Nursing at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

Lisa T. Hawksworth, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, joined MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center as the Senior Director of Nursing Excellence & Resource Management in December 2022. Lisa started her nursing career in 1993 at Washington Adventist Hospital on a medical-surgical floor. She joined MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC) in February 1994 as part of the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program. She advanced to Clinical Manager and Nursing Director roles over her 15-year tenure at MWHC. She has also served as Administrative Director of Critical Care Services at Mary Washington Hospital and then Corporate Director of Cardiovascular Services for Mary Washington Healthcare over her 4-year tenure. Prior to returning to MedStar, Lisa was the Senior Director of Nursing Operations at Inova Alexandria Hospital for 9 years.

Lisa is a second-degree nurse and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology-Psychology from Wells College in 1989, her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from The Catholic University of America in 1993 and her Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration from George Mason University in 2005. She completed her PhD in Nursing at George Mason University in 2023. She is board certified from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Nurse Executive, Advanced.

Lisa is a member of the American Nurses Association (ANA), the Maryland Nurses Association (MNA), and the Virginia Nurses Association (VNA); the American Organization of Nursing Leadership (AONL), Maryland Organization for Nursing Leadership (MONL) and Virginia Organization for Nursing Leadership (VONL). She is the current treasurer of Sigma Theta Tau International, Epsilon Zeta Chapter, and has served on the Chapter Board in various roles. 

Ewuradwoa Ampiah currently serves as the Director of Nursing for the Southern Maryland Behavioral Health Program. She brings extensive experience in nursing leadership, specializing in the standardization of clinical processes and procedures, as well as continuous improvement initiatives to ensure sustained compliance. Ampiah is dedicated to enhancing patient care through strategic leadership and operational excellence, making significant contributions to the program’s ongoing projects and goals.

Laura M. Ogle, DNP, CENP, CNE, CEN is the Director of Nursing Professional Development. Prior to MedStar Health, Laura served in the United States Army for 15 years. She assumed various practice, leadership, and professional development positions in the emergency department throughout her time in service.

She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Southern Indiana in 2022; she also completed a Master’s in Nursing Education degree from Grand Canyon University in 2014, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2008, and an Associate Degree in Nursing in 2007. In addition to her administrative role, Ogle is also a Trauma Nursing Core Course and Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course instructor with the Emergency Nurse’s Association. She also volunteers as the Youth Coordinator at her church.

Dr. Ogle is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Association for Nursing Professional Development, National League of Nursing, and Emergency Nurse’s Association.

Nursing Director, ICU/CCU/IMCU

Elizabeth “Shannon” Walters came to MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center in July 2023 to serve as the nursing director of ICU/CCU/IMCU.

Shannon holds a BSN from the University of Maryland, School of Nursing and an MSN in Nursing Leadership/Management from Stevenson University. She holds an Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN) certification.

Shannon started her nursing career at MedStar Health in the Burn/Trauma stepdown unit at MedStar Washington Hospital center and later transferred to the Burn/Trauma ICU. In 2019 Shannon assumed the role of assistant nursing director for the Burn/Trauma ICU.

Karen Sue Tordesillas, MSN, RN, joined MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center as interim director of nursing in Med-Surg Telemetry in April 2023. Since then, she has been named the director of the 2 East unit.  Karen started her nursing career in 1993 in the Philippines. Since that time, she has held prominent nursing roles in several hospitals, such as LPS Hospital Northwell Health (Sleepy Hollow, NY), NY Presbyterian Queens Hospital (Flushing, NY), HCA Florida Northwest Hospital (Margate, FL) Phelps Memorial Hospital Center (Sleep Hollow, NY), HCA Florida Kendall Regional Medical Center (Miami, FL), and HCA Florida Westside Regional Medical Center (Plantation, FL).

Karen has served in various nursing roles including Clinical Nurse Manager, Clinical Coordinator, House Supervisor and Clinical Researcher—many of these in Med-Surg Telemetry. Before she joined MedStar Southern Maryland, Karen was interim clinical nurse manager of Med-Surg Telemetry at NY Presbyterian Queens Hospital. There, she oversaw a busy 57-bed unit and 106 FTEs.

She has experience in organizational leadership, coaching, continuing education, quality improvement, patient safety and compliance—to name a few. Karen earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1993 from Central Philippine University, her Master of Science in Nursing Education from Mercy College in New York in 2009, and her Master of Science in Nursing Administration in 2010 from Mercy College. 

Niesha Harris, Nursing Director, 3 West

Niesha Harris, BSN, RN, nursing director for 3 West, is a nationally certified critical care nurse (CCRN) who began her nursing career in the United States Army in 1996. During her 14 years of military service, she served two tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan as an army combat nurse. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Georgia Baptist College of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia. Harris not only brings a great deal of experience to her role, but her military service brings invaluable skills in crisis management, resilience, fortitude, and a commitment to patient care.

Toni Murray, Nursing Director, 3 East

Toni Murray, DNP, RN, CENP, NPD-BC, CMSRN, CSM, brings extensive experience and expertise to her role as the Nursing Director of Medical Surgical Unit 3 East. With a career spanning over 18 years within MedStar Health, Toni's journey began in 2004 at MedStar Good Samaritan and MedStar Union Memorial Hospitals. Notably, she previously served as the Director of Nursing Professional Development at MedStar Southern Maryland from 2021 to 2022.

Toni's academic background includes a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of Maryland, School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD, as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees in nursing from Niagara University in NY. She began her nursing career at NYU Langone Medical Center in NY, where she excelled as a medical surgical telemetry nurse. Toni's clinical expertise spans various specialties, including cardio-thoracic ICU, emergency services, PACU, and nursing education. She holds certifications in executive nursing, nursing professional development, medical surgical nursing, and scrum master/agile methodologies.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Toni is actively involved in the nursing profession, contributing to numerous professional nursing boards, committees, and councils. Known for her commitment to patient advocacy, she serves her community through various organizational affiliations, embodying the values of compassionate care and leadership in healthcare.

Nursing Director, 2 West

Tressa Watts, MS, BSN, RN, CMSRN, joined MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center as nursing director of unit 2 West, a medical surgery unit primarily for patients on hemodialysis and general medicine conditions. Before joining MedStar Southern Maryland, Tressa was assistant nursing director at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where she began as a clinical nurse in 2006. In her early nursing career, Tressa was an LPN in a long-term care facility in Washington, DC.

She has held various nursing roles, including coordinator of care plan meetings with patients and their families, charge nurse, and patient care manager. She also was chair of the nurse responder committee, where she helped to standardize policies and provided education around nursing processes. Tressa is known for her fair and approachable leadership style.

Tressa received her BSN from Chamberlain University in 2014 and is a Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN), which she received in 2018 from the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. She obtained her associate degree as an RN in 2006 from the University of the District of Columbia.

Director, Capacity Management

Becky Grant, MSN, RN, brings a wealth of experience in capacity management to MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, where she currently serves as the Director of Capacity Management. Most recently, she held the same position at MedStar Franklin Square Hospital since December 2021 prior to coming to MedStar Southern Maryland in 2024.

Becky holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Walden University (2019) and earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Walden University in December 2020. Her nursing journey began in Buffalo, New York, where she gained extensive experience in critical care, trauma, open heart surgery, and burn units at Erie County Medical Center. Her dedication and leadership were evident as she became a preceptor and later transitioned to the critical care float pool.

Returning to Maryland, Becky previously worked at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center as an Assistant Director of Nursing (1990-1992) before moving to Prince George’s Hospital as a Trauma Coordinator for weekend nights (1992-1997).

From 1997 to 2001, Becky served as a Transplant Coordinator at the Transplant Center of Maryland in Baltimore, where she provided compassionate support to families and staff throughout the organ donation process. Becky rejoined the MedStar Health family in 2001 at MedStar Harbor Hospital, where she served as a Clinical Administrator Director until 2021.