About

Melinda Huffman is a Co-Founder of National Society of Health Coaches and Principal of Miller & Huffman Outcome Architects, LLC. She is a best-selling author, writer, educator, and nationally known speaker who has over 30 years of experience as a cardiovascular clinical nurse specialist and has developed outcome-based disease management programs for acute and post-acute care.

Colleen Miller is a Co-Founder of National Society of Health Coaches and Principal of Miller & Huffman Outcome Architects, LLC. She is a Tenured healthcare executive, author, speaker, and Certified Small Business Consultant with over 27 years of experience creating and executing outcome-based clinical models, evidence-based disease management programs, clinical software and integrated IT strategies across the healthcare spectrum.

Throughout her nursing career, Laura has learned that the most meaningful moments in healthcare aren’t defined solely by clinical interventions—they’re created when patients feel heard, respected, and empowered to become active partners in their care. That belief has shaped her career as both a Registered Nurse and healthcare leader and continues to inspire her work every day at the National Society of Health Coaches (NSHC).

Laura’s journey to healthcare leadership is unique. Before becoming a Registered Nurse, she spent years leading business operations, developing organizations, and driving strategic growth. While that experience strengthened her leadership and business acumen, she ultimately chose to pursue nursing because she wanted to make a more direct and lasting impact on people’s lives. Today, she brings together the perspectives of both clinician and executive—combining compassionate patient care with strategic leadership to help shape the future of healthcare.

Every day, Laura has the privilege of advancing the Society’s mission of integrating Evidence-Based Health Coaching (EBHC®) into clinical practice. She believes that when clinicians combine their clinical expertise with evidence-based communication strategies, they build trusted partnerships that help patients, families, and clients make informed decisions, strengthen self-management skills, and achieve meaningful, sustainable health behavior change. This philosophy reflects NSHC’s commitment to actively and safely engaging patients, families, and clients through evidence-based communication, motivational interviewing, and other strategic interventions that improve health outcomes, reduce health risks, and promote lifelong self-management.

Laura’s leadership is grounded in experience. As a practicing Registered Nurse, she continues to care for patients in the acute care setting, giving her firsthand insight into the realities clinicians face every day. She understands the complexity of caring for individuals with acute and chronic conditions, balancing evidence-based practice with compassionate care, and helping patients navigate the challenges of long-term health management. Those experiences continually reinforce her belief that health coaching is not an additional task—it is a more effective way of partnering with patients to improve engagement, strengthen self-management, and support better health outcomes.

Combining clinical nursing expertise with executive leadership and organizational strategy, Laura works alongside healthcare organizations, educators, and professional associations to expand the reach and impact of Evidence-Based Health Coaching. She is passionate about equipping clinicians with practical, evidence-based skills that strengthen therapeutic relationships, foster shared decision-making, and improve patient engagement across the continuum of care. She also collaborates with national and international organizations to advance the adoption of Evidence-Based Health Coaching and support clinicians in improving outcomes through patient-centered partnerships.

Laura earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Xavier University and her Master of Business Administration from Franklin University. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to lifelong learning, servant leadership, and continuous improvement because she believes healthcare advances when clinicians are equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and communication skills to partner with those they serve.

For Laura, NSHC is more than a professional organization—it is a community of clinicians united by a shared purpose: transforming healthcare through Evidence-Based Health Coaching. Every day, she is inspired by healthcare professionals who are committed to empowering patients, families, and clients to become active participants in their health, strengthen self-management, and achieve sustainable health behavior change. She considers it both a privilege and a responsibility to help lead that mission and to support clinicians who are shaping the future of patient-centered care through evidence-based coaching.