.jpg "Chenel Vanden Berk, BS, JD, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P photo")
Forensic Nursing Specialist
IAFN
Gurnee, IL
Chenel Vanden Berk is the Northern Illinois Regional SANE Program Manager for Advocate Healthcare but will join the IAFN as Forensic Nurse Specialist. Chenel has dedicated her career to Forensic Nursing as a Nationally Certified Adult, Adolescent, and Pediatric Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) for over 13 years. As a SANE, she combines her passion for helping survivors with a focus on healthcare, science, and justice. She recently served on the Board of Directors as a Director at Large for the Illinois Chapter of the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN); the Co-Chair of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s SART; and serves on the Lake County LGBTQ Committee; Lake County State’s Attorney’s Human Trafficking Council; Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force Medical Subcommittee; the Lake County State’s Attorney Sexual Assault Law Enforcement Committee; and the Illinois Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team. Her commitment to advocating for healthcare equity and inclusion for survivors led her to serve as a member of Congresswoman Lauren Underwood’s Healthcare Advisory Council for the 117th Congress from 2020-2022. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Georgetown University, DC, and her Juris Doctor from Loyola University School of Law, Chicago. Prior to nursing, she practiced public interest law in Chicago, focusing on families and domestic violence.
