Institutional Governance

Leadership & Oversight.

"Establishing the national standard for clinical reasoning through independent, multi-disciplinary governance."

Board of Directors

Legal and fiduciary oversight of the board's mission.

Technical Advisory

Scientific guidance on psychometrics and clinical validity.

Certification Council

Autonomous oversight of the CRS-BC™ appraisal process.

Professional Staff

Administrative execution and candidate support services.

Official seal of the American Board for Clinical Reasoning

Leadership

Dr. Emily CalabroPhD, RN, CCRN, CHPN, CLNC, CCISM

Chief of Research and Innovation, Interim Chair

Dr. Em started her nursing career as an LPN in Kansas and spent years at the bedside in medical and cardiovascular ICUs, including a FEMA COVID-19 response. She earned her PhD in nursing from Oregon Health & Science University and became a clinical nurse scientist, building research and quality improvement programs and mentoring nurses from first idea to published work. At ABCR, she leads the research behind the CRS-BC, including validation of the IIAR rubric. She also holds a business degree in entrepreneurship. Off the clock, she's restoring a 120-year-old house in Spokane.

Angela BennettMSN, MPH, RN, NPD-BC, CEN

Chief of Quality Improvement and Appraisal Assessment

Angela has been a nurse for 17 years as a frontline nurse, clinical educator, and nurse manager in emergency and trauma, public health, and med-surg. She worked in a Level I trauma center in New York at the height of the pandemic, founded a homeless shelter clinic, and built a trauma simulation program. She wrote A Practical Guide for Team-Driven Quality Improvement, received a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Educator in 2025, and is pursuing her PhD. At ABCR, she leads quality improvement and the appraisal process for every portfolio. She has hiked Machu Picchu and the Camino de Santiago.

Board of Directors

Dr. Wendy Williams-GilbertPhD, MN, RN, CARN, NPD-BC, FIAAN

Director

Dr. Williams-Gilbert is a nurse educator with deep experience in nursing education and leadership across academic and clinical settings. Her expertise is in curriculum design, team building, and innovative leadership. In her clinical practice, she serves medical-surgical patients through evidence-based practice, education, and advocacy.

Dr. Teresa RangelPhD, MSN, CCRN

Director

Tessa SvennungsenMA

Director

Autumn Carper

Director

Certification Council

Autonomous Appraisal Authority.

In accordance with ABSNC Standard 3, the Certification Council operates with full autonomy in all matters related to candidate evaluation and credential issuance.

Oversight of the Double-Blind SME Appraisal Panel.
Management of Appeals and Due Process protocols.
Validation of individual E-Portfolio scoring accuracy.

Technical Advisory Group (TAG)

Scientific & Psychometric Oversight.

Our TAG ensures the psychometric integrity and statistical validity of the TITO and IIAR™ metrics used for certification.

View Scientific Charter & Group Composition →

Double-Blind Appraisal Protocol

To ensure the highest level of psychometric integrity, the ABCR™ utilizes a strict Double-Blind Peer Review process for all portfolio assessments.

SME Identity Security

Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) are elite, actively practicing CRS-BC™ clinicians. Their identities remain strictly confidential to eliminate external influence and ensure absolute objectivity.

Automated Sanitization

Before an IIAR™ portfolio reaches the council, all candidate identifying info is scrubbed. Portfolios are appraised purely on the cognitive architecture of the clinical reasoning demonstrated.