Lisa Chismark
Director
Elisabeth (Lisa) Chismark was born in Indianapolis, IN but is a small town girl from Jonesboro, IN. Her nursing career took her all over the country, she retired in 2023 from her nursing journey. She and her husband Mike have lived in St. Augustine since 2004. They have 2 adult children, daughter Meghan in the Chicago area and son Dan in Johnson City, TN.
Lisa has been an active volunteer with Epic-Cure for four years. She and Mike do a monthly Saturday distribution in the Oyster Creek neighborhood on Woodlawn Street. She also teaches weekly cooking classes at this same location with the Sustain U Epic-Cure program, juggling sharp knives, hot food and junior high kids.
She has a BA in Psychology and an AD in Nursing from Purdue University, BSN from the University of Memphis, a MSN in Nursing Education from Union University and a PhD from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Her Ph.D. studies were with a young adult Sickle Cell Disease population, investigating secondary complications and a polymorphism in
the C-reactive protein gene.
She was awarded a National Institute of Health (NIH) Fellowship in the Summer Genetics Institute in 2006. In 2009, she was selected by the NIH as a Faculty Champion for the incorporation of genetics/genomics into baccalaureate nursing education.
Early work was in ICU and CCU units, then 18 years as a clinically certified research coordinator in adult cardiology. She worked as a Clinical Specialist in Hematology and was the manager of the Nursing Education Department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She was an assistant professor at Clemson University, adjunct faculty for University of TN Health Science Center, Georgetown University, independent consultant with Flagler Hospital, Pearson Education, Inc., & The Law Offices of Craig & Lofton.
She has served on numerous boards:
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Women of Vision/Flagler College-advisory board
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Wildflower Healthcare/Good Samaritan Health Center-Board of Directors-president
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Sigma Theta Tau-Board of Directors-vice president
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Advisory Board for UAB School of Nursing PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center
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International Association of Sickle Cell Nurses and Physician Assistants-Board of Directors
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Leadership Collierville Classes-Board of Directors
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Stand by Me non-profit-Board of Directors-CEO
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Downs Syndrome of Memphis/Special Kids, Board of Directors-president
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Collierville Soccer Association-Board of Directors-president
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She is currently an active member of the St. Augustine Women’s Exchange and P.E.O.