Board of Directors

(formerly served as Secretary)

The National Association of Chemical Dependency Nurses exists to offer nationally recognized certification for all nurses in this field- LPNs, RNs, and NPs.  Every nurse in this field can be a well-prepared nurse who takes pride in their profession and their specialty.  That's my goal- to have all the nurses in this field be #CertifiedExcellent.  We work with a very vulnerable population in a fast-changing field.  I don't think any nursing specialty is more important than ours, because people struggling in addiction affect so many family and friends around them.  When one person recovers, a corner of the world gets better with them. 

(formerly served as President)

My name is Tara Weinkam. I have been in nursing for 26 years. I never thought I would develop a passion for addiction medicine, but here I am. I have been working in the field of chemical dependency for 7 years now. I love the idea of helping those struggling with SUD regain control of their lives. I joined NACDN (formerly MACDN) in 2017 as a way to further my education and network with others in this field. There are lots of opportunities to build relationships with others in the field in this platform.  The idea of holding specialty certification in any field resonates with me. I am now the Membership Chair of NACDN. I am excited to see where the future of addiction nursing goes. When I am not working, I love to spend time with my family and friends.