in systemwide leadership roles spanning clinical informatics, evidence‑based practice, infection prevention, and performance improvement, consistently delivering measurable gains in safety, efficiency, and technology adoption.

Dr. Kjonegaard brings extensive experience in oversight of clinical quality, risk reduction, regulatory preparedness, and performance measurement. Her leadership background includes service as Director of Quality and Patient Safety, Six Sigma Black Belt training, and responsibility for infection prevention, informatics, and quality healthcare programs, supported by deep frontline experience in critical care nursing.

A published healthcare leader, she has held elected positions in APIC and ANIA San Diego Chapter and maintains professional affiliations with ANIA, HIMSS, Phi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Theta Tau. She holds a PhD in Nursing and is a licensed Registered Nurse in California.

Secretary

Mary Ann Shibley, DNP, RN
Vice President of Business Development and Clinical Experience
InvisALERT Solutions

Education Coordinator

Nicole Van Zanten, MSN, RN, NI-BC
Clinical Informaticist RN
Rady Children's Health

Nicole Van Zanten, MSN, RN, NI-BC, is a Clinical Informaticist RN with extensive experience bridging clinical practice and health information technology to optimize workflows, improve usability, and support high-quality patient care. She currently serves as a Clinical Informaticist RN supporting Rady Children’s Health at Mission Hospital, where she partners with nursing, providers, IT, and operational leaders to ensure clinical workflows are effectively supported by technology across the care continuum.

Her informatics experience spans both Epic and Cerner platforms and includes work across multiple inpatient specialty areas. Nicole brings a strong background in workflow analysis, clinical governance, and change management, informed by her early practice as a bedside nurse in the NICU and her continued focus on supporting safe, efficient, and high-quality patient care through technology.

Nicole holds a Master of Science in Nursing Informatics from the University of San Diego and is board certified in Informatics Nursing (NI-BC). She has been an active member of the American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA) since 2019 and has served on the board for the San Diego Chapter as the Secretary from 2023 to 2026. She currently serves on the board as the Education Coordinator. In addition, Nicole volunteers with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), serving on the Informatics Nursing Content Expert Panel, contributing to the development and advancement of the informatics nursing certification process.

Eric is a Clinical Informatics Specialist at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. His professional interests focus on optimizing the use of electronic health records (EHR) and health information technology to enhance clinical workflows, support evidence-based practice, and improve patient outcomes.

Eric has extensive clinical experience in neonatal and acute nursing care. He previously worked as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse for seven years at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, where he provided specialized care to critically ill and premature infants while collaborating with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to ensure the highest level of patient care.

Drawing on his bedside nursing experience, Eric transitioned into clinical informatics, where he now works closely with clinicians, information technology teams, and healthcare leadership to support the implementation, optimization, and effective use of healthcare technology. In his role, he helps bridge the gap between clinical practice and technology by promoting solutions that streamline documentation, enhance data accuracy, and support safer, more efficient patient care.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from California State University, San Marcos, and a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nursing Informatics from the University of San Diego.