President 

Lorrie Cappellino is a surveyor with The Joint Commission where she surveys the standards in the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Ambulatory Care and Office Based Surgery Practices.  She is a Perioperative Registered Nurse Course volunteer faculty member and is retired from the United States Air Force.  Lorrie is a Certified Yellow Belt helping establish and sustain a Robust Process Improvement culture in healthcare organizations.  She is a diploma nurse who holds both bachelors and masters degrees in business and has been a Perioperative registered nurse and educator for over 40 years.  Lorrie has been a member of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) for over 30 years, is a member of the Nurse Educator and Leadership Assemblies and is a past chapter president.  Ms Cappellino was a previous member of AORN's Environmental Safety Special Task Force and is the original author of AORN's Perioperative 101 Course Safety Module.

Ex Officio

"My is name Vanessa Lewis I began my professional career as a medical-surgical nurse at University Hospital on the trauma unit and Wilford Hall in the Orthopedic Unit over twenty years ago. In 2001, I transitioned into the preoperative services at Methodist Hospital by having had a choice of being a nurse in the operating room or outpatient surgery. My first choice was becoming a nurse in the Operating Room upon starting I was placed in the AORN Perioperative 101 course. While at Methodist I was the Service Line Coordinator for Othropedic Spine surgeries, as my interest in leadership and management grew I became the Weekend Charge Nurse. This position allowed to go to school to complete my MSN in Administration, with a minor in Nursing Education and Nursing Informatics at the University of Texas Health Science Center. My nursing journey led me to the Veteran Administration Hospital where I was a Service nurse for podiatry, oral maxillary facial surgery, and GYN. I utilized my experience to serve others as the perioperative educator for the hospital always using the Preoperative Standards as my guide. Next, I transitioned over to the Nurse Manager Position, my units included Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Outpatient Surgery, and Interventional Radiology. My current role is with the Surgical Processes Services (SPS), where I am the Clinical QA Manager. This role allows me to keep the standards of AORN and Federal regulations by working closely with the operating room and keeping our veterans safe while they undergo procedures. I am currently pursuing my Doctorate in  Nursing.  

My service to AORN San Antonio includes being a Board Member, Secretary, Vice President and currently I serve as the President-Elect.  I look forward to the benefit of serving the AORN San Antonio Chapter."

Treasurer

"I am a Staff Nurse at University Health System.  I earned my bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Texas health Science Center at San Antonio.  I have been a perioperative nurse for 18 years, certified as a CNOR for 15 years, and a member of AORN for 16 years.  I love to be a perioperative nurse as well as being an active member of AORN.  AORN provides me the tool and resources I need to keep my OR safe and our chapter gives me immediate support and opportunity to grow professionally and personally.  My past experiences in our chapter are Board of Directors, Treasurer, the Symposium Planning Committee, Education Program Committee, and volunteering for the various chapter activities.  

My vision for the future of our chapter belongs to the next generation.  My goal is to focus on recruitment and retention of younger memberships and make our chapter meeting to energized and attractive."

Secretary

“My name is Thomas J. Stringer and I joined the San Antonio Chapter of AORN in December 1993 when I moved to San Antonio after retiring from the United States Navy after over  23 years of service. I chose San Antonio as a place to live partially because this is where I went to Nursing School at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio and partially because civil service jobs were available for my wife here.  We have lived here ever since and have enjoyed ourselves a lot. I earned a BS degree from West Texas State University in 1970 and a BSN in 1977 from UTHSCSA. I joined AORN after finishing the perioperative nursing course in 1986 and achieved CNOR status in 1989.  I like AORN because of the educational opportunities they offer and it helps one to be the best they can be. Their guidelines make it easier to know what to do and they have guided my practice throughout my career. I retired from full time practice a few years ago and have devoted myself to volunteer work since that time.  I volunteer at BAMC in the operating room now and with TIME for Christ, Refuge International, and with Mercy Ships. I make at least two medical mission trips a year with these groups if not more. I made four trips in the past year. 

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I have served the San Antonio Chapter of AORN on the board of directors numerous times, as president for 3 1/2years as vice president for ½ year and secretary for 2 years and have served on every committee at some time.  I have chaired the legislative committee for a number of years now. I wrote the chapter newsletter and mailed it out for several years when we still had a printed form. I was vice president when the president and president-elect both resigned in January, 1999  at the same time because one took a job in Hawaii and the other in Arkansas. The board kept me on as president the next full term. I was president again in 2007-2008 and in 2015-2016.”

Board Member

Lori has been a member of AORN since 2015, when she began her career in perioperative services. She is currently a circulating nurse at Brooke Army Medical Center on Fort Sam Houston.

“The most important advice I received as a new OR nurse was to immerse myself in all things related to the perioperative field. My hospital educators suggested I become a member of AORN. Becoming a member has given me learning opportunities to gain more knowledge about the perioperative field, rather it be through continuing education or vendor demonstrations on products and equipment being used in my operating room. The ability to network and participate in open discussions with nurses from around the world about patient care in our constantly changing profession has been greatly rewarding.  The members of my local chapter have been the cornerstone and a tremendous support to my continued knowledge growth. It is my goal through mentorships to offer the same opportunities afforded me to other nurses, novice and expert."

Board Member

Aileen Joy Palomero has been a registered nurse for thirty- five years. She worked for twenty- seven years as an operating and recovery room nurse at the Manila Sanitarium and Hospital in the Philippines; at Delano Regional Medical Center in Delano, California, St Luke’s Baptist Hospital, Methodist Ambulatory Surgery Hospital and Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. She served as a clinical and classroom instructor at the Adventist University of the Philippines School of Nursing for five years; a newborn, intermediate care and special care nurse for three years at Fort Duncan Medical Center, Eagle Pass, Texas and Christus Santa Rosa Health Care in San Antonio, Texas. Currently she is the OR Nurse Educator for Audie Murphy Veterans Hospital in San Antonio. A member of the AORN Chapter #4409 since 1996, she is looking forwardto be more involved in the planning and implementation of the various activities of the AORN Chapter this year.

Board Member

"I began my nursing career in 1968 when I graduated from a diploma program. During that timed I joined the Army student nurse program.  After graduating I worked in an all RN operating room and never had a job outside the OR for the next 48 years.  During my 20 year Army career I worked all OR positions and earned my BSN at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio in 1979 the same year I received CNOR.  After the military I worked contract for  28 years at BAMC retiring in 2016.   

 It is imperative our professional organization stay strong to fight the many battles that have and can face us again like keeping the RN in the OR, keeping a RN circulator, enforcing standards of practice, putting forward best practices for positive patient outcomes plus many other issues.  This responsibility belongs to each of us."

Board Member

"I have been a member of AORN from 1983-2005 and rejoined as a life member in 2016.  I have been a member of Chapter 4409 from 1995-2005 and rejoined in 2016 to present.  I have served our chapter in several capacities including, President, President-Elect, and Board Member, and on the Winter Symposium Committee.  I have worked with the National Silent Auction Committee for the past 6 years.

I have been an RN 35+ years, having served in the Army for 15 years, retiring in 1997, and worked for Santa Rosa and CTRC after that.  I have worked in many capacities as an RN from staff member to leadership positions, having learned a great deal from every experience.

AORN is a great organization which serves us in many ways, from education, providing representation at the state and national level, support for education through scholarships and grants, just to name a few."

Board Member

"I have been a member since 1991 and joined Chapter 4490 in 1995.  I have served our Chapter in several capacities, including President, President Elect, and Board Member.  I have also worked on the Winter Symposium Committee, and represented our Chapter at such functions as Under the Bridge and Elf Louise.  I have helped at the national level by working on the Silent Auction Committee.

I have been an RN since 1991 and retired in 2010.  I served in the Military for 32 years."

AORN provides us with leadership and represents us at the state and local level."

Industry Rep

Ryan Haglund has been working in the operative setting for 15 years across South Texas.  He currently is employed by Stryker Surgical Technologies which focuses primarily on staff and patient safety initiatives that directly align to AORN guidelines. His previous experiences include 10 years of trauma implant sales and service throughout South Texas. He currently resides in San Antonio, TX with his wife and two daughters. 

“I am excited to be partnering with AORN and the clinical staff that I have work beside for over a decade. I take immense pride in improving healthcare for both patients and the staff. Very excited and humbled to be collaborating with this great group of healthcare leaders