Rutherford, NJ — Felician University’s Dr. Marcel Kaganovskaya, Assistant Professor of the School of Nursing, recently participated in the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing’s (NJCCN) Nurse State Policy Advocacy Day panel. Organized by Dr. Daria Waszack, former Associate Dean of Graduate Nursing Studies, Dr. Kaganovskaya joined Tyla Minniear, Chief Operating Officer of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute, and Rose M. Catton, Executive Director of the New Jersey State School Nurses Association, to advocate for critical issues affecting the healthcare industry at both the political and state levels. 

During the panel, Dr. Kaganovskaya expressed his passion for expanding mental health resources for our youth, emphasizing that their importance in society should not be overlooked, as our future depends on their leadership. Currently pending with state legislators, Dr. Kaganovskaya and his colleagues introduced a Full Practice Authority Bill, a proposal aimed at increasing access to mental health resources to help combat youth depression and suicide rates in New Jersey.  

Each speaker shared their unique experiences of drafting and having a bill passed through various government sectors, offering tips on how to thoroughly research a proposal’s content and the legislators who would read it to ensure it has enough impact to prompt action. Dr. Kaganovskaya urged every attendee to recognize that building a bridge with a legislator requires heartfelt connection and context, not just words on paper.  

“As the voluntary Executive Director of the Society of Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses and a faculty member at Felician University, I dedicate my time to advocacy, education, and policy reform that empowers nurses and removes barriers to care,” said Dr. Kaganovskaya. “I hope to inspire students and future nursing leaders to see that advocacy is an extension of patient care. When nurses unite their voices through grassroots engagement and education, we become an unstoppable force for equity, access, and meaningful change.” 

Dr. Kaganovskaya wrapped up his talking points with a call to action:  aspire to make a difference in your profession and not become intimidated by the process. His unwavering dedication to community service and justice reform exemplifies Felician University’s values, enabling students to lead with compassion, courage, and purpose within their respective fields of study. 

About Dr. Marcel Kaganovskaya 

Dr. Marcel Kaganovskaya serves as the Director of the Family Nurse Practitioner Program and has been an Assistant Professor at Felician University since August 2025. With over 10 years of experience as a dual-certified Family and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, he integrates evidence-based care with empathy and kindness in both his teaching and clinical practice. Most recently, Dr. Kaganovskaya authored Outpatient Psychiatry Virtual and Face-to-Face Visits Coding Guide, now available on Amazon. Guided by a lifelong commitment to advocacy and education, his mission is to reduce the stigma around mental health by expanding access to quality, compassionate care throughout New Jersey. 

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Felician University is committed to supporting academic success at any stage of life. With over 2,700 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students enrolled across Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education, Felician provides diverse learning experiences that equip all students with the skills to meet the demands of today’s society. Over the past five years, Felician University has consistently ranked 3rd among private institutions in New Jersey for best value according to payscale.com and Money Magazine and has been recognized as one of the best college locations in New Jersey (#4) according to niche.com. Our Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and the Princeton Review. We are proud to be designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the fifteenth year, a testament to our dedicated support of Veteran students. Our diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), with underrepresented students comprising more than half of the student population, reflects our inclusive and supporting environment and earned us a spot on Washington Monthly’s Top 100 HSI list (#30). With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, our Franciscan values of respect for human dignity, compassion, and social justice are woven into the very foundation and development of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University is sponsored by Felician Sisters International.  For more information, please visit https://felician.edu.