State Award for Excellence

Only one award may be given per category in each state. Groups and organizations are not eligible to receive these awards. Elected leaders, including AANP Board of Directors members, AANP Fellows leadership, AANP State Liaisons and AANP Nomination Council members, do not qualify for awards during their term in office. AANP Awards Committee members are not eligible for award nomination due to a conflict of interest.

The nominator must be a current individual AANP member to submit a candidate for a state award; however, the candidate does not have to be an AANP member.

Nominations are scored on the following Likert Scale:

• Zero — Demonstrates no impact of the metric being evaluated.
• One — Demonstrates minimally the metric being evaluated.
• Two — Demonstrates partially the metric being evaluated.
• Three — Demonstrates the metric on a state-level scale at least once.
• Four — Exhibits clear demonstrations of the metric on a state-level scale.
• Five — Is a recognized state leader with several demonstrations of the metric on a state-level scale.

This individual has demonstrated excellence in clinical practice as evidenced by compassionate, appropriate and effective patient care. The award recipient has shown efforts to advance the image, profile and visibility of NPs at the state level in three or more of the following areas:

• Served as a role model for other NPs and NP students.
• Demonstrated a commitment to continuous professional development of self and others.
• Provided positive impact on patients and colleagues through the establishment of professional relationships with the understanding of diversity, equity and inclusivity in health care delivery.
• Demonstrated leadership experience at the state level that supports and promotes the NP profession.
• Provided mentorship or guidance by precepting future NPs.
• Succeeded in building strategic partnerships, coalitions or alliances that have contributed to improved outcomes for individuals, families or communities.
• Utilized evidence-based research to enhance the quality of care NPs provide to patients, families or communities.
• Utilized innovative strategies to provide a positive impact on patients.

This individual has made a significant contribution toward increasing awareness and recognition of NPs through ongoing work in policy, practice and education at the state level in three or more of the following areas:

• Supported and promoted the role of NPs.
• Increased awareness and recognition of NPs and NP practice.
• Had a positive impact on the NP profession.
• Engaged in policy issues in the legislative or regulatory arenas that impact NP practice.
• Provided mentorship and leadership in health policy, practice or education for NPs.
• Influenced health policy legislation by advocating for the removal of practice barriers which has led to the advancement of the NP profession at the state level.
• Recognized as a visionary leader at the state level for NPs in health policy, practice or education.

Background of State Award for Excellence

The NP State Award for Excellence was founded in 1991 by the AANP Public Relations Committee to recognize an individual NP in each state who demonstrates excellence in clinical practice. In 1993, the Advocate State Award for Excellence was added to recognize the efforts of individuals who have made a significant contribution toward increasing the awareness and recognition of NPs. Although the awardees are recognized at a Salute to the States ceremony during the AANP national conference, individual states are expected to formally honor the awardees at an appropriate time and place within the state, at the discretion of the AANP State Liaison.

How many awards are given annually?

Only one award per category may be given in each state annually. One award focuses on the NP and the other on an advocate for NPs.

Who is eligible to receive these awards?

The NP State Award for Excellence is given annually to an individual NP in each state who has demonstrated excellence in NP clinical practice and has shown efforts to advance the image, profile and visibility of NPs at the state level.

The Advocate State Award for Excellence is given to an individual in each state who has made a significant contribution toward increasing awareness and recognition of NPs. Examples of past recipients have been physicians, legislators and educators. NPs are also eligible for the advocate award for non-clinical practice initiatives related to leadership, precepting, policy, politics, research, education or community affairs.

Elected leaders, including AANP Board of Directors members, AANP Fellows leadership, AANP State Liaisons and AANP Nomination Council members, do not qualify for awards during their term in office. AANP Awards Committee members are not eligible for award nomination due to a conflict of interest.

Are groups or organizations eligible for this award?

This award is given to an individual NP or advocate. Groups or organizations are not eligible to receive this award.

Do you have to be a member of AANP to nominate or to be nominated?

You must be an AANP member to nominate an individual; however, the individual nominated does not have to be an AANP member.

How are people nominated?

On July 19, the State Award for Excellence nominations announcement will be published on the AANP website and emailed to AANP state liaisons and board members. On July 21, an announcement will be published in SmartBrief and e-Bulletin and emailed to all AANP members. To be considered, nominations must have been received by September 9, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

How are the recipients chosen?

Each AANP State Liaison organizes a selection committee of three to five individuals — among and apart from the NP community — to select the recipient(s) from their state, district or territory. Each state selection committee utilizes a blind review process for nominations. Nominees are ranked, and a recipient is determined.

How are the recipients notified?

Upon selection, the state liaison will contact the recipient(s) and AANP will send congratulatory emails to the recipients. AANP will notify the nominators of those who are not selected as award recipients. There will not be a notification sent to nominees who are not selected to receive awards, since they are often unaware of their nomination.

What does the recipient receive?

• All recipients will receive a waiver of their registration fee for the 2023 AANP National Conference.
• Recipients who are current AANP members will receive a one-year extension of their membership, beginning at the current renewal date.
• Non-AANP members who are recipients of state awards will be given a one-year complimentary AANP membership.
• All recipients will receive a complimentary one-night stay at a conference hotel for the night of the Salute to the States award ceremony and reception.
• Recipients will be recognized during the 2023 AANP National Conference, which is currently planned to be held in New Orleans in June 2023.

What is the deadline to submit nominations?

Nominations for the 2023 AANP State Award for Excellence will remain open from July 19 to September 9. Nominations must have been received by AANP no later than September 9, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET (10:59 p.m. CT).

Connecticut

Nurse Practitioner: Kim Gambino
Advocate: Kimberly Sandor

Massachusetts

Nurse Practitioner: Constance Flynn
Advocate: Ronald Mariano

Maine

Nurse Practitioner: Theresa Knowles
Advocate: Pamela Cahill

New Hampshire

Nurse Practitioner: Siobhan Benham
Advocate: Kimberlie Mohan

Rhode Island

Nurse Practitioner: Mary Lavin
Advocate: James McDonald

Vermont

Nurse Practitioner: Emily LeVan
Advocate: Ellen Watson

New Jersey

Nurse Practitioner: Maura Abbott
Advocate: Arthur DeSimone

New York

Nurse Practitioner: Margaret O'Donnell
Advocate: Evelyn Addo-Wallace

Puerto Rico

Nurse Practitioner: Sylvia Pérez
Advocate: Angelica Matos-Rios

District of Columbia

Nurse Practitioner: Kathleen Malliarakis
Advocate: Lisa Covel

Delaware

Nurse Practitioner: Rebecca Hammond
Advocate: Susan Conaty-Buck

Maryland

Nurse Practitioner: Kamala Via
Advocate: Adelaide Eckardt

Pennsylvania

Nurse Practitioner: Tarik Khan
Advocate: Lisa Boscola

Virginia

Nurse Practitioner: Carole Everhart
Advocate: Jennifer Kiggans

West Virginia

Nurse Practitioner: Anitra Ellis
Advocate: Heather Tully

Kentucky

Nurse Practitioner: Donna Isfort
Advocate: Scotty Combs

North Carolina

Nurse Practitioner: Ragan Johnson
Advocate: Gale Adcock

South Carolina

Nurse Practitioner: Margaret Johnson
Advocate: Brad Hutto

Tennessee

Nurse Practitioner: Bobby Bellflower
Advocate: Mavis Schorn

Illinois

Nurse Practitioner: Ricki Loar
Advocate: Susan Swart

Indiana

Nurse Practitioner: Sonya Ruedlinger
Advocate: Caitlin Krouse

Michigan

Nurse Practitioner: Jordana Latozas
Advocate: Jacquelen Timm

Minnesota

Nurse Practitioner: Jennifer Bold
Advocate: Natalie Mohammad

Ohio

Nurse Practitioner: Tina Resser
Advocate: Jordan Bonomo

Wisconsin

Nurse Practitioner: Rachael Cabral-Guevara
Advocate: Patrick Testin

Arkansas

Nurse Practitioner: Rhonda Finnie
Advocate: Dave Wallace

Louisiana

Nurse Practitioner: Erin Pierce
Advocate: Marc Matrana

Oklahoma

Nurse Practitioner: Kristy Baker
Advocate: Lois Salmeron

Texas

Nurse Practitioner: Alvin Mena Cantero
Advocate: Casey Haney

Colorado

Nurse Practitioner: Sara Schaefer
Advocate: Colleen Whalen-Casper

Montana

Nurse Practitioner: Heidi Fritz
Advocate: David King

North Dakota

Nurse Practitioner: Mykell Barnacle
Advocate: Jenna Herman

South Dakota

Nurse Practitioner: Deb Hickman
Advocate: Robin Arends

Utah

Nurse Practitioner: Kimberlee Bayless
Advocate: Doug Welton

Wyoming

Nurse Practitioner: Kathleen Petro
Advocate: Heith Waddell

Arizona

Nurse Practitioner: Katie Wall
Advocate: Christy Pacheco

California

Nurse Practitioner: Serena Arts
Advocate: Ron Ordona

Hawaii

Nurse Practitioner: Katrina Lu
Advocate: Mandi Cumming

New Mexico

Nurse Practitioner: Kathy Fresquez-Chavez
Advocate: Elaine Brightwater

Nevada

Nurse Practitioner: Michelle Giddings-White
Advocate: Sally Miller

Alaska

Nurse Practitioner: Tracey Wiese
Advocate: Stephanie Wrightsman-Birch

Idaho

Nurse Practitioner: Melody Weaver
Advocate: Kristine Theis

Oregon

Nurse Practitioner: Noelle McLaughlin
Advocate: Rachel Prusak

Washington

Nurse Practitioner: Marie Annette Brown
Advocate: Joelle Fathi

Alabama

Nurse Practitioner: Melanie Hallman
Advocate: Jim McClendon

Florida

Nurse Practitioner: Monica Barfield
Advocate: Vicky Stone-Gale

Georgia

Nurse Practitioner: Regina Canty
Advocate: Lisa Eichelberger

Mississippi

Nurse Practitioner: Derek Holt
Advocate: Russ Latino