Nancymarie Phillips, RN, B.A., BSN, M.Ed., Ph.D., RNFA, CNOR(E), is professor emerita at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, Ohio, where she was director of perioperative education and the Surgical Technology Program. A perioperative nurse since 1975, Dr. Phillips is a registered nurse and registered nurse first assistant, and she is certified in perioperative nursing. Active in many areas of the field, Dr. Phillips has held local and national positions with the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and the Competency and Credentialing Institute (previously the Certification Board for Perioperative Nursing), in addition to authoring and contributing to many articles, textbooks and book chapters. She holds undergraduate degrees in health services and nursing from Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio, as well as master's and doctoral degrees in adult education and development from Cleveland State University.