Meet the Founders Leading the Movement
The Founders of the Network of Black Male Nurse Leaders (NBMNL) are visionary nurse leaders who transformed a simple conversation into a national call to action.
United by shared purpose and lived experience, they represent excellence, resilience, and the determination to change the face of nursing leadership for generations to come.
Together, they established NBMNL as a platform for mentorship, professional growth, and advocacy—creating pathways for Black male nurses to lead, inspire, and transform healthcare.
Dr. Bimbola Akintade, PhD, MBA, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAANP, FAAN
Bimbola Akintade is a Professor and Dean at East Carolina University College of Nursing. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. He serves as a member of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine Task Force on the Future of the Nursing Workforce and the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Nurses Association.
He is a former commissioner with the Maryland Healthcare Commission and a pioneer member of the Board of Directors for the Doctor of Nursing Practice of Color (DOC). He serves as the Vice Chair for the Area Health Education Centers Board of Directors and as a Board Member for the Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty and its Finance Committee. He is an inaugural member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Essentials Implementation Steering Committee, Chair of the AACN Assessment Expert Working Group, and completed AACN’s inaugural Diversity Leadership Institute program. He is also a co-founder of the Network of Black Male Nurse Leaders. He was recently inducted into the ECU College of Nursing’s Hall of Fame.
The impact of Dr. Akintade’s work as a leader, expert clinician, and scholar is evident in his roles as Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor, editorial board memberships, peer-reviewed publications, professional awards, and acknowledgments.
Dr. Michael L. Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dr. Michael L. Jones is a visionary nurse leader, scholar, and educator with nearly 25 years of experience across the healthcare spectrum. He serves as Associate Dean for Engagement and Professional Development, Clinical Associate Professor, and Executive Director for Advancement at the East Carolina University (ECU) College of Nursing in Greenville, North Carolina. In these roles, he provides strategic leadership for faculty development, alumni relations, communications, and advancement initiatives that strengthen the College’s mission and visibility.
A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), Dr. Jones chairs the AACN Access, Connection, and Engagement Leadership Network (ACELN) and serves as Liaison to its national committee. In 2025, he was elected to the American Academy of Nursing Fellow Selection Committee, one of the Academy’s most influential leadership bodies.
A native of Leake County, Mississippi, Dr. Jones earned his PhD in Nursing from Hampton University, following studies at the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing, Meridian Community College, and East Central Community College. He also holds an Executive Certificate in Leadership from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.
Before joining ECU, Dr. Jones held key academic and leadership roles at Brenau University, Jackson State University, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he served as Chief Community Health Officer. His research focuses on community-based care, men’s health, health disparities, and population health. He is the recipient of the 2023 Faculty Scholar Grant Award from the Foundation for Academic Nursing and funding from the American Nurses Association for his work expanding nursing career pipelines for underrepresented youth.
At ECU, he founded and directs the Emerging Health Care Scholars Leadership Institute, introducing middle and high school students to nursing and healthcare careers through mentorship and leadership development. He is also the Co-Founder and Vice President of the Network of Black Male Nurse Leaders (NBMNL), advancing mentorship and leadership opportunities for Black male nurses nationwide.
Dr. Jones’s leadership extends to numerous national boards and committees, including service as Treasurer of the Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health, Past Chair of PCORI’s Advisory Panel on Clinical Trials, and Co-Chair of the Advisory Board for the Nurses’ Health Study 3 at Harvard University.
An active scholar and editor, he serves on editorial boards for the ABNF Journal and Nursing Management: The Journal of Excellence in Nursing Leadership. Outside of his professional work, Dr. Jones is a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., enjoys gardening and collecting African art, and is a devoted father to two children, Mikayla and Dylan. He resides in Greenville, North Carolina, where he continues to lead with purpose and mentor with compassion.
Dr. Derrick C. Glymph, PhD, DNAP, CRNA, CHSE, CNE, COL (RET.), FAANA, FIAAN, FAAN
Dr. Derrick C. Glymph holds dual doctorates—a PhD in Nursing Science from the University of South Florida (2022) and a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice from Virginia Commonwealth University (2011). He serves as Associate Professor, Assistant Director, and Clinical Education Coordinator for the Nurse Anesthesia Program at the Duke University School of Nursing.
With over 14 years of experience as an educator and administrator and two decades of clinical practice as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and 30 years of nursing experience. Dr. Glymph is deeply committed to advancing nurse anesthesia education. He serves on multiple editorial boards and on the Board of Directors for the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA). His clinical passions include obstetric anesthesia and pain management, and his research focuses on substance use disorder education and mentoring the next generation of nurse anesthetists.
A proud veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve, Dr. Glymph retired at the rank of Colonel after 35 years of distinguished service.
Dr. Michael P. Cary, Jr., PhD, RN, FAAN
Dr.Cary is a tenured Associate Professor at the Duke University School of Nursing. Dually trained as a health services researcher and applied health data scientist, Dr. Cary utilizes AI to investigate health disparities in aging populations, thereby promoting health equity and improving healthcare delivery. He co-directs HUMAINE™, an initiative dedicated to equipping nurses and healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary for the responsible use of AI in clinical practice.
As the Equity Scholar for Duke AI Health, Dr. Cary leads interdisciplinary research efforts to investigate algorithmic bias, identify algorithms that exacerbate health disparities, and implement strategies to mitigate their harmful effects. More information can be found here: https://aihealth.duke.edu/equity-scholar/.
Dr. Cary contributes to AI governance through his involvement with the Duke University Health System’s Algorithm-Based Clinical Decision Support Team, emphasizing the critical role of nurses in evaluating AI technologies, ensuring trustworthiness, and monitoring their impact on patient care.
Dr. Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN
Associate Professor & Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, Duke University School of Nursing Immediate Past President, American Nurses Association (ANA)
Dr. Ernest J. Grant is a nationally recognized nurse leader, educator, and advocate for diversity and equity in healthcare. He serves as Associate Professor and Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at the Duke University School of Nursing, where he leads efforts to advance inclusive excellence across education, research, and practice.
Dr. Grant is the Immediate Past President of the American Nurses Association (ANA), the largest professional nursing organization in the United States, representing over 4.3 million registered nurses. Elected as the first male president in ANA’s 128-year history, he has been a transformative leader championing racial justice, workforce diversity, and the well-being of nurses nationwide.
An internationally recognized burn-care and fire-safety expert, Dr. Grant has been honored repeatedly for his leadership and service. Modern Healthcare Magazine has named him among the “50 Most Influential Clinical Executives” and “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare” for four consecutive years. In 2023, he was also recognized as one of the Top Diversity Leaders in Healthcare for his tireless advocacy in advancing equity within the profession.
In 2002, President George W. Bush presented Dr. Grant with the Nurse of the Year Award for his extraordinary work treating burn victims from the World Trade Center disaster. A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), Dr. Grant holds a BSN from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and MSN and PhD degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNC-Greensboro).
A respected scholar and speaker, Dr. Grant continues to mentor future leaders and influence national policy discussions on healthcare equity, nursing leadership, and professional advancement.