Eastern Ohio AHEC welcomes YSU’s Sheila Blank to board of directors

The Eastern Ohio Area Health Education Center (EOAHEC) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Sheila Blank, director of the Centofanti School of Nursing and associate professor at Youngstown State University, as its newest board member.

Blank brings more than 30 years of experience in clinical practice, nursing education and academic leadership. Her appointment supports Eastern Ohio AHEC’s mission to strengthen the health care workforce and expand access to health professions education throughout eastern Ohio.

Blank holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in educational leadership and is a recognized scholar and presenter whose work focuses on school nursing, pediatric and family health, autism spectrum disorder and nursing student well-being. Her work includes authorship and peer review of publications in national and international journals and academic text.

She is recognized for excellence in teaching and leadership and is committed to advancing high-quality nursing education, workforce preparation and student success.

Eastern Ohio AHEC is part of the national Area Health Education Centers program and operates in partnership with Northeast Ohio Medical University. The center serves Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties by supporting health professions education, providing experiential learning opportunities for students and strengthening connections between academic institutions and community-based health care providers.

Blank’s leadership at YSU aligns with EOAHEC’s focus on preparing future health professionals and addressing workforce needs in medically underserved rural and urban communities.