Kendra Turnage is a dedicated nursing professional and educator with a career spanning leadership, nursing education, and advocacy in Critical Care. Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, she earned her nursing diploma and a BSN from St. Louis University, focusing on cardiovascular surgery critical care. Her early nursing roles were in the cardiac recovery units in Missouri.
After marrying, she moved to Rochester, MN, and began working at the Mayo Clinic, where she participated in the care of the clinic’s first heart transplant patient. While in Minnesota, she joined the U.S. Navy Reserve Nurse Corps and completed a Master’s Degree in Nursing Education at Winona State University.
Her career continued in Tampa, FL, where she held leadership roles in cardiac medicine and surgical ICUs and was an instructor in a formal nursing program. Returning to St. Louis, she continued her teaching career at Maryville University School of Nursing, as an educator at St. Luke’s Hospital, and served on the Pattonville School District Board of Education.
Eventually, she and her family settled in St. Augustine, FL, there her son’s disability led her to become active in disability advocacy and supervisory nursing roles. Kendra and her husband, Sherman, have three children: Arielle, a U.S. Army Sergeant First Class and PA student / Officer Candidate; Joshua, an artist with cerebral palsy; and Gabi, a marketing major. They enjoy family life, travel, and local events.
Amy was born in Arizona and grew up in a military family. She graduated from Lowndes High School and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Valdosta State University. Following her graduation, Amy moved to North Carolina to pursue her passion for pediatric critical care. It was during her time in North Carolina that she developed a deep appreciation for education, recognizing the significant impact a strong educational foundation can have on both staff and patient outcomes.
After several years in North Carolina, Amy decided to move closer to her family and began the process of relocating to the South. With her passion for pediatric critical care and education, she chose to move to Jacksonville, Florida, to join Wolfson Children’s Hospital’s pediatric ICU. While working in the pediatric ICU, Amy pursued further education at Jacksonville University, earning her Master of Science in Nursing, specializing in Nursing Education.
Upon completing her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Amy transitioned into her first formal nurse educator role at UF Health St. Johns. In her first year, she supported the launch of UF Health St. Johns’ ambulatory practices, developing evidence-based policies and procedures for four different service lines and creating a comprehensive orientation program for new hires. After a few years, Amy advanced her career by moving into a management position, leading the education team at UF Health St. Johns. During this time, she worked with new staff onboarding to the hospital system and built relationships with local high school health academies, universities, and other professional medical organizations, furthering her impact on the community.
In late 2024, Amy decided to step down from hospital management and shift her career focus. She is now employed by the St. John’s County school system, teaching within the Health Academy at Tocoi Creek High School. As a Health Academy instructor, Amy will have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future of healthcare. She currently teaches EKG rhythm and interpretation, emergency medical responder, and anatomy and physiology II.
Amy is married to Fred, and together they have a blended family of five children, whose ages range from 7 to 27 years old. Fred shares Amy’s passion for healthcare and education, having dedicated over 25 years to the healthcare field. Fred and Amy enjoy traveling and always looking for a new adventure!
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