Faculty for PMH-BC® Review Course

Meet our faculty for the Psychiatric-Mental Health – Board Certified (PMH-BC®) Board Review Course.
Our expert faculty members bring extensive clinical experience and diverse perspectives to enhance your learning and ensure thorough exam preparation. Guided by their expertise and passion for mental health care, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence needed to achieve certification success.

Dana Cook MSN, BA, RN, NI-BC, NPD-BC, PMH-BC

Dana Cook is a highly accomplished nursing leader with board certifications in Nursing Informatics (NI-BC), Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC), and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (PMH-BC). She currently serves as a Nursing Practice Leader at a large university health system, where she has led transformative work across both Nursing Informatics and Behavioral Health Services. Dana is deeply committed to advancing professional development and evidence-based practice in nursing. She is a frequently invited speaker at national conferences, with presentations spanning evidence-based practice journeys, de-escalation techniques, and the impact of transformational leadership on certification success. She also mentors doctoral students and serves as a catalyst for ongoing professional growth within the nursing community. Dana is passionate about shaping the future of nursing through innovation, education, and compassionate leadership

Emily Mendez MSN, RN, PMH-BC

Emily Mendez is a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMH-BC) nurse with years of experience dedicated to mental health care across diverse settings. She has provided direct care and clinical leadership in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatric units, supporting staff in managing complex psychiatric and behavioral situations in medical and emergency settings. Emily specializes in psychiatric crisis intervention, psychiatric care planning, staff education, and quality and process improvement. Her career has centered on improving mental health outcomes through interdisciplinary collaboration, safety-focused practices, and patient-centered communication. Emily holds a Master of Science in Nursing Administration and is passionate about empowering healthcare teams to provide safe, compassionate, and evidence-based psychiatric care.

Julie D’Apollo BSN, RN, PMH-BC

Julie D’Apollo is an experienced psychiatric-mental health nurse and healthcare executive with over 25 years of experience in behavioral health leadership. She is board-certified in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (PMH-BC) and has held senior roles overseeing operations, nursing services, and regulatory compliance across inpatient and residential treatment settings. Julie previously served as Chief Nursing Officer at a psychiatric hospital, where she led nursing strategy, clinical quality initiatives, and system-wide readiness for accreditation. She has extensive expertise in care delivery for children, adolescents, and adults, and is known for driving quality improvement and aligning clinical practice with regulatory requirements. Her background includes executive leadership, nursing administration, staff development, and consulting on behavioral health system transformation. She has led initiatives to improve patient outcomes, advance workforce development, and ensure preparedness for Joint Commission and CMS evaluations. Julie is committed to fostering safe, effective, and compassionate care in the mental health field.