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AANP State Award for Outstanding Contributions Recipients Announced

2025 State Award For Excellence Final

Media Contact: Bryan Black

Meet the individuals being honored for their remarkable contributions.

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) is pleased to announce the recipients of the prestigious 2025 AANP State Award for Outstanding Contributions. This award honors individuals who have made significant strides in advancing health care through practice, education, advocacy, research and leadership (PEARL), and have demonstrated efforts to advance the image, profile and visibility of nurse practitioners. Award recipients will be honored for this achievement at the Salute to the States Award Ceremony on June 20, 2025, at the 2025 AANP National Conference in San Diego, California.

Established in 1991 to recognize outstanding clinical quality, the AANP NP State Award for Excellence honors NPs for the lifesaving care they provide to patients. Added in 1993, the AANP Advocate State Award for Excellence highlights efforts to advance the NP role. In 2024, the AANP Awards program was once again reimagined and renamed the AANP State Awards for Outstanding Contributions. This is an annual award given to one deserving individual per state based on outlined criterion.

  • 2025 AANP State Award for Outstanding Contributions Recipients

    Alabama

    Dr. D'Ann Somerall

    D'Ann Somerall, DNP, MAEd, CRNP, FNP-BC, FAANP

    Alaska

    Lois Rockcastle

    Lois Rockcastle, APRN,FNP-BC

    Arizona

    Dr. Luis Fong

    Luis Fong, DNP, PMHNP-BC

    Arkansas

    Dr. Nykkia Sellers

    Nykkia Sellers, DNP, FNP-BC, BC-ADM, CDCES

    Colorado

    Dr. Ingrid Johnson

    Ingrid Johnson, DNP, MPP, RN, FAAN

    Connecticut

    Laura Prior

    Laura Prior, MSN, APRN, ACNP-BC, CRN

    Delaware

    Roseann Velez

    Roseann Velez, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP

    District of Columbia

    Amy Stewart

    Amy Stewart, MSN, FNP-C

    Florida

    Dr. Deborah Tedesco

    Deborah Tedesco, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, CBCN, AP-PMN, CWS, CPHQ, FNAP, FAANP

    Georgia

    Dr. Desiree Clement

    Desiree Clement, DNP, APRN, CNM, FNP-BC, FACNM, FAANP, FAAN

    Hawaii

    Dr. Kari Wheeling

    Kari Wheeling, MPH, APRN, FNP-BC

    Idaho

    Dr. Sarah Sparks

    Sarah Sparks, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

    Illinois

    Rebekkah Sobolewski

    Rebekkah Sobolewski, MSN, APN, ANP-BC

    Indiana

    Dr. Julia Rogers

    Julia Rogers, DNP, APRN, CNS, FNP-BC, FAANP

    Iowa

    Maria Lofgren, DNP, ARNP, NNP-BC, PNP-PC, FAANP

    Maria Lofgren, DNP, ARNP, NNP-BC, PNP-PC, FAANP

    Kansas

    Dr. Laurel Short

    Laurel Short, DNP, FNP-C, AQH

    Louisiana

    Dr. Shantell Burns

    Shantell Burns, DNP, APRN, CNEcl, PMHNP-BC, CCHP

    Maryland

    Dr. Carmel McComiskey

    Carmel McComiskey, DNP, PPCNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN

    Massachusetts

    Dr. Monica Dube

    Monica Dube, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

    Michigan

    Umeika Stephens

    Umeika Stephens, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC

    Minnesota

    Monica McDevitt

    Monica McDevitt, APRN, CNP

    Mississippi

    Deidra Thompson

    Deidra Thompson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC

    Missouri

    Dr. Renee Endicott

    Renee Endicott, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

    Montana

    Dr. Margaret Hammersla

    Margaret Hammersla, PhD, ANP-BC

    Nebraska

    Dr. Stephanie Burge

    Stephanie Burge, DNP, APRN-BC, FNP

    Nevada

    Dr. Megan Pratt

    Megan Pratt, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, GS-C

    New Hampshire

    Dr. Clarissa Michalak

    Clarissa Michalak, DNP, ACNPC-AG, CCRN

    New Jersey

    Dr. Dawn Mutchko

    Dawn Mutchko, DNP, APN, FNP-C, CENP, CGNC, EBP-C, CPHQ, CLSS-GB, FNAP

    New Mexico

    Dr. Whitney Steinmetz

    Whitney Steinmetz, DNP, FNP, RN

    New York

    Dr. Selena Gilles

    Selena Gilles, DNP, ANP-BC, CNE-cl, ANEF. FNYAM, FNAP, FADLN, FAANP, FAAN

    North Carolina

    Dr. Maria Colandrea

    Maria Colandrea, DNP, NP-C, CORLN, FAANP, FFNMRCSI

    North Dakota

    Leah Neugebauer

    Leah Neugebauer, MSN, FNP-C, WHNP-BC

    Ohio

    Maria Grosh

    Marie Grosh, DNP, APRN-CNP, LNHA

    Oregon

    Lydia Bartholow

    Lydia Bartholow, DNP, PMHNP, CARN-AP, FIAAN

    Pennsylvania

    Dr. Lorraine Bock

    Lorraine Bock, DNP, FNP-BC, ENP-BC, FAANP

    Rhode Island

    Dr. Gino Paolucci

    Gino Paolucci, DNP, ACNP-BC, ANVP-BC

    South Carolina

    Dr. Nikki Smith

    Nikki Smith, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

    Tennessee

    Dr. Lisa Beasley

    Lisa Beasley, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, AFN-C

    Texas

    Dr. Jessica Peck

    Jessica Peck, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE, CNL, FAANP, FAAN

    U.S. Pacific Territory

    Leticia Reyes

    Leticia Reyes, MSN, APRN-FNPC,RN

    Utah

    Dr. Valerie Flattes

    Valerie Flattes Ph.D., APRN, ANP-BC

    Vermont

    Michelle Wade

    Michelle Wade, MSN/Ed, APRN, NP-C, ACNPC-AG, FAANP

    Virginia

    Dr. Amy Johnson

    Amy Johnson, DNP, FNP-C

    Washington

    Dr. Marli Parobek

    Marli Parobek, APRN, DNP, FNP, PMHNP

    West Virginia

    Dr. Donte Newsom

    Donte Newsom, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

    Wisconsin

    Dr. Tina Bettin

    Tina Bettin, DNP, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, APNP, FAANP

    Wyoming

    Dr. Venessa Yoosook

    Venessa Yoosook, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC/AC


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The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) is the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties. It represents the interests of the more than 385,000 licensed NPs in the U.S. AANP provides legislative leadership at the local, state and national levels, advancing health policy; promoting excellence in practice, education and research; and establishing standards that best serve NPs' patients and other health care consumers. As The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner®, AANP represents the interests of NPs as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered health care. To locate an NP in your community, visit npfinder.com. For more information about NPs, visit aanp.org.

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