From the desk of the President

Suja Thomas, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, RN, CWCN, CCCN, COCN

Email: president@nainausa.org

Dear Fellow Nursing Professionals,

As I reflect on the incredible journey we’ve shared over the past two years, I am filled with gratitude and pride. Serving as your President has been a profound honor and privilege. Together, we have celebrated significant milestones, tackled challenges with resilience, and strengthened the bonds that unite us as the NAINA family.

Your unwavering commitment, compassion, and dedication are the true heartbeat of our organization. Each of you has played a pivotal role in shaping NAINA’s growth, influence, and impact. For this, I extend my deepest appreciation and heartfelt thanks.

As we celebrate this festive season, let us embrace the spirit of giving, togetherness, and compassion—qualities that define us as nurses and as a community. May your homes be filled with love, joy, and cherished moments with your loved ones.

Looking ahead, I am filled with optimism and excitement for NAINA’s future. I am confident in the strength and vision of our organization as we continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Thank you for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead this incredible community. It has been a journey I will treasure forever.

Sincerely,
Suja Thomas
President
 
  • NAINA joined American Nurses Association as an Organizational Affiliate in January, 2023.
  • Became the first NAINA President to vote on ANA Membership Assembly in 2023.
  • Suja Thomas and Deepthy Varghese represented NAINA in the ANA Membership Assembly in Washington DC in June 2023. 
  • Advocacy & Policy Committee established in 2023.
  • Two major successful conferences at Chicago, IL and Albany, NY
    Links:
    Clinical Excellence & Leadership Conference 2023
    Biennial Conference 2024
  • Three new chapters were established in 2024:
    a. Bay Area Indian Nurses Association (BAINA), California
    b. Orlando Regional Indian Nurses Association of of America (ORINAA) Orlando, Florida
    c.  Virginia Indian Nurses Association (VINA) Virginia
  • Two new academic partners in 2024:
    a. Salem University
Dear Fellow Nursing Professionals,
 
I would like to wish all nurses a very happy and wonderful Nurses Month!
 
We commemorate the extraordinary work of nurses across the world and celebrate their invaluable contributions to the health care industry. Nursing is a profession that requires not only technical knowledge and skill, but also compassion, empathy, and a willingness to serve! Nearly 3 years ago, the pandemic hit us. Our nurses were at the forefront fighting this pandemic! While the pandemic has had lasting impacts, it molded us to be more efficient and resilient. Your dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the health and wellbeing of your patients is a testament to the incredible strength and resilience of the nursing profession.
 
We must also work toward improving the diversity and inclusivity of the nursing profession, ensuring that nurses from all backgrounds have equal opportunities to contribute to the health care industry. Today, we have a more prominent voice in public health. We are a greater authority in nursing practice. We are heralded as heroes because we always rise to the occasion. It is hard to find words to express my gratitude and appreciation to all our nurses who work in various capacities. Today, we acknowledge and celebrate the impact that nurses have made in their respective fields. This year’s theme for nurses’ day is “We make a difference”. Nurses Day is a special day to honor and celebrate the contributions of nurses all over the world. This year, we recognized our nurses with a special “Make a Difference Award” for their hard work and dedication for making a difference in the lives of patients, families and communities.
 
Life is a precious gift, and it is important to cherish every moment. Appreciate the beauty around us and express gratitude for the blessings in our lives. Love yourself unconditionally. Know your worth and have confidence in who you are! Failures are opportunities for growth and learning. Never be discouraged by setbacks! Step out of your comfort zone. Pursue your dreams and embrace new experiences!
 
One of life’s greatest treasures is the quality time we spend with our loved ones. Make sure to create lasting memories with your family and friends! Show appreciation, forgiveness, and love to those who mean the most to you! For they bring joy and meaning to your life! We also need to give back to our greater communities and societies. NAINA and your chapter level activities are the platform for you to prove what you can do for others. Nurture life-long commitment to self-reflection and evaluation.
 
I take this opportunity to thank each and everyone who joined our Virtual Nurses Month Celebration on May 6th, 2023. It was well attended. Congratulations to all those who won the NAINA’s Make a Difference Award!!
 
In closing, let us continue to stand together, support each other and work towards a brighter future for the nursing profession. Together, we can make a difference, continuing to excel and lead while providing high quality care to patients and families around the world.
 
I want to thank you all for your selfless service, from the delivery of high-quality patient care to advancing the nursing profession, you deserve to be celebrated for the difference you make every day! May God bless you all!
 
Thank you and have a happy nurses’ month!
 
Sincerely,
 
Suja Thomas
President
 
Dear Friends,
 
I would like to wish you all a very happy, healthy and blessed New Year filled with love and peace!
 
Thank you for electing me as the 9th NAINA President. It is an honor and privilege to lead such a prestigious organization.
 
When you have a dream, you need to chase it. A new year brings us new opportunities and challenges. As we begin the new term in this New Year, I am very confident that, as a team, we will rise to the top as exceptional leaders and do great things as an organization. We can bring up emerging leaders among our young nurses through guidance, scholarship, mentorship, and role-modeling. My motto is ‘talk less, listen more.’ Life is an opportunity to learn something exciting and innovative, hence it is of utmost importance to be open minded. One’s mindset and emotional intelligence plays into their capacity to guide others successfully.
 
Keeping up with our mission and vision, we will take NAINA to greater heights through expansion of our technology and social media presence. Many times, conflict arises due to differences in opinion, but the way in which it is handled holds potential for further complications. The success of NAINA is largely driven by how we can make these differences in opinion align to achieve the goals of NAINA as a unified professional organization. The highest form of knowledge is empathy which requires for us to suspend our egos and live in another’s world.
 
NAINA’s success derives from the dedication and commitment of its members – not to mention the countless hours of selfless service and hard work. I applaud our NAINA leaders who worked tirelessly for NAINA’s growth since 2006. We promise that we will bring NAINA as one of the best ethnic minority organizations in the US. I believe that, with God on our side, all things are possible.
 
We will be planning all our events for this new term and will keep you informed along the way. I strongly encourage you to visit our website periodically for updates.
 
We look forward to your love, support and encouragement as we begin our new term. Using creativity and innovation, we will use our voices confidently to offer value to our profession and organization. There are no limits to what we can accomplish as a team. Even when facing adversity, we must strive to overcome and achieve greatness.
 
In the meantime, enjoy the holiday season. May God shower his abundant blessings on you and your family during this new year and always!
 
Sincerely,
Suja Thomas
President
Thank You

Suja Thomas
AGPCNP-BC, MSN. Ed., RN, CWCN, CCCN, COCN
Advisory Board Chair

Suja Thomas currently serves as the Clinical Lead and Nursing Administrator at the Samuel Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, New York. She is a Board-Certified Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP-BC) and a Certified Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse (CWOCN). In addition, Suja is an international faculty member at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) University in India, where she inspires and mentors the next generation of nurses.

Suja completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Fr. Muller’s College of Nursing in Mangalore, where she laid the groundwork for her nursing career. She continued her education with a master’s in nursing education from Russell Sage College in Troy, New York, followed by a Post-Master’s Certification in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner from the same institution. Currently, Suja is pursuing a Ph.D. in Nursing at the University at Buffalo, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to advancing nursing knowledge and shaping the future of healthcare.

Suja has demonstrated exceptional leadership, seamlessly integrating her clinical expertise with strategic management acumen. As a Hospital Executive at St. Peter’s Health Partners (SPHP) and Sunnyview Hospital in Schenectady, NY, she successfully led multiple clinical departments. Additionally, she served as Operations Manager for the Medical-Surgical, Cardiopulmonary, and Labor and Delivery units at SPHP, showcasing her ability to optimize diverse healthcare operations.

Suja’s visionary leadership and transformative strategies have earned her numerous accolades, including the Transformational Leadership Award (2015), the Robert Scholar Award for Clinical Excellence (2016), and the Quantum Leadership Award (2021). Recognized for championing diversity, she was honored with the Diversity Award (2024) by Albany Stratton VA Medical Center. Her outstanding community impact earned her a Citation and Proclamation from NYS Assemblywoman Michelle Solages and NYS Senator Kevin Thomas. In 2023 and 2024, Suja’s exceptional contributions were further celebrated with the Exemplary Leadership Award by Asianet TV and the World Malayalee Council.

During her presidency of the National Association of Indian Nurses of America (NAINA) in 2023-24, Suja spearheaded the organization’s growth on an international level. She currently serves as the Advisory Board Chair of NAINA (2025-26). Suja’s leadership extends beyond national borders, with her roles at CGFNS International, where she has been elected to the Board of Trustees (2025–2028) and serves as Vice Chair of the CGFNS Alliance Advisory Board (2025–2027). In 2016, she became the founding president of the Indian American Nurses Association of Albany, further demonstrating her commitment to supporting and empowering Indian American nurses in the region. Suja’s unwavering commitment to community service and her ability to inspire others exemplify her transformational impact on the nursing profession.