Perioperative Nursing Professional Development Specialist
New York City Health and Hospitals/Bellevue
New York, New York, United States
Ray-an Talatala, DNP, RN, CNOR, NPD-BC, FNAP, FAORN, is a perioperative nursing professional development specialist at New York City Health and Hospitals/Bellevue, a Level 1 trauma and teaching hospital in Manhattan. A highly accomplished nurse leader and award-winning researcher, Dr. Talatala brings 13 years of clinical expertise in perioperative nursing. He holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree and is nationally board-certified in perioperative nursing (CNOR) and nursing professional development (NPD-BC).
As a dedicated research enthusiast, Dr. Talatala has published in international peer-reviewed journals, received numerous awards, and presented at various podium and poster sessions. He actively contributes at the national level as a member of AORN's National Nursing Research Committee and serves as a peer reviewer and column coordinator for the AORN Journal. He is the president-elect of AORN New York City chapter, an honorary nurse leader of Sigma Theta Tau International - Honor Society of Nursing, and a past chapter president of the Operating Room Nurses Association of the Philippines (ORNAP).
Dr. Talatala achieved a significant milestone by leading NYC Health and Hospitals/Kings County to become the first hospital in New York City to earn the prestigious AORN Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Prevention of Retained Surgical Items (RSI) designation. In 2023, he was recognized by AORN as an Under 40 Emerging Perioperative Nurse Leader. His greatest accomplishment was receiving the 2025 honorary recognition as a Distinguished Fellow of AORN (FAORN), one of the highest honors in perioperative nursing. He is the first FAORN in the State of New York.
This year, he was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice and is the recipient of the 2026 AORN Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Nursing Evidence-Based Practice award.
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
1067 - Lighting the Pathway: Empowering Novice Perioperative Nurses to Lead with Purpose
Saturday, April 11, 2026
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM CST